President Joe Biden marked the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks by criticizing Americans for the anti-Muslim anger that occurred in the United States after the attacks took place.
“We also witnessed the dark forces of human nature. Fear and anger. Resentment and violence against Muslim-Americans — true and faithful followers of a peaceful religion,” Biden said in a prerecorded video published for the occasion.
The president said that the principle of “unity” in the country was endangered by the attacks but ultimately prevailed.
“We also saw something all too rare, a true sense of national unity,” he recalled. “Unity and resilience – the capacity to recover and repair in the face of trauma, unity in service.”
Biden released his pre-recorded video, as the White House confirmed Friday he had no plans to address the nation on the 20th anniversary of the attacks.
He began by recalling a friend of his who lost their son in the attacks in New York City and sympathized with the families who lost loved ones in the attacks.
“America and the world commemorate you and your loved ones, the pieces of your soul,” he said.
Biden also recognized the fallen first responders and members of the military who lost their lives in subsequent years.
“It’s so hard, whether it’s the first year or the 20th,” he said.
Biden concluded by citing one of his favorite poets, Ernest Hemingway.
“We find strength in its broken places, as Hemingway wrote. We find light in the darkness, we find purpose to repair, renew, and rebuild,” he said.
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