Today is awkward. Today is that day that, for the past eight years, has just awkwardly insisted to remain on our calendars despite the fact that we really don't want it there and would certainly like to not be reminded of it. Today is the day that we pause to look back at the greatest tragedy certainly in our lifetime and possibly even American history. It is important that we remember what happened that day for sure. I hate to imagine that some day in the future, a September 11th would roll around and I went through the whole day and simply forgot about it.
This year, though. I feel that there is something different about people's attitudes towards September 11th. The razor-blade edge of the memory seems to be softening for a lot of people, and it appears that a lot of people are ready to put the memory of what happened on 9/11 on a nice, respectable mantle of their mind, possibly next to Aunt Trudy's urn, and carry on with their lives. No one is advocating forgetting what happened- that itself would be a tragedy, but the present American climate just feels ready to move on.
We will always keep the memory on that mantle and will polish it from time to time, but the days of reliving each detail of what happened that day each time Sept. 11th rolls around, talking it out with lots of people- where were you when it happened- are over. The organization that puts flags up on the quad each anniversary seems to feel this way too...the flags which are usually in the more prominent Wilson side of the quad are today in the quieter South Building side.
But no matter where we put the memory in our mind, we must always take it down every once in a while. God Bless America.
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