Obama Seeks Unity of 9/11: ‘Let’s Summon That Spirit Once More’
EmailABC News’ Devin Dwyer (@devindwyer) reports:
As the nation grapples with a lagging economy, and the destruction from Hurricane Irene, President Obama invoked the memory of Sept. 11, 2001, in his weekly address, calling on Americans to unite through acts of service in their communities.
With the ten year anniversary of 9/11 just two weeks away, Obama proclaimed the date a National Day of Service and Remembrance, saying service is the best way to honor victims and “to reaffirm the strength of our nation with acts of service and charity.”
“Even the smallest act of service, the simplest act of kindness, is a way to honor those we lost,” Obama said, “a way to reclaim that spirit of unity that followed 9/11.”
Obama acknowledged “great challenges” facing the country, including the lingering economic crisis and wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, but said solving the issues cannot be done by the federal government alone.
“The strength of America has always been the character and compassion of our people,” Obama said. “So as we mark this solemn anniversary, let’s summon that spirit once more.
"And let’s show that the sense of common purpose that we need in America doesn’t have to be a fleeting moment; it can be a lasting virtue—not just on one day, but every day.”
The president and first lady will commemorate the 10th anniversary of the attacks by visiting all three sites — Shanksville, Pa.; New York City, N.Y.; and Washington, D.C. — where Americans lost their lives.
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Where is Bo the dog,I have still not seen a picture of him. I saw the picture of the
family getting back on White House grounds
but no Bo. The whole vacation and no picture with the dog. Poor dog was nothing but a prop.
Posted by: deadwrestler | August 27, 2011, 7:02 am 7:02 am
He will probably take a later flight. Actually I thought I read at one time the Bo travels out with the SS. Back when they went on Vaca to Hawaii someone asked that and I believe that was the answer.
Posted by: Rafe | August 27, 2011, 8:29 am 8:29 am
I can not believe that Bloomburg did not want prayer at the ceremony for 9/11. I hope everyone breaks into The Lord’s Prayer. They have to do something. That’s just not right! And what about the fire fighters and first responders? Are they gonna be invited now? I guess they, prayers, fire fighters, first responders, are not invited because THEY SHOWED UP UNINVITED ON 9/11!
Posted by: Rafe | August 27, 2011, 8:43 am 8:43 am
Where is the prayer Mr. President, where are the men and women that served as first responders? Why are they not allowed? Yes, you are changing our country but all for the worse.
Posted by: Freedom | August 27, 2011, 9:09 am 9:09 am
…[Obama] said solving the issues cannot be done by the federal government alone…
***************************
What a revelation!
Is President Obama finally realizing this or is he just trying to pre-empt the Republican platform?
Our next chance to achieve common purpose will occur in November 2012.
Posted by: Oliver Shagnasty | August 27, 2011, 10:01 am 10:01 am
He always says the government can’t do this alone. They need our help. And then in his emails they usually ask for donations. It’s all about getting him re-elected.
Posted by: Rafe | August 27, 2011, 10:29 am 10:29 am
The perpetually negative comments here are just silly.
No one, not this administration or any previous one has ever said that the government can solve every problem.
But without the government regulating things we have disasters like big oil spills, the horrible Katrina response, the recent banking crisis, etc.
Realistically, we live in a huge country with over 350 million people, it needs organization so the greediest don’t hurt the rest of us with bad food, water, air, working conditions, safe vehicles, etc. We’ve seen again and again, that capitalism without regulation leads to expensive disasters.
Posted by: Lydia | August 27, 2011, 11:07 am 11:07 am
Why is it that we can’t be as united as when we have a common enemy like after 9/11?
In reality, we have many enemies, like cancer, heart disease, huge problems like poverty, which leads to increases in crime (expensive for the individual victims and to all of us in costs for inmates..$40,000 a year!), and outside challenges like China taking too many jobs(which leads to more crime, more need for government expenses like food stamps, etc. because of bad treaties and a lack of protective tariffs.
We all need to step back and realize the actual problems can all be dealt with much more thoroughly if we are united in our efforts.
