9/11: a wake-up call
Yes, the stock market is driving us crazy. As is President Barack Obama. And the (literally) do-nothing Congress. And the boring build-up to the 2012 presidential election race.
But let's focus, for just a moment, on what is really important: life.
The 9/11 commemoration — 10 years since the terrorist attacks on America — is fast-approaching. It will be a time of sorrow and hope. We will remember fallen heroes and, grudgingly, we'll all remember where we were on that fateful day.
What's most important is to remember how great our country is and how lucky we are to live here. There are plenty of things that we need to fix — and, as usual, the U.S. government is job one.
But ultimately, America can withstand any government, regardless of how you feel about Dubya and Barack Obama. The spirit of our people is great enough to overcome questionable leadership of any political affiliation.
We should truly set aside our grievances on 9/11 this year. Instead of worrying about stock prices, we should treat the day as an early Thanksgiving. We should remember how precious life really is. None of those patriots knew on that terrible Tuesday morning 10 years ago what was ahead for each and every one of them.
This year, 9/11 should be regarded as a wake-up call for the entire nation. Maybe if we all simply reflect, for one day, anyway, on what the day really means for our country, we can honor the heroic spirit of those men and women who fell on 9/11.
On Sept. 12, we can go back to griping about the government, fretting about the stock market, speculating about the race for the White House — and, yes, even blasting the media for our collective sins.
All of that can wait for one day, can't it?
Jon Friedman writes the Media Web column for MarketWatch.com. Click here to read his latest column.
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