The images burned into our nation's collective memory by the searing events of Sept. 11, 2001, remain as indelible now as ever.

What has faded from view in five years is the sense of national unity that arose from that historic tragedy, a casualty of the ensuing political upheaval over the justification of the war in Iraq and the deep divisions over when and how to leave the war-torn region. And while that loss does not register as sharply as the losses felt by the thousands of families bereaved in the terrorist attacks on New York and Washington, D.C., it is worth remembering as we go forward.

On today's fifth anniversary of Sept. 11, there are somber tributes across the country as well as in the "ground zero" target cities of the attack. These ceremonies respectfully remember those who died, many of them people who lost their lives in the heroic efforts to save others.

Hawai'i sent two representatives from our local fire and emergency services departments to the New York commemoration to stand in solidarity with the rest of the nation — and to remind us all of the debt we owe to those who protect public safety at home and defend our nation's interest overseas.

This focus is fitting. The inhumanity of Sept. 11 was patently clear to many millions around the globe, regardless of their nationality.

But as Americans return to daily routines in the days ahead, it's just as fitting to reflect on our values as a nation, on how in a matter of minutes after the 9/11 tragedy, we knew exactly where we all stood as a nation: We stood together.

And as this "war on terror" continues, recognizing our values surrounding global humanity and our roles and responsibilities becomes increasingly important.

The final weeks before a national election may be an opportune time to consider such things. Political chasms have widened, and the strategies of the campaign season capitalize on the gulf between Republicans and Democrats, rather than build bridges. Iraq invasion: justified, or not? Does the Patriot Act make us safer, or remove our freedoms? The partisan banter in political debates and advertising is shrill and divisive.

Long before Sept. 11, the world was far more dangerous, with more social and political complexities, than the average American realized. The al-Qaida strike obliterated any illusions about our insulation from terrorists. The strain of arming ourselves also has estranged Americans internationally, pressing many of us toward a distorted view of other societies.

We must not shed our national abhorrence of terrorism, only the blinders that impede a clear view of our nationhood and humanity. That's the only way to move us closer to the goals of global security and peace in the post-9/11 world.