September 11th - National Holiday?

most definatly

I'm not sure. I think a little more time will help decide that.

I remember back when we added Martin Luther to the holiday calendar. There was a universal rage of outcry of "Oh my God we can't add another paid day off to the calendar ... we wil bankrupt the country." I'm all in favor of adding 9/11 to the calendar but, we should not remove any existing holiday in order to accomodate it. More over one can argue that it is too close to Labor Day. Even more annoying will be the three day weekend lobby insisting that it be held on the Monday before 9/11 and not on 9/11 itself wich might occur in the middle of the week or worse yet on a weekend!

i think this country are too soon to forget. I always wear a red/white/blue ribbon on my clothes on that day and most of the clients i see that day ask my why im wearing it. It's like, "hello? Sept 11th"? then i get , "oh yeah".

Wouldn't it, as a national holiday, ring hollow? Is human life so important to us we're properly taking care of the health needs of those left sick by responding to the emergency at the towers that day? The searchers who looked for survivors in the days afterward? The soldiers whose lives were put on the line in Afghanistan and Iraq? As long as we don't, isn't taking it as a holiday empty? Or selfish? Hypocritical?

I don't know how I feel about it, honestly, though all of these thoughts run through my head.

Pearl Harbor wasn't made into a national holiday. It is more of a day of rememberance, which Sept 11th should also be. We coulld fill the calendar with days of significant attacks, like Sept 11th and Pearl Harbor, there is also D-Day, VJ-Day etc. I do not wish to diminish the significance of this serious offence against us. However, in a time of passion, it is not right for such a consideration. Maybe in a few years, some wiser than me would wish to make it a holiday, or it may be a day remembered like Pearl Harbor, and is honored through Veterans day, 4th of July, and other existing holidays thay convey thanks, honor and respect to those who were lost and those who fight for them.

definitely.. we must pay tribute to the brave souls that lost their lives in this tragedy and this is just a small thing we can do for them. It is known as Patriot Day.. as a patriot we should not be able to bank, go to the post office or for that matter even shop. As Americans we have to start honoring those before us and not be so worried about the all might buck!

Yes. We should always remember that terrible day in history. We must always be reminded of how far human beings will go to destroy each other. We must always be reminded to stay strong and vigilant, and to never give up hope even in our darkest hour. Let America know that 9-11 was more than just a terrible day.

It's time for this country to move on. We've been immersed in this day since it happened. The stress levels in our nation have reduced our ability to think wisely and act in a intelligent manner. Our government is continually putting us on one alert or the other. If the truth be told, alerts need not be public announcements, and would probably be more effective if they were not. Preventative medicine is a good idea, but taking a large dose of it daily can have adverse reactions.

I do not mean to diminish the attack on our country, and believe we should never forget that we are vunerable just like every other nation. I just worry about the impact on our everyday lives since 9/11. In some ways, it appears the terrorists have won.

I don't see Sept. 11 as ever becoming a national holiday. Instead, I think it will always be a somber day of remembrance, like Pearl Harbor Day now.Those of you that are in the military know that church services are held on Dec. 7 at almost every base.

The only people who get most holidays work for the government. I'm one of these. I think we get plenty of holidays, to be honest with you. I would rather see some of the unobserved holidays like Veteran's Day and Martin Luther King Day be observed by everyone.

No a day of remeberance pehaps but there have been more bloody days in our history. Which most of us cant tell you the Date of.

No. Please.

It isn't just what the terrorists did to us on 9/11, it's what this country has done to itself since then.

We've tossed the rule of law out the window, shredded the Constitution and legalized torture, among other things. We've seen thousands of our soldiers killed and maimed. The only thing successful about the Iraq war is that it's made Bush buddies like Halliburton even more obscenely wealthy.

No. A national day of mourning, perhaps.

yes. or at least the flags go at 1/2 mast. we cannot forget those innocent people who died.

I made it a day of significance in my heart ever since it happened. I would be more than glad to let it go IF it was over. I don't believe it is since we've been getting threats ever since. I think it matters on how much it affected you whether you agree on the Hoilday issue. I would say yes, but then we'll have to make everything that comes next, a hoilday too becuz as many of you said, what about Dec 7th, what about this day,,,that day? It's too many tragedies and they're still coming!!!!

Why not!

