It's here. Half a decade has passed since that really bad day in New York.
And as this CNN story reminds us, almost as many Americans have made the ultimate sacrifice addressing 9/11 as those that perished on that day.
It's been long road of trying to come together on so many levels, with seemingly less success of late (image source here).
The toll has been heavier than we can almost bear in other ways as well.
Today's New York Times editorial puts it thus:
"Everything would be paid for with the blood of other people’s children, and with money earned by the next generation. Our role appeared to be confined to waiting in longer lines at the airport."
Politicians on both sides of the aisle likely have their roles and lines down pat for the cameras today. Again, as the Times editorial puts it:
"Today, every elected official in the country will stop and remember 9/11. The president will remind the country that he has spent most of his administration fighting terrorism, and his opponents will point out that Osama bin Laden is still at large."
I wonder how we would feel if Osama were not at large. If we'd gotten him in one of the many alleged times that we came "this" close to getting him, under every adminstration to date.
I mean, we've gotten many others. Yet, those victories feel oddly hollow.
Like maybe we've just swatted at the symptoms and done very little on trying to addressing the root conditions.
Especially since what really needs to be done is so much harder and will likely take so much longer than we may have the stamina and patience for.
Instead, we'll consume the countless ways the media will present the memories of that day, and the events that have erupted since.
And the media coverage today will naturally make us think about where we were on 9/11 five years ago.
Instead, our minds likely need to focus on where we need to be on 9/11 five years hence.
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