On that day, thousands of people were victimized by acts of hate. Most of them never knew what really happened. They had gone to work or boarded a plane. They never suspected the murderous plot conceived halfway around the world. It never occurred to them that the mundane activities that they engaged in that day – the exercise of the freedom to live, work, and travel as they pleased – had inspired an animosity so intense that its perpetrators were driven to commit acts of terrorism on a scale that the world had never before witnessed. This was not an attack on America – it was a declaration of war on the world.

 

The terrorists were inspired by their fear of freedom, but many others that day were inspired by their love of it. This love of freedom was more than patriotic zeal. It was a very human reaction to tyranny, to unreasonable limits on life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. The spirit of resistance against tyranny is not a uniquely American trait – it is the essence of being human.

 

The true victims of September 11th were those who had no chance to confront the evil that threatened because they were unaware of its ultimate intent. But as the events of that day unfolded, 21st century technology intervened. Within minutes, the true nature of the hijackers was revealed – they weren’t looking for a ride to a distant homeland, they weren’t interested in ransom. They wanted only one thing – to kill as many strangers as they could. They were evil incarnate.

 

For an all too brief moment on Flight 93, the ubiquitous telephone became an instrument of history. Amid anxious messages between loved ones, the link between events in New York and Washington became apparent. Suddenly, the passengers and crew realized that they too were part of an unimaginable assault. But unlike thousands of others that day, they had the time, the means, the wit, and the courage to act. Intuitively, a band of strangers was transformed by their love of freedom. They understood the threat and took a stand. They knew that lives other than their own were in danger. They drew strength from the people they loved, and from each other. In their act of ultimate self-sacrifice, good overwhelmed evil, and the price was dear.

 

Who were these people? Their names are familiar to us. We have gotten to know them through the generosity of their families and friends. In their sacrifice, the passengers and crew of Flight 93 entered into a covenant with us, the citizens of the world. Their deliberate action was an affirmation that freedom for all people must be valued above even life itself. We are bound by their brave deed to continue their effort, to defend freedom wherever it is threatened, to resist tyranny wherever it arises. We must do this not because we are Americans, but because we are people. Words and understanding ended the terrorism on September 11th; words and understanding have the power to liberate the people of the world.