It will forever be a day where those that lived through it will remember and reflect, but Bushco has already perverted the date, and the memories of those people to achieve twisted ends, and wiped his butt with the constitution in the name of it. For myself, I will honor the dead, but the rest has been way too much of 9/11 already. 9/11 doesn't make me feel anything but sad for our country, and not just because 3000 people lost their lives, but because it was used as an excuse by a rogue government against the best interests of it's own people for corporate greed.

The question about Dec. 7 is valid.

National holidays, even ones intended as solemn remembrances, have a way, in the US, of turning into obscene shopping orgies, a horrible way to honor the dead. SAles for Memorial Day offend me terribly! I'd be even more offended by World Trade Center sales.

It would be better for churches to hold solemn requiems for the day, and for employers to excuse people for solemn remembrance, not for shopping sprees or trips to the shore.

I utterly disagree with those who say more holidays would bankfupt the country. We hve far fewer holidays and vacation time than Europeans, but are no better off, if not worse off. We should give all workers a month's vacation and 6 weeks after several years and we should have solemn remembrances. But I cannot vote in favor of a national holiday on 9/11 because I fear it would be nothing but another day to honor personal greed at the mall.

I weigh in with the "Pearl Harbor Day" is not a national holiday group. Is there some reason (perhaps because of the recentness of the hurt) that the people killed in 9/11 deserve greater honor, being innocent victims, than those who VOLUNTEERED service to their country and died in that service?

interesting question,

I am in canada so the question doesn't really apply to me, but we hear all the newstories and are still fighting in afghanistan because of 911

A holiday? How do you figure to 'celebrate' it? The longer the country lives . . . the more holidays. Eventually, we won't have to work at all. Why can't we just remember it? The Iraq reference is completely out of line.

Regards,
Doyle I <~~~~~

Not a national holiday. All that Veteran's Day seems to mean is coat sales for the Winter retail season, and a reminder that it is 6 weeks until Christmas. Memorial Day and Fourth of July are huge Summer retail days. Labor Day is a joke. I feel we should HONOR this day much as we do December 7th, heretofore known as a Day of Infamy. So, too, is the date of September 11th.

No way.
We don't celebrate days of infamy .

Again Iraq has nothing to do with 9/11.

Except in bush's head.

I love how some people have to make this a discussion of bush.

It should not be a holiday. We did not do that for Pearl Harbor and the two should be treated the same as days of infamy.

As role models for our dhildren, I wonder what are they going to think of us. Especially those who are now serving and those who have. I so am for it being a Holiday. Each generation has it's day's to remember, but to keep the memory alive, and to prioritize the one over another is disturbing. To listen to ourselves about the problem's it may cause over the "timing " is also disturbing. We all lost that day, even the schools for the horror of Coumbine, and several other's do something. Over 3,000 Americans LOST THEIR LIVES in our COUNTRY>And, thousands suffer the effects of the horror thru the loss of their health. Our first responder's lost so many, and so many heroes were created. Are not a United Nation? Must people just say we must go on and whomever want's to commemorate it O.K.? But a not across the Nation? I find that deplorable we cannot have a day to discuss that with family, friends, children who not only lived thru it, but those who watched it happen. It is not respectful of our fellow countrymen. And to all of those who are not for this, we were asked to "Go On With Our Live's" We did that. But to not remember for a day is like we can tolerate that horror just with in ourselves and not together as a nation. I believe anytime we were hit , should be one of the most highly respected and and thoughtful day's on our calendar's. I cannot rationalize the thought at all. Now we have our service men also. Do our children see us not respecting the horror for ALL the world to see? And I know you know what I mean. God help us all!!! Ellen B

Why do we celebrate Labor Day anyway- take that one off and replace it with a national holiday on Sept. 11

Thanks Liz . . . A great point! Currently, we celebrate 'Labor' by Playing all day!

Regards,
Doyle I <~~~~~

A day of Rememberance should do

I think it should be a day of Remembrance but not a holiday. I agree with the post earlier that said that Pearl Harbor - Dec 7th isn't a holiday, so why should 9-11 be one. I believe we should remember what happened, but it should not be a holiday.

we already have a holiday for remembering our dead...it's called Memorial day... I am an American and I watched the planes hit the towers that day.... we should not make a "holiday" out of september 11th.

