Steve Rubel

Is anyone like me becoming increasingly alarmed that maybe as a nation we are starting to forget 9/11 as the years go by? Perhaps it's my imagination. But I will never ever forget how I felt that day and where I was. I still choke up when I watch the footage. Those jerks are still out there eager to kill us all. This is the #1 factor in who gets my vote. - Steve Rubel via Bookmarklet

steve ,, Im a canadian firefighter for 28 yrs ,, I was in NYC for the Memorial in 2002 , We Will Never Forget ! - johnpiercy

How can you forget watching video like this? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v... - Chiara Lorè

Steve, kinda agree with you, especially since I took a flight from DC to CA that very morning and spent the day trying to track down a cousin who worked in the complex. But you also need to ask a simple question. How could a country that had the entire world behind it at the time manage to get the world against it so quickly. - Deepak

@Chiara you can't. But people don't talk about 9/11 like we used to. Some of that is healthy, but I worry people think it won't happen again because it's been so many years w/o an attack on US soil. I think about it every time I get on a plane (which is often). And often when I commute into Manhattan - at least in passing. - Steve Rubel

I wonder how much of it is due to certain organizations, on both sides of the political spectrum, using it for purely partisan political gain. Maybe the images has been so associated with things removed from the events of the actual day people just block it. I will never forget, I just sometimes want to be able to choose how I remember... - Johnny Worthington

John - I agree with you. The act was horrible, inconceivable. In a way, whenever anyone in politics who invokes it for any reason other than to humbly respect history, from Rudy to Bush to anyone, I kinda wish they wouldn't. - Phil Glockner

Memory fades and softens with time. Eventually Mel Brooks will make a comedy about 911. The big question is "exactly what are we supposed to remember about that day?" The horrible way that we all felt? The damage that it did to all of us as a nation? The way that we came together for a brief moment in history only to be separated again by the politicians that used it to sow fear and as a reason to start a war we couldn't afford? The problem is that recent history has muddied what 911 means for all of us. - Alex Scoble CISSP

@John Worthington: At times 9/11 has become to political. 9/11 wasn't a Republican event and it wasn't a Democrat event. It was an American tragedy that effected the world. Politicians may disagree on how to fight the war on terror but it should be understood, in my own opinion, that most of the politicians want to eliminate the threats over advancing their own career. At least I hope so. - ChiliMac

Steve, those jerks are sitting on US soil running our country... FYI: the US government. - Michael Forian

I don't think there was a lot of hand wringing about invoking Pearl Harbor during WWII. No matter how much you want to depoliticize this event, the people who did this were motivated politically in the classical sense, not the bullshit sanctimonious partisan way. To down play it for political gain is even worse, somehow more cynical. - "Oldengrey" Tannenbaum

Steve, it may be a good time for us to help build a UGC type of site to remember the attacks. I have photos somewhere; we should all share it on a single site (or dispersed among many) to remember. - Tamar Weinberg

+1 Michael Forian - Adam Turetzky

@Tamar somehow I thought several existed. I don't have photos from that day. Pre-cameraphone. - Steve Rubel

Steve, I don't think the majority of people will ever forget, even if they didn't lose anyone themselves. Frankly, I hate to see it used to justify some truly un-American attitudes and actions. - ha3rvey

Steve, I don't think anyone alive then will ever forget. - Ramona Bates

My memories are vivid as it was my son's 4th birthday. It's actually the only birthday of his that I remember in such great, and sad, detail. Ironically, it's also my finacee's birthday, so between Barb and Tyler, I'm sure to never forget. I did take the kids to Ground Zero two years ago... I think it's important that they see this tragedy at various times in their lives. - Kevin C. Tofel

+1 Harvey - Marci Maleski

I sure as hell don't know anyone who was around on that day who's anywhere near forgetting. I don't think "remembering" means "being angry, fearful, vindictive and irrational", though, which is how I think I'm being told to feel a lot of the time. - Nathan Rein

I lost a friend in one the planes. She was returning from dropping her beautiful twin daughters at college. I am still sick and angry. - "Oldengrey" Tannenbaum

oh, and, I don't know what a UGC type site is, but if you haven't seen it, look at http://911digitalarchive.org - Nathan Rein

how could I forget being taken in by the federales as a terrorist for being a Jew in Mexico after 911... my family were evicted from their co-op by panicked leftists in NYC and arson in my building that was blamed on me because of the Anti-semitism that erupted in the city... those that survived the event experienced some bizarre drama. thank g-d it ended up ok and almost comical from my end. still listening to freaks online talk about conspiracies still... almost laughable. I knew people in the building - Ⓝ〄ⒶⒽ ⒹⒶⓋⒾⒹ ⓈⒾⓂ〄Ⓝ

