September 11 memories not free of politics

Several of us in the Gazette newsroom know exactly where we were when the first plane flew into the Twin Towers -- right where we were this morning.

It was a chaotic time of confusion, but as the second plane hit a tower and another hit the Pentagon, we quickly realized we were living through a momentous experience. When the fourth plane fell in Pennsylvania, we guessed, correctly, that passengers had fought back.

We're sure we haven't aged that much, but can it be 12 years already since the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks?

Yes, it has, and there reminders everywhere.

Frequent fliers have adapted to the routine of removing shoes, leaving bottles of shampoo behind and allowing a couple of extra hours to get on a plane. Local radio stations are airing ads for Transportation Security Administration positions, and onlookers who wanted to walk around a visiting World War II bomber Monday were herded away from the ramp when a scheduled airliner arrived.

Flags are flying at half staff today, designated Patriot Day in honor of the 3,000 people lost in New York, Washington and Pennsylvania.

"These tragedies also revealed once again the bravery and strength of our country and our people," Sen. Deb Fischer said in a release. "Ordinary Americans commuted to work on a sunny morning, and in an instant, transformed into heroes running toward -- not away from -- burning buildings to save others still trying to get out. In the aftermath of the attack, among the rubble, first responders planted an American flag, signaling to the world our nation remains resolute and our values endure. Today, we honor the memory of those lost, we salute those who have served our nation in the years since, and we renew our resolve to defend our freedom."

The conflict between the values of some of those in the Middle East and the West continue, with the United States again pondering military action in the region -- while still not extricated from military action taken in response to the September 11 attacks.

And, while Americans of all political stripes pulled together 12 years ago, it didn't take long for political considerations to return.

This year's statement from U.S. Rep. Adrian Smith of the 3rd District, included: "Today, we also remember the four Americans who were killed one year ago while serving our country in Benghazi, Libya," an issue sure to come up if and when former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton runs for president.

The political considerations extend to ordinary citizens as well, with our feeling of safety from terrorism linked to our political leanings.

According to a Wall Street Journal/NBC News poll, four in 10 Americans feel the country is safer now than before the attacks. A third of us feel we're as safe now as we were then, and 28 percent feel we are less safe.

Not surprisingly, Republicans felt very safe throughout the administration of President George W. Bush, including 2004, when 69 percent of Republicans felt the country was safer than before the 2001 attacks, while just 18 percent of Democrats and 32 percent of independents felt similarly secure.

Only three months after President Barack Obama took over, 36 percent of Democrats felt safer than they did pre-9/11, while only 23 percent of Republicans did.

While everyone's sense of security jumped after Osama bin Laden was killed in 2011, the most recent poll showed half the Democrats feel the country is safer, compared to 33 percent of Republicans and 29 percent of independents.

Whatever our political stripe, today is a good time to ponder the meaning of the flag at half staff and those who lost their lives in its defense.