GUEST COMMENTARY
by Senator Tanya Storer
The following commentary was submitted by State Senator Tanya Storer. The views expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Sandhills Express or KCNI/KBBN.
Last week gave me several reasons to reflect on who we are as Americans, how we respond to tragedy, and what kind of country we want to leave to the next generation. Twenty-five years ago, on September 11th, 2001, our nation experienced an act of evil that changed us forever. It is difficult to believe that a quarter-century has passed. Like so many Americans, I still remember the disbelief, the fear, and the horrifying images that unfolded before us that day. Nearly 3,000 innocent people lost their lives, families were changed forever, and first responders, service members, and countless others would carry the consequences of that day for years to come. But I also remember what happened on September 12th. Americans came together. Neighbors checked on neighbors. Across the country, people stepped forward to help in whatever way they could. Churches filled with prayer. American flags appeared everywhere. We did not suddenly agree about everything, but for a time, our differences became less important than our shared humanity and our responsibility to one another.
I thought about that spirit again last week while attending the Traveling Vietnam Wall and Cost of Freedom Tribute in Crawford and recognizing our Gold Star Mothers and Families. Standing before a wall filled with the names of Americans who gave their lives in service to our country is a powerful reminder that every name belonged to someone deeply loved: a son or daughter, husband or wife, parent, sibling, friend, neighbor, or member of a community. We had the opportunity to recognize the family of Private First Class Floyd Dean Johnson, one of Dawes County’s own, who gave his life while serving in Vietnam, as well as Pat Mracek, whose son, Army Sergeant Cory Mracek, gave his life while serving in Iraq. Their families, and Gold Star families across our nation, understand sacrifice in a way most of us never will.
What also stayed with me was the way these families have turned grief into continued service. They support veterans, servicemembers, military families, and one another. They preserve the stories of those they lost and make certain their sacrifices are never forgotten. In our small communities, we understand that instinct. We bring food. We make the phone call. We offer a ride. We sit with someone who is hurting, and most importantly, we continue showing up after the ceremony is over. That willingness to care for one another is part of who we are at our best, and I believe we need more of it today.
That is why the tone of our country concerns me so deeply. We have become far too comfortable with rage, ridicule, and dehumanizing one another over politics, beliefs, and disagreements. We see cruelty rewarded on social media and terrible behavior excused because the target may be someone we do not like. The issue goes well beyond any one person or event. We have to stop accepting the idea that hatred is permissible simply because it is directed at the “other side.”
Too often, the response is, “They do it too.” Someone says something hateful, so we answer with something worse. Someone behaves cruelly, and we justify our own cruelty because we believe the other side started it. At some point, we have to stop judging conduct by who is doing it and who the target happens to be. Giving another person grace does not require surrendering our convictions. Civility does not require silence. We can debate vigorously, defend our beliefs, call out wrongdoing, and still recognize another person’s humanity. Cruelty does not become acceptable because it receives thousands of likes, and hatred does not become justified because someone we disagree with is its target.
There is much about September 11th that none of us would ever want to relive. But there are parts of September 12th that I wish we could remember more clearly. We remembered that we were neighbors. We prayed for strangers. We honored sacrifice. We stood beside grieving families. Twenty-five years later, perhaps “Never Forget” should mean more than remembering the terrible events of one September morning. It should also remind us of how Americans responded when hatred confronted us. Let us extend more grace, refuse to celebrate another person’s pain, stop excusing hatred because it comes from our own “side,” and remember that disagreement does not have to make us enemies. We cannot control everything happening around us, but we can decide what we will tolerate, what we will participate in, and what example we will set. We can choose to be better, and we can refuse to let hate win.
Staying connected with the people of District 43 remains an important part of representing you. I value hearing your questions, concerns, and ideas. Your input helps guide my work and ensures the voices of our communities remain part of these important conversations in the Nebraska Legislature. Please continue to reach out to me or my office. I always appreciate hearing from you.
Please note that my email address has changed to [email protected]
Respectfully,
Senator Tanya Storer
