Remembrance of Time Past

Lugosi of Mirth, Musings & More reminiscences about the day before 9/11, as the 7th anniversary approaches. He says, in Remembering 9/10:

Today marks the seventh anniversary of September 10, 2001. Even though that day is fast receding into the distant past, it deserves to be remembered. Here are just a few of the things that made 9/10/01 so unique:

• There were no armed fighter jets patrolling the skies of the United States, nor was it necessary to dispatch them whenever an airline passenger got drunk.
  
  
• We were able to get on an airplane without eying the other passengers suspiciously. And once the plane took off, all we had to worry about was the quality of the food--or lack thereof.
  
  
• The purpose of flight attendants was to hand out little bags of peanuts and fluff our pillows, not to serve as the last line of defense for the nation.
  
  
• Department of Homeland Security? Never heard of it. What's it do?
  
  
• Terrorism was something that always happened some place else.

* * * *

• We didn't think twice about getting on the subway, we paid no attention to who else might be on the train with us, nor did we run for our lives if we spotted a lost backpack.
  
  
• Several thousand tourists enjoyed the spectacular view from the observation deck of the World Trade Center today. Assuming it doesn't rain, several thousand more will enjoy it tomorrow.
  
  
• You could look at a crisp blue sky and marvel at its simple beauty.
  
  
• Most of all, it was a day to feel good about the future and our place in the world. After all, this was the United States of America, and everyone loved us.

And, with this, the 7th Anniversary of 9/11, there will many commemorations of the events that transpired on that day. Quaker Dave of The Quaker Agitator notes that some have begun referring to the day as "Patriots Day," as though it is just another national holiday to be observed, like Flag Day. He objected to the apparent evolution of the day into another national day of celebration, Count me out, saying:

And that, to me, is inappropriate.

September 11 is a day to mourn and to reflect. It is not a day to wave the flag. And those who try to use it for that purpose, to promote a cyncial sort of nationalism, are acting inappropriately themselves. They are cheapening the deaths of those who died.

If we're going to "celebrate," better to observe September 10th.