People born before the mid-1990s are likely to always remember how they felt and what they were doing the morning of Sept. 11, 2001.

It took time to realize we were experiencing the largest attack against the United States since the bombing of Pearl Harbor in 1941 pulled us into World War II.

At first, it seemed like a freak accident that a plane would crash into the World Trade Center in New York City. Most realized it was a coordinated terrorist attack about 20 minutes later, when a second plane struck the other tower.

The following hours were full of fear of uncertainty. TV viewers were shocked by horrific images of people falling from buildings. A plane struck the Pentagon in Washington, D.C. Another crashed in a field near Shanksville, Pennsylvania. The twin towers fell.

These events occurred on a cloudless day in Chicago’s south suburbs. The clear sky was a deep shade of blue. Later, there was an eerie stillness as all flights were grounded.

People who lived near flights paths of Midway Airport had never before experienced such quiet, nor have their neighborhoods experienced similar calm in the 20 years since.

As I reflect on the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, I recall feeling a strong sense of unity after the historic events. It had been less than a year since Democrat Al Gore had conceded to Republican George Bush in the razor-thin 2000 election, when a margin of 537 votes in Florida determined the presidency.

Everyone seemed to put aside political differences and pull together after we were attacked. Within weeks, Bush’s approval rating soared to 90%, the highest margin every recorded for a president. There was near unanimous consensus to invade Afghanistan, where the Taliban were said to harbor al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden.

Schoolchildren supported the cause by sending care packages to troops overseas. Neighbors dropped off homemade cookies and other baked goods at fire stations to show solidarity with first responders who died while trying to rescue others during the 9/11 attacks.

Today, it is difficult to imagine a scenario where the nation would once again be so united.

Consider partisan reaction to how the United States withdrew from Afghanistan after 20 years. The administration of President Donald Trump brokered an agreement to leave the country. Trump campaigned on ending our nation’s longest war.

Yet, Republicans such as House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy seem to smell political opportunity in criticizing President Joe Biden for leaving Afghanistan.

“The 20th anniversary of 9/11 will be marked by a weaponized Taliban and a revived ISIS,” McCarthy recently posted on social media. “President Biden has emboldened our enemies, abandoned our allies, and made America weaker both home and abroad.”

Several Republicans are calling for Biden to be impeached for his role in ending America’s involvement in the conflict.

There are times when it is appropriate for Americans to criticize political leaders and policy. But that is different from a constant campaign of outrage by politicians and media directed at political opponents.

On the 20th anniversary of despicable attacks against innocent American civilians, I worry that foreign adversaries are succeeding in weakening our nation by dividing us.

One of the more striking examples of how much we have regressed in the past two decades is Rudy Giuliani. The then-mayor of New York City struck an image of calm, resolute leadership in the aftermath of the terrorist assault.

Giuliani appeared onstage with first responders in the season premier of “Saturday Night Live” less than three weeks after the attacks.

“Can we be funny?” asked Lorne Michaels, the show’s longtime executive producer.

“Why start now?” Giuliani replied.

Back then, Giuliani helped the nation collectively grieve and recover from the shock of the attacks. Today, after working as an attorney for Trump, Giuliani faces financial and professional ruin for advancing the “Big Lie” that Biden stole the 2020 election from Trump.

Twenty years ago, Americans were impressed with pictures of Giuliani visiting with rescue workers amid the smoldering ruins of the twin towers. Today, images that come to mind of Giuliani are of dark hair dye melting down his face as he ranted to the press about efforts to overturn the outcome of the presidential election.

There are appropriate times to feel outrage. The 9/11 attacks were one such occasion.

America is strongest when we pull in the same direction and channel our collective passion toward a unified resolution.

Today, I am disturbed by how many people express outrage over mask mandates or vaccine requirements.

We should unite in fighting a deadly virus, our common enemy. But one side seems determined to undermine efforts to succeed, thus scoring political points off failures of the party in power.

I wonder how Americans would react today if we experienced events similar to the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. Would 90% support the president?

It’s hard to imagine a scenario where a Democratic leader’s approval rating would ever top 70%, under any circumstances.

If a Republican were in charge, like Bush was on 9/11, Democratic voters would put country before party and support the president.

But it feels like the best a Democrat could ever muster would be the support of the base, moderates and independents.

There is a segment of the population that seems like it is always going to be outraged by everything Democratic, no matter what.

Ted Slowik is a columnist for the Daily Southtown.

tslowik@tribpub.com