While Pearl Harbor was just as bad as sept 11th, Hawaii was not a state at the time if the attack.......but it was an American naval base.

I used to think that 9/11 should be a holiday, but now I'm not so sure.

Even though I didn't know anyone who died on 9/11/01, I always wear red white and blue on 9/11. I say a prayer for those who lost their lives and the families they left behind. I don't need a national holiday to remind me to do this.

Like Dorine said, it's too easy for these holidays (particularly if it becomes one of those "weekend" holidays like MLK, Memorial Day, Presidents, etc) to become excuses to buy mattresses, furniture and television sets.

While we're on the subject of these holidays.....

I know I'll catch flak for this....

but I'm not really sure why Martin Luther King, Jr. has his own holiday. I'M NOT DISPUTING THE GREATNESS OF THIS MAN NOR AM I CHALLENGING HIS IMPORTANCE AS A HISTORICAL FIGURE. However, the only people who have their birthdays as national holidays are MLK and Jesus Christ. Shouldn't MLK day really be changed to Civil Rights Day in order to celebrate not only members of the African American Civil Rights movement, but those who gave their lives working for women's rights, children's rights, etc?

BTW -

PATRIOTS DAY is in April (start of the Revolutionary War), but PATRIOT DAY is the anniversary of 9/11.

Wanted to mention that I did not mean "Holiday" as "Let's all go to the Beach," I am sure that is my own ignorance in assuming that watching that on t.v. really affected me and the thought that it did happen in the Greatest Country in the World was food for thought, for all, I get so focused I forget that a lot of people do shop or whatever, and then I am upset about commerce and Why are they open anyway, and why do people have so little time for such important matters, what has caused the need to have to shop on a Day of any Remembrance, and the question I thought, was not comparison of importance of the different days, but was about 9/11l I have seen the movie about Pearl Harbor, and I it was during the time of my parents, and I have also thought that it should also be a Day for Just Family and Remebering that This can and did happen ON OUR SOIL> I would not ever offend or place one Sad Day in our Country over another, I hope that makes it a little clearer about how I feel, We can slip into being complacent very easily, simply because we are so busy, Our first responder's, people like you and I were also there, I will not ever take our safety for granted again. I just feel a personal prayer, which I do daily for these event's, prevent's bonding and keeps us seperated , so that being United in the cause by action, which helps us, gain respect from other Countries, who definitely show their determination in their own particular unifying events, that we will take the time to not let any of this go ever, not being attacked,and not the engagement of our Military, and our Soldiers nor any American .
For those of you who may be interested, James Gandolfiny(?) who was the "Man" on the Soprano's, took a trip to Iraq, and went for the "Alive Day" The man sobbed openly on National Television, as many have, (and many on the streets also have in conversation,) and he took a look at the Military situation for our Soldiers as an American. His special is on Sept. 9, 2007. I am sure you will have to check your local stations for the right channel. It could not be more timely. Ten of our brave men and women tell what "Alive Day" means, and do it in their own words. It should be very enlightening. Ellen B

Absolutely not!!!! bored from Melvin
"NO COMPLAINTS ABOUT SEPTEMBER 11 HOLIDAY

Some folks have started a campaign to make Sept. 11 a
national holiday, so we can remember the terrible tragedy.
I'm totally in support of this. In fact, if we're really
serious about remembering it, I think we should take the
entire month of September off. Instead of a holiday, we
should have a holimonth.

If we can't manage that, we should at least have a holiweek.
For a full week every September, we could take a break from
work to reflect on those tragic events and remember the
fallen heroes. And just as we do on Memorial Day, we could
perform all this reflecting and remembering while lying on
our backs at the beach.

Al Gore: "Hey Bill, are you doing anything on Sept. 11 to
remember the tragedy?"

Bill Clinton: "Yes, I'm going to the beach. There's no
better place really. The splashing of water will remind me
of the brave firefighters, the shark warnings will remind me
of the evil terrorists, and the bikini-clad women lying on
the sand will remind me of the twin towers."

Yes, if Sept. 11 becomes a holiday, the beaches would be
packed with people, some of them so patriotic, their thongs
would be red, white and blue. If nothing else, they'd have
another reason to get sunburned.

Surfer dude: "Hey, your skin's peeling. Aren't you worried
about getting skin cancer?"

Beach bum: "No, dude. It's Sept. 11. Worse things could
happen."

