ah, the New Yorker's infamous solipcism.
some of us who do not ourselves live in NYC had friends in the towers.
some of us who do not ourselves live in NYC had friends who shuttled constantly by air between Logan and LAX (raises hand).
some of us who do not ourselves live in NYC had kin at the Pentagon (raises hand).
9/11 was an American event, pally. it ain't about Noo Yawk.
Of course it was an American tragedy. And it is one of the things that unites us as Americans.
However, there are also different perspectives. The view is different from NYC than it is from Oregon or Montana. The view of the Pentagon is different from Georgetown than it is from NYC.
The event is the same, the view is different.