Biden, On 9/11, Says Americans Must Not Succumb to the Poisonous Politics of Difference and Division

[Celerity]

The president called on Americans to defend democracy in remarks at an Alaskan military base

https://themessenger.com/politics/9-11-anniversary-president-joe-biden-calls-for-unity



President Joe Biden, speaking at a military base in Alaska, marked the 22nd anniversary of September 11 with a call for unity – and a reminder to remain vigilant in the fight to preserve democracy. “It shouldn’t take a national tragedy to remind us of the power of national unity, but that’s how we truly honor those we lost on 9/11 – by remembering what we can do together,” he said. Biden said the “central lesson” of 9/11 is that there’s nothing the U.S. can’t accomplish when Americans defend democracy. Terrorists failed “but we must remain vigilant,” he said, because of a “rising tide of hatred and extremism and political violence.”

“It's more important than ever that we come together around the principle of American democracy, regardless of our political backgrounds,” he said. “We must not succumb to the poisonous politics of difference and division. Me must never allow ourselves to be pulled apart by petty manufactured grievances. We must continue to stand united.” Biden added, “Always remember, American democracy depends not on some of us, but on all of us.”

Biden delivered his remarks in Anchorage before more than 1,000 U.S. service members, first responders and their families. His speech came during his return trip to Washington from the G20 Summit in India and his meetings with leaders in Vietnam. “These trips are a central part of how we're going to ensure the United States is flanked by the broadest array of allies and partners who will stand with us and deter any threat to our security, to build a world that is safer for all of our children – something that today of all days, we're reminded of, is not a given,” he said.

Biden noted how, earlier in the day, he visited a memorial honoring the late Sen. John McCain, an Arizona Republican who was a prisoner of war for more than five years during the Vietnam War. He recalled how he and his longtime friend – “like two brothers” – would “argue like hell” when they served together in the Senate and then go to lunch together. He said McCain, as he was dying, kissed him, told him he loved him and asked him to say his eulogy. He admired McCain, he said, because he put duty to his country first, above his party, politics and his own person.

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