Surfer dude: "Sept. 11? What happened on Sept. 11? I flunked
history."

Beach bum: "You didn't hear, dude? Three planes crashed into
buildings in New York and Washington. That's why I'm living
on the beach. I'm avoiding buildings."

About half of Americans favor a national holiday on Sept.
11, according to a USA TODAY/CNN/Gallup Poll. The other half
don't want a holiday because that's one more day they'd have
to spend with their spouses.

But seriously, 48% of respondents said they want the
holiday, 48% said they don't, and the remaining 4% had no
opinion. The results surprised some international observers.
"I'm absolutely stunned," said a Frenchman. "I didn't
realize it was possible to find an American with no opinion.
Are you sure those 4% weren't illegal aliens?"

In my opinion, we need more than just a holiday to remember
Sept. 11. We need free airline tickets, not only to help us
remember the unfortunate role of commercial planes in the
tragedy, but also to help us see how easily and quickly a
Boeing 767 can be used to take us to Daytona Beach.

To ensure that the beach-bound passengers think about Sept.
11, we may need the pilot to make an announcement: "I have
some good news for you: The man in the first row has been
disarmed, thanks to some quick action from a brave flight
attendant, who managed to grab the man's pencil. We
apologize for the security lapse."

We may also need small planes to pull banners across the sky
above the beach, banners with patriotic messages such as
"God Bless America" and "United We Tan."

If that isn't enough, we may need to arrange a parade on the
boardwalk, complete with marching bands, flag-waving
firefighters and Rudy Giuliani. As long as Giuliani doesn't
make any unreasonable demands, like asking us to listen to a
speech.

We don't need speeches to remind us of Sept. 11. And to be
frank, we don't really need a holiday. But if we get one, we
won't complain.

Unless it's raining at the beach."

Yes, I feel it should be a day of remembrance in the United States and a holiday as well. However, in reality, we would also have to think of the other awful and traumatic days in history in which we, Americans, have lost so many loved ones, friends and our heroic American soldiers. (For example; D-Day and Pearl Harbor, just to name a few in the 20th century...) Since, D-day and Pearl Harbor have a "day of remembrance" perhaps legislature should change what a day of remembrance should entail? Maybe it will then become a national holiday to remember and pray for those who have gone before us.

Definitely NOT! Funny, but my calendar already has "Patriot Day" on 9/11. We still don't even have any proof of who was responsible for 9/11, and our own government misused 9/11 to perpetrate illegal wars. I certainly don't want to celebrate that in any way!

noted on calendar as a day of remembrance...what does Iraq have to do with this question???

thx for mail notice of your article.....peace,gayle

The word holiday signifies celebration which is not what we would do to signify this tragic event. A day of remembrance, yes. But I see no reason to give folks the day off , they aren't going to do something related to remembering those who died .. are they? It should be commemorated on our Calendars and in our minds..always. It was certainly a wake up call to arms and to the danger of terrorists among us! Bless the President for standing strong against the enemy.
Betsy Wood, CDR, USN

Could be a possibility, mankind always remember the facts that made a change, and the september catastrophy was a World issue to be remember. For multiple reasons. Ahd also made a mark in lots life.

I do not think that people will ever in their lifetime forget what we lost as a country on 9-11, and are still losing today due to the results of 9-11. It makes me sick to think of all the young men and women we have lost in the last six years due to a mistake that could have been taken care of during Desert Storm. I agree that if we had not gone to Iraq to fight this war that they would indeed still be here and who knows maybe they are still here. Anyway I do not think we should have a National Holiday for a Terrorist Attack on our Country and its people. Maybe it should just be left as is a Day of Remembrance just like December 7.

it shouldn't be, it should never be forgotten, but it shouldn't be a holiday either. look at all the disasters that have occured in the U.S, they haven't become holidays, nor do they have to be holidays to be remembered.

A resounding "NO."

Let me explain my opinion...and it is just an opinion.

First of all, I do not feel that reminding our men and women of THAT day is in the best interest of our soldiers.

Years ago, I dated a man who did four tours in Vietnam. Although he had a bright future as a Respiratory Therapist, his mind was in Vietnam, a fact he attempted to hide on a regular basis. He received many rewards for being one of the best in Arizona, and yet, he had this secret. He could not commit to save his life, and basically attempted to mention this fact. (It is not me, he was married 4 times). He suffered from night terrors, a fact he begged me not to tell anyone about. He preferred to do his work in a plane, the type of work he did OVER THERE!

