US Amb. to H.S. speaks about 9/11 attacks on 15th
anniversary
American flag planted amidst the debris following the collapse of the Twin Towers after 2 planes crashed into the Towers on September 11th, 2001. - EPA |
(Vatican Radio) As the
United States marks the 15th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, the
U.S. Ambassador to the Holy See, Kenneth Hackett, recalls his own reactions and
emotions on that fateful day and discusses whether enough has been done to
engage a public debate about the causes of the attacks and how to address them.
He was interviewed by Tracey McClure
Ambassador Hackett was
working as the head of Catholic Relief Services in the U.S. city of Baltimore
when news broke of the first plane crashing into New York's Twin Towers and as
he put it, “things kept getting worse throughout the day” with each new attack.
Recalling his own emotions, he spoke of how “shocking” it all was, that “sense
of helplessness” and just “the enormity of it.” On the practical level, Hackett
said his first reaction was to check on the safety of all the staff working for
Catholic Relief Services throughout the world.
Asked to comment on the view
that the 9/11 attacks brought out the best of the American people, the U.S.
envoy said that “was the positive element” coming out of this tragedy. He paid
tribute to the “heroic acts” of the many fire fighters and police officers who
rushed to respond to the attack on the Twin Towers, scores of whom died when
the towers collapsed, and the “many acts of selflessness” carried out by people
trying to help and respond to the terrible event.
Turning to whether enough has
been done to engage a public debate about the causes of 9/11 and how to address
them, Hackett said this was only “partially” the case. Whilst there is now a
greater awareness and sensitivity about terrorism, he said “probably not enough
has been done” on this front, saying Americans could have used this chance to
“think more deeply about what is going on and what we can do.”
In the same way, Hackett said
during this year's U.S. Presidential campaign he believed that the “debate has
not been rich enough about not just terrorism but who we are as
Americans.” We need, he continued “to make efforts to foster dialogue,
understanding tolerance,”….. “We should be doing more of it. We should be
reaching out, looking for opportunities to engage with people of other faiths
and different nationalities.”
Hackett concluded by saying
that he believed that this aspect “will be thrown upon the next President of
the United States’ agenda: How can the USA engage in a more positive way with
different peoples of the world.”
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