The 9-11 Memorial, New York City (Getty)

On the 22nd anniversary of the 9-11 attacks on New York’s World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and a plane over Pennsylvania, I spoke with BBC West Midlands’ Brett Birks about the day and its lasting significance for Americans and beyond.

Listen to Discussion from 3:44.25

We begin with personal reflections. Brett was heading to Birmingham to start his University degree in American Studies. I was teaching in China, trying to get news on the program’s third-year students, who were en route to American and Canadian universities for their Years Abroad. (All were safe, with some having to make unscheduled stops in Canada.)

Building on that and on subsequent events around the world, I consider the ongoing lessons for a never-ending campaign for decency and protection of the innocent.