I worked with the homeless vets for the past ten years, along with other homeless individuals. I had to literally take these men to the offices where they deserved to have benefits, and make them apply. I had to sit with them!!! They are all vietnam vets. Oh, and most of them? They preferred to hide in the bushes, coming out only to drink beer or other cheap liquor. In the bushes of Arizona, folks!!!! IN THE BUSHES OF ARIZONA!!!!

Why are we celebrating being basically attacked? Did I misunderstand the question?

I love the soldiers. This area of my life is precious and will never change. I know that the people on this site, or at least those who are not just signing up to get points, feel the same way I do.

Let's wait this thing out. If your Heros/Heroines are successful, then I say we can come back to this consideration.

Thank you for asking. A very passionate issue, indeed!

I thought I knew the answer to this question - until I read the pro and con answers on this board...I believe this is one of the most thoughtful and thought-provoking groups at gather...Maybe that's because I'm an Air Force wife of many years.

I primarily came here to enter the romance contest...while I don't often post to this group, I'm impressed with the passion and committment here.

I would ask that, no matter which side of this question you are on, that on September 11th, you remember a dear friend who died at the pentagon on 9/11/01. Vietnam Veteran Lt. Col Bob Hymel, served in the USAF for 26 years, and was working as a civil servant for the Army on that dismal day in our nation's history ... He was a ragin' Cajun with a passion for life that I have rarely seen matched.

Please remember Bob and all the others who lost their lives - and the families left behind. God bless them everyone.

Bonnie

NO! NO! NO! Nor should Pearl Harbor Day be a holiday. Holidays should be reserved for triumphs not disasters. We celebrate the the sacrifice that is war on Memorial Day and the service to the nation on Veteran's day. We remember mothers and fathers with their own holidays - celebrated on Sunday so as to enhance raher than interefere with commerce. We celebrate the births, not the deaths, Lincoln and Washington and King. Our darkest days are fixed in our memories but are not celebrated. It is our brightest days that are made the subject of holiday celebrations and on that standard September 11 does not qualify.

I do believe yes is my answer but in saying that I also feel we don't want that date to be a target for more attacks, or give them in honor to what they did on 9/11.
Good guestin, great article.
God Blessings
dee-dee
10*
yes, Bonnie you are right God Bless them all including all there family's as well.

i have thought a little more on this subject & decided to come back & say NO!
As I put up there I as well feel anyone who lost anyone in 9/11 or since in the fight with our service man, killing still continues. We will never forget what has happened plus what still is going on as we all know there is a lot of loss since 9/11. So I reserve the right to chance my mind which I was leaning that way in my first answer.. I would love to try to give back something to those family's but I 'm not so sure this is what they would have in mind. Thanks again for this article. It is hard one to really answer.
dee-dee
God Blessing to all mankind.

I have to say NO! December 7th wasn't made into a National Holiday and September 11th is no more or less important than that date. I don't think for one moment that September 11th will be a day any of us soon forgets.

As for this being made into a discussion about Bush....September 11th has everything to do with Bush. He choose to go after Osama Bin Forgotten for the terrorist actions of September 11th and then derailed into Iraq, for God only knows what reason. Now the Iraq war seems more important than hunting down the one responsible for September 11th.

I think it most definitely should.

That is a good question. Holiday is not a word I would use in connection with September 11th. I guess my answer is no. I wouldn't want to see it become just another day when people get a day off from work and go shopping or to the beach. I don't think it needs to become a holiday. I think it is important that we as a nation, carry on. We go about our business, not as usual, but with the knowledge that they didn't stop us, they didn't break us. And in our hearts we will forever hold all the precious lives that were lost that day. Our greatest tribute to them is to remember and to carry on.

I think every year on 9/11 the President, whoever is in office at any given time, should lead the country in a moment of silence and remembrance at a given hour. I think it is far more important to actively call attention to the event in order to remember the lessons learned and to honor those who lost their lives or know those who did, than to actually take the day off work.

No.

A holiday is a commemoration of something good; for the simple reason that 9/11 was a tragedy, I don't think it would be appropriate to call it a holiday. As has been said previously, we should remember it with a moment of silence, etc., but it should not be celebrated. We must keep these things in propriety.

