Fraters Libertas

Just Remember

As we approach the second anniversary of the 2001 September 11th attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, Christopher Hitchens hopes that we will not wallow in mourning while we still have a monumental task ahead of us:

The time to commemorate the fallen is, or always has been, after the war is over. This war has barely begun. The printing of crayon daubs by upset schoolchildren and the tussle over who gets what from the compensation slush fund are strictly irrelevant and possibly distracting. Dry your eyes, sister. You, too, brother. Stiffen up.

His point about the need for stoic steadfastness is well taken. But I fear that the choice for many Americans is neither introspective grieving nor carrying on with purposeful intent. It appears that people just want to put 9/11 behind them and "move on":

There's a desire to move on from that horrific day and a kind of compassion fatigue that has come to afflict many Americans.

The shift to a lower-key remembrance has caused bruised feelings among some survivors and victims' families, but popular culture scholar Karal Ann Marling said the change is perfectly understandable.

"There's only so long you can mourn," said Marling, an art history professor at the University of Minnesota. "We've got a lot of other stuff on our plate to worry about -- the ongoing threats the government keeps telling us about, the terrible economy, too many other distractions. It's probably smart to keep things low-key."

(Channeling a bit of Lilikian outrage-too bad the writing talent doesn't come along with it)

Note: We don't like to use needless profanity here but if you'll pardon my freedom for a moment,

FUCK THAT!

"Too many other distractions?"

Such as?

The tough job market? The California recall election? Whether TV cameras will be allowed in the courtroom when the Kobe circus starts? Madonna playing kissy face with women half her age? Dennis Kucinich's ridiculous rug?

Granted these are all important concerns but lest we forget people, we are at war. And although the war began before 9/11, that was the day when we were awakened from our comfortable slumber and faced with a whole new reality. It wasn't just the World Trade Center and the Pentagon that was attacked. America was attacked. And for Americans 9/11 is an important day. A day we should remember. A day we HAVE to remember.

Maybe my reaction to the second anniversary is a little skewed because I wasn't in the US on the first anniversary. I was vacationing in Germany last year. The German response was simple and reserved. Churches in Frankfurt held memorial services (a flyer for one such service is on the top left of this page) and most Germans were politely sympathetic. Truth be told, it was probably much easier for me to deal with it overseas then to face the overwhelming crush of remembrance that went on here.

I'm not saying that we have to take the day off work on Thursday and roam the streets wailing and rending our clothes. But we should all do something to remember. Attend a tribute if you can (local events are planned for Midway Stadium in St. Paul and the Lake Harriet Bandshell in Minneapolis ). Wear a pin. Fly your flag (at half mast if possible). Turn off the pilot episode of 'The Mullets' (yes I'm looking at you JB) and switch on the news or a documentary on 9/11. Watch the footage of the attacks again. I know it's not pleasant but it isn't supposed to be. Most of all just take a moment (or moments) and remember.

Remember the people who went to work at the WTC and the Pentagon that day or who just boarded an airplane and never came home.

Remember that it could have been you.

Remember the firefighters and cops who lost their lives trying to save others.

Remember the families of those who were killed.

Remember that they will never be the same again.

Remember the smoke, the dust, and the falling bodies.

Remember where you were two years ago and how you felt.

Remember the fear.

Remember the rage.

Remember the sorrow.

Remember that night trying to sleep not knowing what was going to happen next.

Remember the military jets being the only planes in the sky for days afterwards.

Remember the troops in Iraq and Afghanistan today who are getting shot at by some of the same people who committed the 9/11 attacks.

Remember that the reason the troops are there is to prevent it from happening again.

And if nothing else remember the words that Mario Cuomo spoke in New York: A Documentary Film , which recently aired on PBS (I only caught the last half hour and thought it was decent-an opinion not shared by everyone):

9/11, how can you possibly use it for good purpose? You think about it. You'd think, as was suggested before, you'd think about: Look, what this reminds you of is the importance of your own life, and making the most of it, because you can lose it in a flash. And if that's all you learned from 9/11, that's all you remembered, that: My God, you could extinguish life so suddenly, so unexpectedly, and it could happen to me, and therefore I should think harder about the way I spend my life instead of just wasting it. Now, it's not going to teach you what to do with your life, but it will teach you to do with your life, and to do it more and quicker and better. And that can be extremely valuable. I -- It's had that effect on me.

Remember. Even if it's just for one day. Remember.