Absolute bullseye here with your writing.

I was living in New York City for 9/11. At the time, I had a lapse of reasoning and declared that it would make us all poets and compassionate people. I blame temporary situation insanity and my desire to see the best in humanity.

But in fact the terrorists won completely. By the time Bin Laden broadcast his last video, six years later, I'm sure he was entirely aware of this.