Living Like It’s September 12th: Dangers of the Modern Lens

We shouldn’t need another 9/11 to wake up. Because in the end, liberty prevails when a nation values its freedom more than a false sense of security.
Living Like It’s September 12th: Dangers of the Modern Lens
A fiery blasts rocks the World Trade Center after being hit by two planes, in New York City, on Sept. 11, 2001. Spencer Platt/Getty Images
Battlefields Staff
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Commentary

I reject the “live like it’s September 12th” narrative. While I understand its intent and the call to action, I believe it addresses the symptom and not the root cause. I do not write this to be provocative or contrary; but as always, to simply go deeper on my own positions.

Speaking in generalities, I am sure most if not all of us, in the face of tragedy, have reached across the proverbial aisle to those not aligned with us, regardless of the scale of the tragedy. In times of great tragedy, there is an instinctive preservationist sensibility that the time for unity is greater than any singular or collective set of ideological differences.

Peyton Knippel is a retired tactical air control party specialist (TACP). He spent time as a conventional TACP, TACP Instructor, and 17th special tactics squadron TACP, supporting the 2/75 Ranger Regiment. Peyton has eight deployments to Afghanistan, going back to Dec. 2001 with the 10th Mountain Division, and one deployment to Iraq during the surge. Peyton retired in May of 2020 and lives in Utah with his wife and son. He is involved with veteran transition groups like The Honor Foundation and Elite Meet. One of his primary focus areas in retirement is helping other veterans retire / transition successfully.
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