We must remember

Where were you on Sept. 11? The question undoubtedly defines our generation, yet for the first time, there are no undergraduates here to answer: "at Penn." Whatever sense of unity formed as students away from home lived through a shocking tragedy now has vanished from turnover. We are now left to wonder what the proper way to understand the significance of this event in a collegiate environment is.

While the consequences of Sept. 11 were felt nationwide, only a somewhat small percentage of current students hail from the areas directly affected by the attacks. We all can surely remember how the day unfolded, where we watched it on television or, in the most unfortunate cases, how we feared for our lives. Every year though, as time passes, we move further away from the memories.

As Americans, we tend to recover from adversity quickly, a trait which has both positive and negative implications. Weeks after the attacks of Sept. 11, people were flying again, and days after the London train bombings, commuters were fearlessly riding the rails across our nation. While it is courageous not to flinch in the face of tragedy, often times we must avoid contemplating the meaning of the event in order to have the strength to continue. Showing terrorists that our foundation will not be broken, however, does not have to also include blocking out the memory of our bravest sacrifices.

Now, with a full four years behind us, it seems that Sept. 11 stands more and more as just another note in the history books rather than an experience we all lived through. Many people probably did not even realize that this past Sunday was the anniversary. We have returned to normalcy even on a day that can never be regarded as typical. America used to anticipate the arrival of the anniversary and reflect upon its meaning, yet as even more distance grows, more meaning is lost. I was almost guilty of forgetting myself this year, a near oversight which has scared me.

During my freshman year, there were many community events around campus, though the number since has quickly vanished.

After being asked so many times, the defining question used to bother me in the immediate aftermath of the attacks. Everyone was interested to know how it affected someone on the front lines, but in the past years, overall reflection has waned. We have come from all over to attend this prestigious university, and thus are still learning about one another as we live together. It is important that we understand the experiences people left behind at home. It is difficult to imagine a large city where nearly every neighborhood was affected by loss, and an impressive standing landmark disappeared forever all in one day.

America again faces challenging times, and perhaps we are best focusing our thoughts on the Southeast as the magnitude of the disaster there is yet to be fully comprehended. However, we must learn from Sept. 11 what we in turn will eventually need to cope with in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. An entire geographic community will never be the same, both physically and psychologically.

While it is still early to start planning, New Orleans will hopefully be successfully rebuilt, and the only way that can occur is if we can at some point move on. But moving on cannot entail forgetting.

We may always remember the 11th of September, but it is important to ask ourselves why. For each person, the day may have different meaning, but to all it should at least offer perspective. We need a moment to forget about work, the War on Terror, money and school. Taking a break from our daily routine does not show weakness but rather resilience. Those who were willing to courageously sacrifice in the face of danger are worthy of remembrance.

I am not necessarily asking for many ceremonies and public services, but a simple somber day of reflection; to think of those who were not just trying to save a building but also a way of life. It was a day like none other, and as fortunate as many of us are to be able to move on, there are many we simply cannot forget.

Mark Littmann is a senior, finance concentrator from New York. His e-mail address is mjl@wharton.upenn.edu. Case of the Mondays appears on Mondays.

Please note All comments are eligible for publication in The Daily Pennsylvanian.