Thirteen years have passed since that fateful day that shook our nation and forever changed the course of history. Today, on this anniversary of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks in New York City, Washington, D.C., and Shanksville, Pennsylvania, the Turkic American Alliance mourns and remembers those 2,977 innocent victims whose lives were cut tragically short, as well as their loved ones, families and friends who continue to bear the weight of grief and loss. The Turkic American Alliance also remembers and honors those brave men and women, both in and out of uniform, who took heroic action that day that saved the lives of so many.
The Turkic American Alliance and its six regional federations and over 240 local members organizations located across the United States condemn in the strongest terms possible the 9/11 attacks and all other atrocious and cowardly acts of terrorism. It is devastating to see the religion of Islam used as a justification for such horrendous acts of savagery and carnage, for Islam is incompatible with terrorism, and Muslims, in the truest sense, cannot be terrorists. We abhor all those who violate the beauty and peace of Islam with such heinous acts and disregard for human life, and we urgently implore those swept up in radical ideology to immediately turn back from the dangerous and deeply misguided path you are traversing.
The Turkic American Alliance hopes and prays for a nation that, in the wake of such unspeakable tragedy, continues to be unified under the common creed and banner of the values, freedoms and liberties entrusted in us by the United States of America. We pray that our fellow countrymen not be torn apart and divided by fear, hate and mistrust of the other. To counter and prevent such feelings, we strongly believe in engaging in the spirit of love, tolerance, dialogue, compassion and understanding within our communities and, by extension, as a nation. This way, seeds of hate and discord may be transformed into seeds of respect, empathy and harmony.
Today, as a nation, we are in mourning. Together we stand. May God forever bless these United States of America.
