OPINIONS/EDITORIALS
EDITORIAL
Remembering Sept. 11, Honoring Lives Lost and Shaping the Future
“In order to understand our present and ensure our future, we must know our past.” (The meaning of Sankofa.) As the nation pauses to reflect on the horrific events of Tuesday, Sept. 11, 2001, otherwise known as 9/11, individual memories are focused on what one was doing on that dreadful day and time. That morning life in America was, for the most part, proceeding as usual. Most Americans were headed to work or already seated at their desks, including school-aged children starting a new school year. Suddenly, the routine was disrupted when news spread that a U.S. airplane had slammed into one of the twin towers at the World Trade Center in New York. Within minutes, the second tower was hit, and then the Pentagon, and soon after, a fourth plane crashed in rural Pennsylvania. Thousands of Americans were killed, including three D.C. Public School teachers and three students on their way to California to participate in an event sponsored by National Geographic. Reports quickly circulated that hijackers were responsible. It wasn’t long before U.S. authorities identified these men and their country of origin. Nevertheless, it was an attack on America, and public outcry demanded revenge. While Americans sought their loved ones in the rubble caused by the crashes -- and to date, the bodies of hundreds of victims were never found -American troops were called to war against a country believed to be the home of the enemy -- Afghanistan. Soon after, Iraq also became the target of the U.S. military and the allied forces. Realizing the mounting number of U.S. casualties, along with the hundreds of thousands of Afghan civilians also killed, U.S. officials moved beyond rhetoric to action. Twenty years later, President Joe Biden called for an end to the war and ordered U.S. troops home effective Aug. 31, 2021. Much has changed in the U.S. since 9/11, especially related to homeland security. In many ways, we all are subjects of U.S. surveillance, but do we feel any safer? Many ask, “Was this war worth it.” And, where would we be today if Congress and President George Bush took heed to the warnings of Rep. Barbara Lee (D-Cal.), who cast the single vote against the Afghan war? She warned of its repercussions, and today, she has no regrets. We will never forget 9/11 because of the lives lost on that day and after. More importantly, remembering the past must help us understand the present and ensure a better future. WI
Is the Growing Crisis at Howard University Indicative of Things to Come? Just over a month ago, officials at Historically Black Colleges and Universities [HBCUs] celebrated after posting record-breaking enrollment numbers for the fall semester. Several HBCUs in the Greater Washington Area, including Howard University, whose freshman class may be its largest in history, and Bowie State University, which reported an 8% increase, were overjoyed – particularly as many colleges in the U.S. have seen their numbers shrink dramatically during the pandemic. But with the new semester less than a few weeks old, several problems have already occurred. For Howard’s students, the first challenge is finding housing. Officials say more upperclassmen, unable to pay the rising prices of apartments in the District, have chosen to remain on campus. These students are experiencing the dilemma that adults have faced for years – a lack of affordable housing in the District. But the more serious problem with which Howard must now contend is the increase in COVID-19 infections on the campus – something which was probably inevitable. With a record-number of students occupying the yard, reporting to classrooms and packing rooms in student housing facilities, chances are great that infection rates will keep going up. Did officials have a contingency plan just in case? If so, we haven’t heard about it. As for the faculty and staff at Howard, many of whom are either 65 or older or living with pre-existing health conditions, returning to campus might not be the best decision. And you can’t blame them for their growing anxiety. Whether you support being vaccinated or not, as much as we would like to believe it, the truth remains that COVID-19 and emerging variants have not been eradicated. Is the party over almost as soon as it began? And is the crisis that Howard University officials now face, one that is indicative of things to come for other colleges and universities? We hope not. But it’s difficult to think otherwise. WI
Let’s Get Back to School While I understand reservations about the COVID-19 virus in schools, I think most children should go to school. Virtual options should be for children with health conditions and who are at more risk of severe illness. In my opinion, children need in-person learning and socialization. Rita Ladson Washington, D.C.
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TO THE EDITOR
Sickle Cell Awareness
I didn't know that September is Sickle Cell Awareness Month and was glad to find that out from your paper. I have several family members who have suffered and continue to suffer with the disease. It’s truly hard to watch people you love in pain. Let’s continue to make our community aware and combat this together. Mavis Tepin Washington, D.C.
The Washington Informer welcomes letters to the editor about articles we publish or issues affecting the community. Write to: lsaxton@washingtoninformer. com or send to: 3117 Martin Luther King Jr Ave., SE, Washington, D.C. 20032. Please note that we are unable to publish letters that do not include a full name, address and phone number. We look forward to hearing from you. SEPTEMBER 9 - 15, 2021 29