Howdy; NO !!!!! I wouldn't think September 11th should be considered a Holiday, let's just leave it as an anniversary, because a holiday sort of marks a date in history as a day of Joy and fun, nothing about September 11th reminds me of any fun for sure...a somber remembrance of that day maybe marked with a moment of silence at the very moment the first plane hit the tower, with church bells ringing all over the world would be a lasting tribute to all to have lost their lives on that day, and lets remember that not only American's lost their lives on that day, but people in those towers were from all over the world as well.
Thanks for the posting...Sincerely Buck

I would not be in favor of making September 11th a holiday. I would not be in favor of making December 7th a holiday, either. Veteran's Day (formerly Armistice Day) , Memorial Day, Labor Day have mostly become shopping for the best sale, football or picnic days. Who celebrates Flag Day? Arbor Day gets more attention than Flag Day. 09/11 and 12/07 will ALWAYS be days of infamy in the hearts of Americans. Everyone knows where they were and what they were doing the day JFK was shot. Everyone knows where they were and what they were doing on 09/11, and those folks that are still alive know exactly where they were and what they were doing on 12/07.

I agree we should never forget...but not a holiday...although an extra day off would be nice. But then again I don't get holidays off.

Okay really, if that is made a holiday should the day the federal building in Oklahoma was bombed be a holiday. It was still terrorists attacking. The day pearl harbor was attacked is a day of remembrance but not a holiday.

I was told that since we celebrate president's day, and no one knows them personally then why shouldn't we add 9/11 since many people knew someone who died in the attacks? I told them that logic makes no sense. But was immediately told to shut up, you don't get it.

Absolutely not!

I don't see the point in making it a holiday. I can see why we shouldn't forget. The word holiday denotes celebration. Why would we celebrate being attacked?

"Why are we celebrating being basically attacked? Did I misunderstand the question?"

I think that sums it up, pretty much. Why would we create a holiday to recognize the fact that we got caught with our pants down? We're going to celebrate the fact that terrorists were more organized than our own government, and were able to orchestrate the take over four airplanes right under our noses? And six years later we're are LESS SAFE than we were then, not because of terrorists, but because all of our reservists are scattered around the world fighting a phantom war. Which leaves us vulnerable at home to natural disasters and home-grown problems.

http://www.reuters.com/article/domesticNews/idUSN0420369420070614

Making it a holiday would be like putting a band-aid on a severed limb. It won't stop the bloodflow, won't help with healing, and in the end will just let everyone turn a blind eye and pretend they did something "for the victims."

No, not a national holiday. They didn't turn December 7th into a national holiday. A day of rememberance yes, but not a holiday.

No, September 11th should not be a holiday, at least not yet. All of the fruits of 9/11 have not yet come to bear. There are still troops in Iraq and Afghanistan, Osama bin Laden is sending us Just for Men Beard Formula commercials, and the economy is a mess at least partially due to 9/11.

Also, we aren't quite sure how all of this will turn out. What if any number of worst case scenarios happen? For instance, terror attack induced martial law, war with Iran, or economic depression, will we want to memorialize 9/11 then?

I say let's fix this mess then we can worry about holidays.

I am with everyone who has said no, because no other important date of its nature (like pearl harbor and so on) have been elevated to holiday status.
To make it a holiday would cheapen it in my mind. It would be reduced to another reason for school children to get the day off and attend bbqs where no one knows the real reason why the day is sacred.

Yes, it should be a holiday, though I'm concerned that some politicians will try to use it to support whatever "cause" they may be happening to champion. I could see Bush trying to turn it into a rallying point for careless military deployments (like Iraq).

No, I don't think so ... Pearl Harbor has it's day, but it is not a national holiday, and that, too, sparked a war. And those who survived it never felt that it needed a special designated day for remembrance ... and we will never forget that day either.

First, Kathy D., WOW... you sicken me. I can tell from your picture that you do not truly understand MLK's importance. You are young, and do not appear to be someone who needs to be thankful to him. I am! Enough said!

Please recall that at one time we had several holidays for presidents, they were then lumped into President's Day. Perhaps when we have enough "people" who add up to be too many to name individually, we will lump them all up too. TISK TISK... MLK deserves MORE than a holiday, he deserves respect and rememberance every day. Just for the record, Ceasar Chavez joins Jesus and MLK.