Posted by: Lydia | August 27, 2011, 11:13 am 11:13 am
Yes we should unite for a common purpose. The next presidential is over a year away. We have work that needs to be done now. The saying is to not put off tomorrow what you can do today. If these republicans have ideas about how to make America succeed then do it now. Democrats and Republicans have one thing always in common… these are Americans
Posted by: TV | August 27, 2011, 11:35 am 11:35 am
“The perpetually negative comments here are just silly.”
*********************
On the other hand, the perpetually positive comments here are simply brilliant.
“We’ve seen again and again, that capitalism without regulation leads to expensive disasters.”
**********************************
We’re seeing right now that regulation without capitalism leads to recessions, with the poor and minorities being hardest hit.
“Why is it that we can’t be as united as when we have a common enemy like after 9/11?”
*******************************
That becomes fairly obvious when a liberal’s laundry list of “enemies” includes specific DISEASES (albeit curious omissions of AIDs and Global Climate Change) and a hint of a “Buy American” campaign while failing to include any reference to Islamic theocratic fascist terrorists.
Revealing.
Posted by: Oliver Shagnasty | August 27, 2011, 11:37 am 11:37 am
I donated money to a republican in a show of unity against this dreadful president.
Posted by: foggy | August 27, 2011, 12:11 pm 12:11 pm
Yeah right,
Mr. President, you have Ramadan in the White House and buddy-buddy with our enemies and you want us to unit with you? Baloney, you Democrats removed that unity by crying out that the war was only for oil. And Mr Bloomberg was to take prayer from a solemn ceremony to remember lives.
No, you’re on your own. We don’t want you. You’re foreign to everything that is American.
There, you’ve done it. Your division is complete.
Posted by: Angry American | August 27, 2011, 12:28 pm 12:28 pm
PLEASE! Let’s leave this Muslim loving do-nothing President out of any remembrance of 9-11. Anyone who would bow to theses terrorist is not in anyway a friend of mine.
Posted by: Bob Ramsey | August 27, 2011, 12:46 pm 12:46 pm
God be with those who gave their lives that day. Only retribution will come close to my acceptance. May those who lost a loved one be comforted and know we will find and eradicate those responsible!
Posted by: Bob Ramsey | August 27, 2011, 12:50 pm 12:50 pm
Obama said, “a way to reclaim that spirit of unity that followed 9/11.”
I’m glad he said that. The 9/12ers are very patriotic. Lot’s of them joined the Tea Party Movement.
Getting back to that spirit of American Greatness, no one messes with us, would go a long way towards restoring our honor, getting back to work and cutting the spending to get our financial house in order.
Posted by: Noz | August 27, 2011, 12:56 pm 12:56 pm
Obama is sinking to a new low….”politicizing” the horrific event of 9/11. Obama, the Muslim loving POTUS, who slapped the families of the Twin Tower victims in thier faces with his support of building a mosque at ground zero, should just keep his mouth closed! AMERICA could care less what Barack Obama has to say on this sad anniversary…the one term, down-grade Obama is a complete and utter loser!
No Plan
No Clue
NOBAMA!
Posted by: David From Texas | August 27, 2011, 1:13 pm 1:13 pm
Barack Obama on Super Bowl Sunday, February 2009:
PRESIDENT OBAMA: that’s exactly right. And — and, you know, a year from now I think people — are gonna see that — we’re starting to make some progress [on the economy]. But there’s still gonna be some pain out there. If I don’t have this done in three years, then there’s gonna be a one-term proposition.
Posted by: Fascist Hyena | August 27, 2011, 1:35 pm 1:35 pm
“By the way patriots, in case you missed it – we got bin Laden! And we’ve been taking out many al Qaeda leaders with precision drone strikes every year since Obama was elected.” – Stu
The Pros in the intelligence business and the Military are responsible for all of that, most of who also worked for Bushie. I expect they will continue their excellent work when we have a Conservative President in 2013. Prosecuting the War on Terror will go on with much success no matter who is President.
