I found a letter to the editor that my dad wrote on September 13th, 2001,

In the aftermath of the horrific terrorist attack a few days ago, there seems to be a perception that the U.S. intelligence community had been completely unprepared for the magnitude of its ferocity and destruction.

The incomprehensible fanaticism motivating a large number of individuals prepared to commit their lives to such a suicidal and barbaric undertaking. presumably may have been considered an inconceivable scenario by intelligence strategists.

Nonetheless, the unthinkable has happened – which demonstrates clearly our inability to rationalize the irrational.

Abraham Truss, Scarborough (Ontario, Canada)

It was published on September 16th in The Toronto Star, page A12 in the Editorials and Letters section, changing only the opening sentence to clarify, “In the aftermath of the horrific terrorist attack in New York City last Tuesday…

The last sentence is chilling to me: “Nonetheless, the unthinkable had happened – which demonstrates clearly our inability to rationalize the irrational.”

As we approach 24 years after 9/11, it seems as though we are still committing irrational acts, and we are still incapable of rationalizing them. The news is filled with contrived rationalizations, profiles of killers, talking head debates, and biased perspectives inventing rhyme and reason for irrational acts. Reasons we search for, but are clearly unable to meaningfully comprehend. And still the irrational behaviours continue…