Source: Politics<\/p>\n
President Joe Biden spoke on restoring national unity and preserving democracy during his visit to the Shanksville, Pennsylvania, volunteer fire station Saturday, referencing his Republican presidential predecessors on the 20th anniversary of the 2001 terror attacks. <\/p>\n
Biden praised former President George W. Bush\u2019s speech at the Flight 93 Memorial in Pennsylvania, according to pool reports, adding: \u201cA number of serious Republicans, in the past and a few who are still around, call me and tell me, what can I do to help? Because they get it, too.”<\/p>\n
In his earlier address, Bush had contrasted increasing divisions across the country today with the spirit shown after the 9\/11 attacks, saying: “So much of our politics has become a naked appeal to anger, fear and resentment. On America\u2019s day of trial and grief, I saw millions of people instinctively grab their neighbor\u2019s hand and rally to the cause of one another.\u201d <\/p>\n
Biden mentioned that he took photos with boys who were wearing Trump hats at the firehouse. <\/p>\n
\u201cAre we going to, in the next four, five, six, ten years, demonstrate that democracies can work, or not?\u201d he said, before voicing disappointment at the tenor of current political debates, including \u201cthe stuff that\u2019s coming out of Florida.\u201d <\/p>\n
Former Presidents Bill Clinton and Barack Obama joined Biden earlier at a commemorative ceremony at ground zero in New York City. Former President Donald Trump, meanwhile, remained in Florida and is scheduled to commentate at a celebrity boxing bout Saturday night. <\/p>\n
Vice President Kamala Harris, who spoke at the memorial, also touched on themes of unity, referencing the efforts of the passengers who attempted to retake the hijacked United flight over Pennsylvania 20 years ago.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey did not focus on what may separate us,\u201d she said. \u201cThey focused on what we all share: on the humanity we all share. In a matter of minutes, in the most dire of circumstances, the 40 responded as one. They fought for their own lives and to save the lives of countless others at our nation’s Capitol.\u201d<\/p>\n
United Airlines Flight 93 was hijacked by four members of al Qaeda and ultimately crashed in a field in Shanksville after passengers and crew members fought to reclaim control of the airplane. Thirty seven passengers and seven crew members were killed.<\/p>\n
Biden referenced those passengers’ efforts on his visit to the firehouse. <\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s one thing to say, I know I should step up, it\u2019s another thing to do it. That\u2019s genuine heroism,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n