Sept. 11 and Donald Trump
OPINION —
One year after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, author and editor Hugh Downs asked a variety of individuals to contribute essays about America for his book “My America: What My Country Means to Me by 150 Americans from All Walks of Life.”
Among those 150 Americans were TV stars like Alan Alda, sports stars like Yogi Berra, former President George Bush, TV personality Art Linkletter, poet Maya Angelou and New York businessman Donald Trump. In 2002, Trump was 56 years old. He was one of the largest real estate developers in New York. He had not yet begun to produce and host TV’s The Apprentice. He was a businessman not a politician. He had not seriously decided to enter politics.
Some essayists titled their essay. For example, Steve Forbes, president, CEO and editor of Forbes magazine and a former U.S. presidential candidate, titled his essay “America’s New Sense of Destiny.” Trump did not title his one and one-quarter page contribution.
“I view this country as being intelligent and brave,” Trump wrote. “To my mind, this is a fortuitous and unbeatable combination.
“I am not only proud to be an American, but extremely grateful to have had the good fortune of being born in this country. That alone is an enviable position to many peoples of the world, and I never lose sight of that fact.
“No matter how bad things might be, I will always feel lucky. This country is a no-lose situation. Being here is equal to being a winner,” Trump wrote.
About the attacks of Sept. 11, Trump wrote: “It took an act of depravity and spiritual destitution to awaken us to our great good fortune as Americans. It also reminded us of how brave we can be and how adaptable we must be in the face of changing circumstances.”
About continued Al-Qaeda terror threats after the Sept. 11 attacks, Trump said: “This country will not be stopped. I will not be stopped [from building tall buildings]. And I think our strength and pride have been made evident to the world without having to say a single word. And that is saying something.”
Trump’s non-controversial essay in “My America” is strongly patriotic. It is a call for American unity in a dangerous world. It is a call for Americans to stand tall and proud in difficult times.
After the terror attacks of Sept. 11, America was briefly united. That united spirit of America is what Downs captured in the essays that comprise “My America.” Given the extreme political divisions of 2024, it is important to read about a time of political unity in our country. Perhaps the 2024 presidential election will restore a much-needed sense of unity in our nation.
James Patterson
