On this day we remember the anniversary of the September 11, 2001 terror attacks when 19 members of the Islamic extremist group Al Qaeda hijacked four airplanes and conducted suicide attacks against targets in the United States. Almost 3,000 people lost their lives that day.

Recently, we’ve seen horrific actions including the fatal stabbing of 23-year-old Iryna Zarutska while she was on a train, and the murder of conservative political activist Charlie Kirk while onstage at Utah Valley University.

There is something that has been lost in America. Basic humanity, the innate human capacity for concern for the well-being of others, has been lost. Simple behaviors like empathy, compassion, helpfulness, and altruism have been lost. The ability to have open dialogue, to be intellectually honest without the fear of reprisal, or corporal, or even fatal repercussions has been lost.

I offer that it is a fundamental aspect of our social nature, allowing us to connect, cooperate, and act beyond our immediate self-interest. Factors like negative environments, false media reporting, and divisive ideologies have diminished our connection to each other.

While our thoughts and prayers are with our soldiers, veterans, and the US citizens lost during 9/11, the family of Ms. Zarutska, the family of Charlie Kirk and the Turning Point USA organization, I ask that their loss not be in vain. I ask that each of us dedicate time each day to talking to someone unlike ourselves, people with different political, cultural and/or religious viewpoints. I suspect that you will find commonality around the basic hierarchy of needs: physiological, safety and belonging. Everyone wants to feel safe where we work, worship, and our children go to school. I also offer that persons that attack, murder, and act with malicious intent to harm others should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

God Bless.