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9/11 – Forward Focus

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Where were you when it happened? As anyone from my parents generations can answer where they were when John F. Kennedy was assassinated, my generation is able to recall without hesitation where they where when those who hate America, and the freedom it stands for, inexorably changed the world as we know it five years ago today. Has it really been that long? Have we made much improvement in our interaction with the world? From a personal perspective, have my actions, or lack of actions, helped or hindered our situation? There is obviously no easy answer or a simple solution to these problems. There is no magic pill that America can produce to instantly change the opinions of those who have successfully terrorized our country.

I encourage you to not forget the past but let us stand together and focus on the future. Where do we go from here? I would suggest that the focus should not only be outwards on the flaws in logic of our assailants, but to also undergo internal analysis. What fatal flaws are we making to cause others to hate us with such passion? It is easy to point the finger at our elected representatives and say, “You have failed us.” The deeper question I would ask is what else can we do now? Let us not avoid the correct solution because the solution might take too long or be too difficult. Let us not seek the quick patch job.

This will not be a war won with rifles and mortar shells, but rather by the unity of the mind. The battles will be over thoughts that promote religions freedom and a peaceful outlook preaching tolerance and acceptance. These are the same qualities that are the cornerstone of our countries foundation. I believe that we must also do a better job at listening. The world is telling us our actions may have led us down the incorrect path. I believe there are many things we can do better. Let us stand together and win the minds of those who disagree with us. Let’s accomplish this goal through open communication and by showing the world by our actions that we are not a country to be hated, but a country to be supported and embraced.

What can I do? I will continue to support our troops, our freedom, our way of life, but I will also openly question my elected officials and hope that increased awareness and participation can help to secure a better way of life for all.

Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable.”- John F. Kennedy

Kendall Schoenrock’s business background includes experience in tech startups, real estate development, and angel investing. Currently he runs Schoenrock Investments, a family real estate investing office that is an umbrella to multiple other entities focused on residential, commercial, and entrepreneurial endeavors.

Comments (5)

  1. Kendall, I agree with a lot of your points. Being a citizen of a world superpower country brings numerous benefits and a high quality of life, but with that comes great responsibility. We all have an obligation to take our role in the policy decision making process seriously realizing that decisions today will impact the shape of the world to for years to come. 9-11 was not a fluke occurrence or something that happened by chance. The path of events that lead to that day were set in motion years, even decades before. And in the same way, actions we take and decisions we make today may have positive or negative impacts we cannot imagine in 20 years. History will be the ultimate judge.

  2. Absolutely. This country was founded on the principle that governments of men were fallible and required the citizenry to question them regularly and even be prepared to replace them should they get out of control (i.e. the right to bear arms).

    For me, I think repairing our reputation requires us to stay out of the affairs of others more often than we are now. We haven’t really done a good job in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict up to this point despite repeated efforts to resolve it. Perhaps it is not up to us to resolve?

  3. Hey Kendall… another outstanding blog!!! Keep them up, we love to know your opinion on history, and every day occurances. Thanks for sharing.

  4. Thanks to Carmina I discovered your blog. I have been perplexed by these same issues during the last few years–actually going back to the Vietnam Era. Critical thinking and inner exploration is not highly prized in a sound-bite, media-driven culture, but I dare to keep teaching Plato’s GORGIAS in my English 1B class and find solace in literatures of peoples all over the world which prove that most people want to lead decent lives of love and connection, not hate and fear. As Kansas-born poet, William Stafford puts it: “There are Aunt Mabels all over the world/ Or their graves in the rain.”

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