The desire to honor the victims of the 9/11 attacks with a federal holiday is valiant, but flawed. When the wounds of 9/11 were fresh, the concept of a holiday was dismissed, as it could eventually become diminished and commercialized like Memorial Day. Political leaders worried that a federal holiday could mistakenly become a day of celebration, ironically providing an opportunity for those who oppose us to revel in the memories of their victory over us.
Despite the calls to 'never forget' that emerged in the aftermath of 9/11, the reality is that we have forgotten. The more recent protests on college campuses offer a worrying glimpse into a future where we may find ourselves celebrating the very atrocities that caused so much pain, suggesting that the solemn remembrance we practice for Pearl Harbor may not be as widely embraced for 9/11.
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