I tried to turn my experience into a comic book. it is on my blog http://simonstudiotheatre.blog... that was the experience that changed me. before I was only interested in sex drugs and rock n roll... I got a job after all that. - Ⓝ〄ⒶⒽ ⒹⒶⓋⒾⒹ ⓈⒾⓂ〄Ⓝ

The no. 1 factor in who gets your vote? Do you perceive one party as better at national security than the others? I have not forgotten 9/11 at all, and that's all the more reason why I'm voting for Obama. The Republican Party under the Bush Admin., supposedly the party that would protect us from future incidents, has done an abysmal job, squandering our human and financial resources in a totally immoral, misguided war that takes away our military, focus, treasure and other resources from protecting us. - Cathryn Hrudicka

@Cathryn I am not sure who has the better policy here. McCain is trying to distance himself from Bush in some ways but not others. What I keep thinking is: who will ensure this never happens again. I don't have an answer yet and it keeps me undecided. - Steve Rubel

it's one thing to "not forget" 9/11 - that's important. it's entirely something else to "overload" the meaning "9/11" for political gain. let's just pass up the chance to rattle sabers, make the citizenry fearful, and offend others around the world. pearl harbor is not a day to hate japan or convince people to vote a certain way. let's be sure to remember the vitcims, the heroes, and the families of 9/11 and give them the respect and admiration they deserve. - MikeAmundsen

Still amazes me how fast all those flags came down. Even in an event like this. It's like the country was united for a week. Sad. - Charlie Anzman

I think the truth is that no one can make sure it never happens again anymore than anyone can stop hurricanes. Our security system is very reactive and not very good at stopping "innovative" attacks. Plus it's often so hard to know what the good intelligence is, so it's likely that attackers will eventually fall through the cracks of our anti-terrorist system again. - Alex Scoble CISSP

9/11 will always hold a special place in my heart and prayers - I worked at the WTC for CSFB when I was in finance and then later in life, 9/11/2001 was supposed to be one of the happiest days in my life - little did i know 2 hrs after the happiness, the worst sadness would follow. - Allen Stern

the "flags came down", Charlie? Where was this? The flags are still up in the small town in Pennsylvania where i live. - Nathan Rein

I never do. That day had an impact on me - i was supposed to fly, we couldn't find friends in the city, etc. I don't think i'll ever forget. - Patricia

Nathan - I too live in a small town in PA at the moment (most of the time). The last time I made a distinction between rural and urban America, the whole conversation went crazy. Yes, the flags fly here too ... and no I don't expect them on the cars like they were. Let's just say ... on my two recent trips to NYC, it felt GREAT to see the city so alive. It took a few years to happen ... but it really did feel great! - Charlie Anzman

Haven't forgotten. Still pissed we diverted attention away from the terrorists. - AJ Kohn

we have successfully kept our country free of a terrorist attack since. I guess 911 was a wake up call... not only for me, but for a whole mind set of pacifism that failed us. - Ⓝ〄ⒶⒽ ⒹⒶⓋⒾⒹ ⓈⒾⓂ〄Ⓝ

Regarding future attacks, I'd suggest reading this recent report from August 15,2008 regarding Al Qaeda. The last pages give a chilling warning regarding the potential reconstitution of Al Qaeda in Afghanistan. http://tinyurl.com/5u94po - Jim McCusker

so you buy the bush/mccain fud. that's disappointing - rob zand

I just wanted to say I loved reading these comments. I am happy to know that a lot of the folks on FF are smart, independent and still very patriotic. .. I wrote more but I deleted it, that's all I want to say. Just, thanks. - Phil Glockner

I'll never forget it. Wife was working a few blocks away from Pentagon, daughter was in daycare a few miles away. Watched smoke arising as I was stuck in traffic on Chain Bridge trying to get to her. I visited Shanksville last summer, some pics on flickr, http://is.gd/2kXe. - Larry Huffman

I saw this amazing documentary about it on the National Geographic channel today, and some of the stories from that day are just incredible. Aside from those few thousand who passed away, there were courageous heroes and people from all backgrounds and ethnicities helping each other and even forming new friendships. I am always amazed at the human spirit in times of tragedy. And i totally agree that we can't forget that terrorism is still very well alive and still plotting more destruction. - Maria

I think it's our duty as citizens to be vigilant and aware of those around us.. to get to know our neighbors, customers/clients, students, and the rest we associate with each day. - Maria

Never forget. Never forget the speed with which our leaders moved to restrict personal liberty and increase surveillance. - Mr. Gunn

@Steve maybe they do exist, but they're certainly not very popular if so! I'd love t see a list of sites. - Tamar Weinberg