Publisher's Memo
Life-Changing Events
September 11, 2001
It’s hard to believe that this year marks the 20-year anniversary of the September 11th terrorist attacks.
On September 11, 2001, two airplanes exploded into the Twin Towers at The World Trade Center in New York City. Another plane struck the Pentagon in Washington, D.C. A fourth plane crashed in a field in Shanksville, PA.
Nearly 3,000 innocent people were killed, and the event triggered major initiatives by our government that have changed our lives forever.
In November 2001, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) was created to provide extensive airport security protocols with X-ray machines, photo IDs, and a “No Fly” list…to name a few.
On November 25, 2002, the Department of Homeland Security was founded to “prevent terrorist attacks in the United States and to reduce vulnerability to them,” according to Forbes.com.
Finally, surveillance has increased, and laws have been passed to provide information gathering and sharing to help ensure more regional, national, and global safety.
There’s no doubt that the events of September 11, 2001, had a permanent and significant impact on American culture and society. According to USA Today, it is a “seismic event in U.S. history but ranked second on the list of big challenges the U.S. has faced in modern times.” COVID-19 has ranked first!
COVID-19 in 2021
Now, as we muddle through the COVID 19 pandemic, 642,000 in the U.S. alone have died and the virus has also brought changes that are here to stay.
From a business perspective, we are using technology in a much more sophisticated way. Our law firms say that “Zoom Hearings,” remote access and e-signatures are gaining favor in the courts. Many judges previously frowned on these options when in-person hearings were standard protocol.
There is a mix of opinions from business owners on allowing employees to work from home, but my guess is that remote work is here to stay in some fashion. For example, virtual meetings and instant messaging can be extremely efficient and are likely to remain whether employees are virtual or co-located.
For large gatherings like concerts, sporting events, and social events like weddings and graduations, for example—I think we will get back to “life as usual” for the most part. A “vaccination passport” could become as common as providing a driver’s license or insurance card.
COVID fatigue is everywhere and it’s not something I wanted to write about this month. But the anniversary of September 11th has caused me to reflect on life-changing events and I can’t help but think about the permanent lifestyle changes that will come from the pandemic as well.
If you haven’t already done so, it’s a good time to think about those changes and which ones could be good for your business.
- Gary
