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Have You Forgotten?
Townhall.com ^ | September 12, 2008 | Mike Gallagher

Posted on 09/12/2008 3:19:20 AM PDT by Kaslin

flew from New York City to Dallas, Texas this week on Sept. 11th.

Come to think of it, this is about the third or fourth time I've flown on the anniversary of 9/11. And each time I've done so, the reaction to flying on a commercial airplane from my fellow passengers gets less and less.

The first time I flew somewhere on a 9/11 anniversary it was Sept. 11, 2002. One year from the fateful day. And passengers were tense. Flight attendants were nervous. The airline personnel clearly acted differently than usual.

But as the years go by, the apprehension has subsided; the angst greatly reduced.

This week, it was just another day in the air.

Everyone was carrying on as if nothing had happened on this historic date. Some passengers were typically obnoxious, arguing with ticket agents about some issue important to them.

As we landed, there was even an older man who was in the lavatory as we were about 5 thousand feet from landing. The flight attendants kind of rolled their eyes and banged on the door, saying, "Sir, sir -- you have to come out now, we're landing."

Somehow, he managed to finish his business and stroll out of the restroom about 30 seconds before the wheels touched the tarmac.

You think that would have happened on Sept. 11, 2002? Or 2003? Or even 2004?

We have resumed the normal routines of our lives. It's back to business, back to the hum-drum world that makes us jump on a plane when we really don't want to, criss-crossing the country for business or pleasure.

We have almost completely forgotten what 9/11 felt like.

Our guard is down, our attitude blase'. I realized when I got home from the airport that I left a container of liquid in my briefcase.

No one noticed.

For all the frisking and fancy new equipment at our nation's airport checkpoints, here I am, a schlubby 48 year old white guy, carrying a container of liquid in my briefcase -- and no one caught it, either on my way from Dallas/Ft. Worth to LaGuardia or from Newark back to DFW.

And this was ON September 11, 2008.

No, we've forgotten, all right. Even in New York City, the usual media coverage seemed muted and somewhat scarce. There were the obligatory stories about that fateful day, but most of the news was about Mayor Bloomberg having a beef with how long the new "Freedom Tower", the massive edifice that will replace the Twin Towers, is taking to build.

We have forgotten.

I know holidays and commemorations are controversial, but I hope that somewhere down the road, Congress or the President or someone in government will notice how we are slowly but surely forgetting what those animals did to us. And I hope that there will be an effort made to take 9/11 seriously.

If we can honor the American presidents, or Martin Luther King, Jr., or any one of a variety of subjects worthy of federal holidays, why in the world would we not do the same for the thousands -- millions -- of 9/11 victims?

We were ALL victims that day.

Are we afraid to acknowledge the devastation? Do we not want a reminder of how a war that will undoubtedly be fought over many lifetimes was begun on that bright, sunny September morning?

Every 9/11 should be a major event. Each year, we should all have the phrase, "We must never forget" emblazoned in our collective consciousness.

Federal holiday, state holiday, heck, city or county holiday. It shouldn't matter.

Those who choose to forget history are doomed to repeat it.

Let's not forget 9/11.

Please.


TOPICS: Editorial; News/Current Events; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: 7thanniversary

1 posted on 09/12/2008 3:19:20 AM PDT by Kaslin
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To: Kaslin
We have almost completely forgotten what 9/11 felt like.

That is what the terrorists are counting on as they wait.
2 posted on 09/12/2008 3:23:13 AM PDT by Man50D (Fair Tax, you earn it, you keep it!)
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To: Kaslin
This was one of my "protest" signs at Ground Zero when Iminajihad was visiting and wanted to step foot on our sacred ground....

Photobucket

That pic is used as my desk top. If I don't remember on my own, it reminds me to think about that day.

3 posted on 09/12/2008 3:29:09 AM PDT by NoGrayZone (NObama is the face of evil.)
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To: Kaslin

“Our guard is down, our attitude blase”

And our borders are wide open, our shipping ports are not secured and Islam is a nation of peace.

If our own government is not worried why should we be worried?
Hope you understand that this is sarcasm.