Posted by: Noz | August 27, 2011, 1:48 pm 1:48 pm
“Yeah, and I’m sure you’d be the first to attack and blame this president should any terrorist incident occur.”
If Bush were president you would know how many wars the US is fighting right now but he’s not and I bet you don’t.
Posted by: foggy | August 27, 2011, 2:40 pm 2:40 pm
The ONLY 9/11 “spirit” remaining comes from those lost souls who DEMAND JUSTICE against those in our government who orchestrated 9/11.
David F. P
Posted by: PetranoEsq | August 27, 2011, 3:42 pm 3:42 pm
The country is in worse shape now with Obama in charge,and he hasn’t got a clue as to what to do except tax and spend.He wants us to unite behind this! In 2012 we will unite and send this community organizer back to Chicago.
Posted by: Johnny L | August 27, 2011, 10:04 pm 10:04 pm
Retribution for 9/11
“We will kill bin Laden. We will crush al Qaeda. That has to be our biggest national security priority.” Candidate Barack Obama.
During the campaign for president, President Obama said his first military priorities would be Afghanistan and al Qaeda – and retribution for 9/11.
He also said he wouldn’t hesitate to use targeted strikes to take out bin Laden or al Qaeda leadership.
And that is exactly what he has been doing. Many al Qaeda leaders have been targeted and taken out; Osama bin Laden has been targeted and taken out.
We are getting exactly what he stated during the campaign.
We have much to unite over during this marking of 9/11.
Posted by: Peter | August 28, 2011, 12:50 am 12:50 am
I finally agree with Obama. We Americans should unite; a solid block of opposition to his failed policies just might be what is needed to improve confidence in the economy. United opposition to tax and spend would boost business confidence. United opposition to a foreign policy centered on dumping on our allies and coddling our enemies would certainly help mend fences.
Who knew? Obama is the “great uniter” after all!
Posted by: Jenny | August 28, 2011, 11:33 am 11:33 am
Retribution for 9/11
“We will kill bin Laden. We will crush al Qaeda. That has to be our biggest national security priority.” Candidate Barack Obama.
During the campaign for president, President Obama said his first military priorities would be Afghanistan and al Qaeda – and retribution for 9/11.
He also said he wouldn’t hesitate to use targeted strikes to take out bin Laden or al Qaeda leadership.
And that is exactly what he has been doing. Many al Qaeda leaders have been targeted and taken out; Osama bin Laden has been targeted and taken out.
We are getting exactly what he stated during the campaign.
We have much to unite over during this marking of 9/11.
Posted by: Peter | Aug 28, 2011 12:50:14 AM
Thank you for posting this Peter.
Posted by: Wanda | August 28, 2011, 2:00 pm 2:00 pm
I finally agree with Obama. We Americans should unite; a solid block of opposition to his failed policies just might be what is needed to improve confidence in the economy. United opposition to tax and spend would boost business confidence. United opposition to a foreign policy centered on dumping on our allies and coddling our enemies would certainly help mend fences.
Who knew? Obama is the “great uniter” after all!
Posted by: Jenny | Aug 28, 2011 11:33:53 AM
Thank you for posting this Jenny.
Posted by: Noz | August 28, 2011, 2:42 pm 2:42 pm
Retribution for 9/11
“We will kill bin Laden. We will crush al Qaeda. That has to be our biggest national security priority.” Candidate Barack Obama.
During the campaign for president, President Obama said his first military priorities would be Afghanistan and al Qaeda – and retribution for 9/11.
He also said he wouldn’t hesitate to use targeted strikes to take out bin Laden or al Qaeda leadership.
And that is exactly what he has been doing. Many al Qaeda leaders have been targeted and taken out; Osama bin Laden has been targeted and taken out.
We are getting exactly what he stated during the campaign.
We have much to unite over during this marking of 9/11.
Posted by: Peter | Aug 28, 2011 12:50:14 AM
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Thank you Mr. President.
Posted by: Norm | August 28, 2011, 4:01 pm 4:01 pm