[mcmama]

Today is 9/11/2008. What are you doing today to commemorate those who died in the attack on 9/11/2001?

Who died on that day that you knew? Have you attended local memorials during the time that has passed?

Should 9/11 be an official memorial day in the united states, with federal "holiday" designation?

[purelegance]

I do think it should be a holiday, i know our generation won't.. but who's to say our children won't forget?

Thankfully, i did not know anybody who died in the attacks. My bil is a firefighter, so we do make today a pretty big deal.

[vanaden]

I think it should be a memorial day of some sort. I think it's wrong if they don't do that.
It's sad to me how people seem to have just forgotten? Is that even possible? That day profoundly effected me and it still does.
I didn't know anyone who died in the attacks on September 11th, but I am praying for all the families and friends who did. It's as painful today as it ever was.

[twinzplus3]

No--it should not get official 'federal' holiday status. But it should get official 'observance' status. Why should it get more than Pearl Harbor?

[mcmama]

Originally Posted by twinzplus3

No--it should not get official 'federal' holiday status. But it should get official 'observance' status. Why should it get more than Pearl Harbor?

Because more people died that day than in Pearl. And most of them were civilians. And on the front lines were a disproportionate amount of NYC and surrounding communities police and fire fighters. And people who live in lower manhattan are still suffering illnesses related to that single attack.

Not to minimize the loss at Pearl, but I think it was a healthier place to return to once it was protected from attack. And the loss was primarily military. Not people who sat at their desks and suddenly were banged into by a plane crashing into their building - or who had no choice but to jump 80 floors to their deaths. And the Japanese flyers at Pearl who flew over and into stuff intended to do so, and intended to die if necessary. The people aboard American Airlines Flight 11, United Flight 175, American Flight 97 and United Flight 93 had no intention of being used as weapons of war. And the passengers of United 93 when they realized what had happened elsewhere, drafted themselves to disarm the terrorists and thwart a fourth attack on the US Capitol building. But they were not trained for military operations, nor were they "kamikazes".

[twinzplus3]

Okay. . .I'm sorry. I didn't really want to argue. I thought you were asking if it should be a holiday so I answered.

[mcmama]

Originally Posted by twinzplus3

Okay. . .I'm sorry. I didn't really want to argue. I thought you were asking if it should be a holiday so I answered.

There are some days when you really surprise me....

[siageah]

I am still on the fence regarding 9/11. Nothing, other than the birth of my daughter, affecting me to my core the way that day did. And I'd hate to see it become just another reason to have a day off and/or picnic decades from now. I know there is the "Patriot's Day" idea floating out there. But I have a hard time calling the day a Patriot Day. The first responders were that, first responders. They did their job above and beyond, yes, but was that really patriotic? Is that the right term? The people who died, the civilians, were victims. Were they patriots? I just don't know.

I do like the day of service idea, but that is already a large part of the MLK holiday.

Tolerance Day? A day to explore other cultures, beliefs, religions?

I'm still rather torn on the whole thing, as you can see.

[mcmama]

I think it should be a memorial day. Period. No picnic holidays. No exercises in tolerance or being nice to people.

Just a memorial. A commemoration of the deep sadness, sorrow, shock. And a recognition of those who were the heros of the day.

[siageah]

Originally Posted by mcmama

I think it should be a memorial day. Period. No picnic holidays. No exercises in tolerance or being nice to people.

Just a memorial. A commemoration of the deep sadness, sorrow, shock. And a recognition of those who were the heros of the day.

Then the question is, how do we do that? Memorial Day has become just a day off. The unofficial start of summer, picnics, beach time, and a few dedicated souls honoring those who have died in service of this country. But how many people attend a ceremony on Memorial Day? How many people even think of those who have died that day?

People who lived through 9/11 will indeed always remember that day and what it means. Just like those who lived through the JFK assasination and the first steps on the moon always remember those moments and how they changed the world and the psyche of the people. But those who have come after just read about those events in the history books. Today they no longer evoke feelings or emotions. They are just history.

So how do we make 9/11 into something that will stand the test of time?

I'm not trying to be argumentative. I'm just working this out outloud.