4 posted on 09/12/2008 3:33:55 AM PDT by 11bravo wolfhoundf ( "Duty is ours; results are God's." John Quincy Adams)
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To: Man50D

Exactly and they are rooting for the empty suit to win the election, because they know he won’t do anything to prevent an attack and will treat it just like another crime


5 posted on 09/12/2008 3:35:29 AM PDT by Kaslin (Vote Democrat if you like high gas prices at the pump)
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To: NoGrayZone

> That pic is used as my desk top. If I don’t remember on my own, it reminds me to think about that day.

Do you mind sharing it?


6 posted on 09/12/2008 3:51:32 AM PDT by DieHard the Hunter (Is mise an ceann-cinnidh. Cha ghéill mi do dhuine. Fàg am bealach.)
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To: DieHard the Hunter
Of course not, it's all yours!

America

7 posted on 09/12/2008 3:58:26 AM PDT by NoGrayZone (NObama is the face of evil.)
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To: NoGrayZone

Cheers, mate!

Now we have something else in common.


8 posted on 09/12/2008 4:02:04 AM PDT by DieHard the Hunter (Is mise an ceann-cinnidh. Cha ghéill mi do dhuine. Fàg am bealach.)
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To: DieHard the Hunter

Wooohooo!!!! FRink!


9 posted on 09/12/2008 4:09:08 AM PDT by NoGrayZone (NObama is the face of evil.)
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To: Kaslin

While watching the videos yesterday, I wondered how many even bothered to remember what day it was and if they even cared.


10 posted on 09/12/2008 4:40:49 AM PDT by itsthejourney (Sarah-cuda IS the right reason)
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To: Kaslin
Have You Forgotten?

Forgotten what?

( /sheeple)

11 posted on 09/12/2008 5:23:20 AM PDT by Old Sarge (Went to sleep with Palin - woke up next to McCain...)
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To: Kaslin

Speaking concerning my home town.. The answer is yes. Only saw a handful of flags on homes or cars yesterday. I did a 10 circuit ride on the main highway with a large 3x5 American Flag mounted on the back of my motorcycle at the time of the attacks. One truck driver blow the horn. No one else noticed or cared. A couple of thousands cars and fellow citizen went past me and either were so onvolved in their daily lives as to not see or they have forgotten and moved on.
Actually made me sick to my stomach, since this weekend I will be attending a funeral of a young American that gave his life for us in this war that the Islamofacist are waging on us. So few people here, in America even understand what is at stake. The speak of the Iraq war. Or Afganistan War. No, sorry folks it the World War. The Islamofacist are waging war in various means all over the globe to kill you and destroy your civilizations. As is often the case far too few must answer the call to keep far too many safe and free. I just wonder if this time there are enough of the few.........


12 posted on 09/12/2008 5:31:39 AM PDT by SECURE AMERICA ( Choice 2008 McCain =Hero, Obama = Zero. Palin = Fresh - Biden = Stale)
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To: Kaslin
Have You Forgotten?
Hell no!

On September 11, 2001 I left my office at about 16:00 and said "Have a good trip." to my office-mate. Those were the last words I said to him.

Christoffer Carstanjen

My boss assigned me the task of packing his stuff up for his parents to pick up.

Now I see the smelly hippy locals are using the anniversary to engage in their venomous BDS instead of mourning (or even remembering) the dead. I cannot find words to express the depth of my contempt for those people.


13 posted on 09/12/2008 7:24:00 AM PDT by Peet (If "con" is the opposite of "pro", what is the opposite of "progress"?)
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To: Kaslin
There were several large ceremonies around my area, Pittsburgh, for those who wanted to commemorate the event. And many towns have their community day either the weekend before or the weekend after 9-11, deliberately close to the anniversary.
14 posted on 09/12/2008 9:44:59 AM PDT by Ciexyz
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There is nothing to forget.

New York, London, Bali...

The list is endless; infinity.

15 posted on 09/12/2008 9:49:08 AM PDT by Jakarta ex-pat
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To: Kaslin

Going back to normal is kind of what people do. You can’t maintain a state of fear for 7 straight years, eventually the normalcy of life regains its footing and you’re back to paying bills and going to work and doing business trips and living that boring life you led on 9/10.

I wonder if Gallagher is equally tense on flights that aren’t 9/11, there’s really no reason the bad guys wouldn’t attack on one of the other 364.


16 posted on 09/12/2008 9:55:29 AM PDT by boogerbear
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