We remember...

[avsno26rocks]

[...don't we?]

Well, today is that day again: the time for golden speeches and glittering sentiments and obligatory flag-waving. I’ve never been much of a flag-waver, and my words are brass as best when next to more precious and sought-after metals. Sentiments are not my thing, either.

But what about today? What do I say about today? This is usually the one time

Comments

[shinykara]

Remembering is important, but it's also important not to live in constant fear. Life has to go on, and I'm not sure it can if everyone is constantly looking over their shoulders and mistrusting each other. Bad things can always happen, but that includes volcanoes erupting and devastating earthquakes.

The only difference is that if you're scared of an earthquake, that won't have been nature's aim.

Of course the tragedy and the loss of that day have to be remembered. It was too big to be forgotten that easily. But I hope that the average citizen doesn't constantly need to prepare for another attack.

[avsno26rocks]

I wouldn't say I want anyone to live in fear of attack, but I wouldn't want to live ignorance that it certainly can happen, or what one is supposed to do if it does.

Life certainly goes on whether we stop to look back, but how else are we supposed to know we're moving forward?

[lucca_ariana]

I feel the same way this year, especially because the milestone of ten years already happened last year. But you're right, it's important to remember that we're not infallible as a nation, that when it comes to men like Osama bin Laden or any other terrorist we need to be on our guard to avoid a repeat of 9/11.

You really should be a journalist or write editorials for a big newspaper -- everything you say rings so true.

[spindlewand]

I am in such a different place with this, partly because I was already as adult as I am likely to get when it happened, and partly because I was here

[avsno26rocks]

Well said. As I said above, the minute we stop thinking about where we've been is the minute we lose where we're going. There is no forward without a back. And people deserve to be remembered.

[shinykara]

I hope you didn't interpret my comment as a "I don't care" type of moving on-idea. I think it's possible to remember and to be aware of the severity and significance of the situation, but not to live in constant fear and sadness

[avsno26rocks]

I know what you mean, and I don't know if it's something we should think about every day and weep. Somehow, I don't think those lost that day would like that very much. More than that, though, I believe we should make a point of knowing what happened, why it happened, and what it meant then and does mean now, but more than just once per year. But life does go on, and I truly believe the victims of 9/11 would've wanted us to carry on with our heads held high and something other than hatred in our hearts. However, complacency is a scary and looming reality when it comes to this, and I think we should do our best to avoid it.

[spindlewand]

The anonymous comment that ends that we are probably saying the same thing in different ways was from me. Twit computer puts me into explorer from the link in the email, and that does not log me in... sorry. No attempt to avoid being identified intended!!!