How many times is it possible to write about Sept. 11? From columnists to talking heads on Fox News and MSNBC, everyone has an opinion on what lessons we should learn from the events that took place three years ago.

Despite the fact that this national tragedy can be talked to death — or maybe it’s happened already — here is yet another column to discuss what is significant three years after the fact.

The claim that those who attacked America on Sept. 11 were responding to our policies in the Middle East seems to make sense at first. Except, what policies did al-Qaida want the U.S. to change? It also seems to me that, after the killing of more than 3,000 Americans, why would we acquiesce to demands?

So it’s obvious that there was no real policy position our nation takes that terrorists want to change by bringing attention to their cause. It seems that ultimately they attacked America because men like Osama bin Laden want to see a war between the West and Islam. They want to see Western civilization destroyed. That is the message of Sept. 11.

Though this is not something terribly new to anybody, it brings up a good point on what we can do as a fitting tribute to those who lost their lives. Many groups on campus are running voter registration drives in order to encourage more young people to vote in this election.

Remember that it is the lack of freedom and democracy that allows fundamentalist Islam to imbed itself into the mainstream of Arab politics. It is also what most people around the world can’t do, which is to choose their leaders.

This November, Americans have a clear choice on what direction they want this country to move. Set aside all the rhetoric of Kerry flip-flops or Bush lies.

Take a look at either candidate, or even the third-party candidates if that’s your fancy, and make a decision based on your own values and beliefs.

Then, as a tribute to the fallen Americans, register so that in November you can cast a vote that is the pinnacle of political action in this country. Vote for whichever candidate fits your views of the world and our country.

The range of issues is certainly expanded this year: the deficit, health care, education, jobs, the war on terrorism, the war in Iraq, the economy, taxes, gay rights, abortion rights and many more that could fill up an entire column.

Keep in mind that our leaders are only human and as such are prone to mistakes. I once had a pastor who told me that nobody ever finds a church they agree with 100 percent, so find the one you agree with 90 percent of the time and go with it. That’s good advice for voting too.

Kerry or Bush might not be 100 percent of what you want in a leader, but if one of them agrees with your position on the issues 90 percent of the time, it’s probably a safe bet. Though I am a partisan and support John Kerry, I won’t try to convince you why he should be president, other than to say I agree with him on 98 percent of the issues.

Seriously, disagreement and opinions are what drive our democracy. If we take away those opinions, America will lose her way. Though I may not agree with the Bush voters, I do encourage them to vote because in the end, if I tried to take that away, I wouldn’t be any better than the men who flew planes into the Twin Towers.

So, this is my tribute to Sept. 11: The lessons learned are simply those that help me to define what it is to be American. Barack Obama said at the Democratic National Convention that “we are one nation.” That message should resonate when we discuss Sept. 11, and everyone should vote to show those who seek our destruction that “We the People” are the ones in control of our destiny.