9/11

Another year has gone by and things continue as they have been. People go to work. They return home to avoid the images on TV. It's hard to remember. But we will never forget.

Seven years ago, our nation faced such a shockingly tragic event, many have still not gotten through it and probably never will. Although publicly we seem at peace on this day, controversy over the war in Iraq notwithstanding, privately we are still scared.

The fear is appropriate because we still haven't conquered the threat. We may never be completely safe from this happening again. Deep down inside we all know this. Life is precarious.

On September 11, 2007, I proposed this day be changed to include all the feelings people have within themselves. I suggested a Day of Honor. A year later I still feel strongly about this.

In this country we have several holidays already: religious events, heroes' birthdays and Memorial Day. The latter is the day we honor the men and women of the military who have given their lives to this country.

But we have no day put aside to honor the innocent, non-military men, women and children who died on September 11, 2001. And what about the heroes of 9/11?

As it stands we have today, a non-holiday. We try to go about our business, but fail to deal with the sadness for the people who died, anger toward those who did it and giving honor to the heroes. Never mind the lessons we have tried to learn from our shattered sense of safety.

We need a national holiday to help bring the memories, feelings and lessons to a place where we can take the time and reflect upon them. We still need to heal.