Between two anniversaries

The author reflects on the upcoming 25th anniversary of 9/11 and America's 250th birthday, using personal memories of the World Trade Center, where he worked, to frame a discussion on national identity and civic memory. He recounts watching the Twin Towers rise as a child and later fall on September 11, 2001, from his Midtown office, noting the immediate aftermath where "Americans watched strangers help strangers." The article emphasizes that remembrance requires understanding what was learned from 9/11 and how America has changed since. It argues that while America has always had divisions, the most significant change is the increasing questioning of a shared national story, with political disagreement often becoming personal contempt. The author, as a Jewish American, highlights the importance of "disciplined memory" for survival and calls for a renewed commitment to civic memory, teaching future generations the principles of liberty, free speech, and religious freedom. He concludes by stating that the "Great American Experiment remains an experiment" and its continuation depends on each generation's belief in its worth and their commitment to building a future that preserves essential values.