Scars are visible reminders of hurts past. We can examine them and remember the mistakes we made that caused them.

That certainly won't do in this modern age.

It's this time of year. The slant of light, the roadside weeds going into autumn, this anniversary - the way we resist its heft.

The Simons haunt us, our personal ones and those 3,000 spirits sent drifting forever on that day.

We Lisas are left to tally the days and years and to grow amazed that life continued when it seemed time could not exist beyond the horror and pain.

The America that was made "stronger at the broken places" turned out in force yesterday in Washington, D.C.

It is a solid consolation that 9-11 was the catalyst for so many to reconsider; and to fight off the seduction of identity politics, entitlements and excuses. We could start with Gerard here, and make a wonderful list of men and women who abandoned grievances and are now shining their lights on the constitution and all that is right and good in America.

Our grandparents taught us that men can best be known by the small things. After the inauguration of Barack Obama, after "Earth Day", after the anti-war protests, The Mall and all of D.C. was a-swirl with tons of litter. After the Tea Party yesterday? Hardly an energy bar wrapper to be seen.

Res Ipsa Loquitur. It is left to us to teach another generation of Americans to suffer proudly for the right causes, and to make good use of their scars.

I still have a hard time forgiving NPR's Brook Gladstone.

In an interview last year with Seattle's NPR feed, KUOW she said, talking about another reporter, listing his many positive attributes "...he's gotten over 9/11..."

I can't write what I screamed at the radio..this is a family website....

Gerard - Keep reminding us of that tragic day in American history, at every possible opportunity.

I was told of a couple who visited the site after a long time. They joined a tour conducted by the National Park Service. The guide referred to the site as "the place where the accident happened".

DAMN THEM TO HELL! Obviously they've moved on and want history to forget "The Day"

Vengeance is a reaction. A lashing out to perpetrators without thought to why it was done.

This loss requires a reckoning, as the 'Root of the Problem (tm)' remains.

Islam.

This loss needs to be remembered if there is going to be a reckoning.

Cond0010 - You are, of course, right. The cause of this problem is the one that has been at war with all that's good and decent for 1,387 years - at least. Islam. And Islam will not see out this century - at least in its present form.

Whether the end comes swiftly, in thunder, starfire and mass death, or less swiftly by soldiers too small to see dismantling anyone who utters the Shahada cell by cell, or finally cutting off their access to Western money, throwing them all back into the cesspit they came from and letting them starve - it doesn't matter. The 1400-year war will not become 1500.

We can all do a little, and for my part I'm doing it. You have a c-store or newsagent locally, run by Pakistanis? Don't shop there. You have a business yourself? Don't sell your goods or services to Moslems. And don't employ any, either; you don't have to give any reason for not employing someone. Cross the street, if it's safe, when an apparition in a niqab or burkha goes by. If it's safe, and there is a group of Muslims in their five-daily arse in the air pose and they are in your way, go right through the middle of them. Bonus points for accidentally dropping bits of your bacon sandwich on one as you go past.

Make them unwelcome enough and they will leave.