Today we remember and pray for the dead- the 3000 men and women who lost their lives on that bright sunny morning 10 years ago.
Today we remember and pray for all those who were left behind- mothers, fathers, sons and daughters, partners and spouse, friends and loved ones.
Let us pause for a moment and in each of our faith traditions pray for those who have died and those who lost loved ones on that day.
Much has been written about the transformation of the United States and the global community in the last ten years- two wars, trillions of dollars spent, threat alerts, the Patriot Act.
Every day we learn of another man or woman killed in the line of duty in Afghanistan or Iraq or another region of the globe fighting individuals dedicated to the violent transformation of society.
Today, we also remember those men and women and their families and friends who have sacrificed so much for the cause of freedom in the aftermath of September 11, 2001.
But, prayers and remembrance alone are insufficient to truly honor the memories of those who lost their lives.
Throughout history some men and women have chosen to bring about their vision of a new society through violence, murder, terror, and torture.
Some have done that as heads of state, some as revolutionaries outside the bounds of society.
Both believe that their vision justifies the objectification and subjection of human beings by any means necessary.
Both use philosophy or religion or science to justify the debasement of human beings and the destruction of civil society.
Both use the trappings of faith or ideology to justify the most barbaric, savage, and uncivilized acts.
Both reduce human beings to utilitarian objects in grand schemes of world domination.
So while we pray and remember today we rededicate ourselves to the values and principles of democracy.
We reaffirm the rights of all people to pursue life, liberty and happiness.
And we recommit ourselves to defend these values and rights.
By doing so, we not only remember the dead, we honor their memory and promise them that their deaths are not in vain.
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