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Service day is a good way to remember 9/11
By Mike Peters (China Daily)
Updated: 2009-09-11 09:36

9/11. It needs no year, no further explanation.

But the instant recognition and raw power of that phrase has made it easy for that terrible event to slide into pop culture. Eight years later, the World Trade Center is still a hole in the ground, but now surrounded by souvenir sellers with 9/11 T-shirts and knick-knacks.

Service day is a good way to remember 9/11

One problem with rebuilding on the site is that, in these times of recession, there isn't enough commercial demand for the new buildings that would replace the World Trade towers. Spending billions to say "You can't beat us" to terrorists seems foolish to many if the buildings will sit empty.

There is more agreement on other legacies of 9/11. Much of the goodwill reflected in candelight vigils from London to Jakarta to Teheran (yes, thousands of Iranians took to the streets to mourn that loss of life in the US). has been lost in the intervening years, and the US is working overtime to reconnect with a global community that has much to fear from more terrorism. The US has often lost the information war, too: Many otherwise sensible people around the world believe "The Jews" were behind the attacks, that the Pentagon was hit by a bomb not a plane, and other nonsense.

Service day is a good way to remember 9/11

But the energy and national purpose that washed over the US on September 12 has ebbed at home as the threat begins to feel remote there, too. So it's exciting to see today's anniversary take shape as a national day of service.

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"Eight years ago, the tragic events of that Tuesday morning inspired Americans to come together in a remarkable spirit of unity and compassion," said President Barack Obama this week. Many have been quick to blame his predecessor for the evaporation of that spirit, but many in the US will put memory and muscle into community service efforts today: disaster preparedness, neighborhood cleanups, "care packages" for US military in war zones, and other projects.

The effort began on the first 9/11 anniversary in 2002, but has not taken room in all 50 states until this year.

It's an effort that brings out the best in Americans.