Quote Originally Posted by SteveinMN View Post
...Maybe "peeve" is not a good word for my reaction to the hoopla that surrounds 9/11. I don't see networks interrupting their broadcasting each year for a ceremony recounting those killed aboard Navy ships in Pearl Harbor.
I wasn't born then. You most certainly was not born then. Haven't you talked to you mom about Pearl Harbor? That was a central event of her life. To me and to 3/4 of the people in this country (or is it 9/10?) we don't remember it.

9/11 commemoration events will die off, count on it. The next generations will have their own clarifying moments in time.

And another point: you are creating a false dichotomy. One can participate in 9/11 events AND ALSO honor fallen cops and firemen, it's not EITHER/OR. We do that here in my urban core neighborhood where we know and trust the cops, and support them every freaking day. I cannot tell you of all of the hours my neighborhood spends working on the police substation, gathering money to stock it for food and drink, organizing potluck police dinners, working with our neighborhood policeman in support and etc. If we don't contribute to the annual Guns Vs Hoses (cops vs firemen athletic event) or visibly support Backstoppers, people look at us cross eyed. I give cash toward the Xmas present of our neighborhood cop because if I didn't I'd feel really stupid.

I will also add that each and every time I drive by a particular commercial building where two firemen died, I think about them. Something about that fire, it's unexpected tragedy, and two very young families left without their fathers really makes me sad.

When we were last in Edinburough, Scotland, there was a fireman death being honored at St. Giles on the Royal Mile. My brother who is in emergency response work (Well, has been in the past) liked seeing how the Scots do this. There were lots of flower arrangements put up around the area.