As for the original question, I think it is a nice idea to have a moment of silence across the nation, but a holiday does not seem appropriate. I feel it downplays the significance of our loss as a Nation by providing an opportunity for celebration.

First, I want to say Sept 11 should NOT be a National Holiday. The reasoning behind it is that I see no reason to celebrate anything on sept 11. It is like Dec 7, a day our country was attacked. Dec 7 did not have to be made a national holiday for generations to remember what happened, nor should Sept 11th be added to the national holidays.

As a veteran, I feel the United States needs to remember not celebrate the attack.

IMNSHO, there *definitely* needs to be some sort of commemoration of Sept. 11. But I'm not so sure that making a national "bank holiday" is the answer. Just imagine for a minute that everybody you know is off work on Sept. 11. An awful lot of those people will probably be headed out to either the beach or a sale in a department store. not much of a commemoration then.

A day of remembrance, certainly! But a national holiday? HELL no, not until the truth is known, whether the responsible parties were indeed foreign nationals or a power-hungry political cabal right here in this country, and those responsible are brought to trial and justice meted out.

A holiday? I'm not sure. It surprises me every year the amount of emotion it brings up. It was such an awful day, even with all the wonderful heros that day.

Absolutely NOT! A day of REMEMBRANCE not a Holiday!

I agree with the majority of commenters, in that No, I don't think 9/11 ahould be made a holiday. We will forevermore have this date etched in our hearts, and memories, much like those who were around on Dec. 7, June 6 etc...



To Kathy D,
When I was a kid, we also celebrated both Washington's and Lincoln's birthdays. Unfortunately, someone decided to combine the two into "President's Day"...and now it is merely a day to buy sheets on sale.

Noway not another Holiday.
A moment of silence or something but not a holiday.

No, I don't think this should become a holiday.

No.

No, do not make 9/11 a national holiday. There are so many other issues that should demand our attention than self-pity.

Imagine what a different world this would be if we as a nation had tired to understand why someone would want to perform those acts of terror here. Imagine what a different world this would be if we had anticipated that someone would want to do this kind of thing. This is what we need to demand of our selves and those we elect to lead this nation.

Alice

I don't think it should be made a holiday.

I think Sept. 11th should be named as a Day of Remembrance. While the term 'holiday' is more connotative of celebration, unfortunately, some people may choose to do that. However, the people who would like to take a day to commemmorate the lives of those lost, and to honor with ceremonies should not be denied that right, simply because some people may choose to spend it on the beach. I also think that with all the terrorists have taken, they should not be allowed to take our right to grieve. It is of no concern to them how we choose to mourn our losses, they should be more worried about how we will turn the tables on them, and make them pay. While I did not lose any family or friends in the tragedy, I offer my own yearly tribute each year to my local fire department, simply because I feel I have to do something on that day. A Day of Remembrance would ensure that our young children do not forget what happened on this day, the same way that Pearl Harbor's Day of Remembrance allows my generation to be aware of our history. Though they did not volunteer for service, the people who died did so because they were Americans, and they should not be forgotten or laid aside, or 'moved on' from. I understand the difference of opinion on this issue, and this is just mine, but I would love to see an official Day of Remembrance for both 9/11 and Pearl Harbor.

Keeping September 11th as a Day of Remembrance is more appropriate. It should NOT be a holiday, as many have said above, since that connotes "celebration" not remembrance.

Too many of our National Holidays -- as also mentioned by many -- have become FAR from what they were intended to be: Commemorations of Worthwhile Events. Creepy Stores and Car Dealers (and their CUSTOMERS) claim they have NO OTHER TIME to SHOP and use these as trivial "shopping" days.

Remember the 70's when the first Arab Gas Embargo was levied agains the U.S.? Stores closed at 6 p.m. to save energy; gas stations closed on weekends; we waited in long lines to get gas on "odd or even" days?

We all GOT our food, gas, and other supplies within those "restricted hours" and no one "starved" because the stores weren't open 24 hours-a-day.

We COULD do this again, and cut gas and electricity useage, thereby giving a message to the terrorists that we CAN do without SOME of their oil. (It would be better for us too.)

This would be a more effective way of HONORING those who died, than a "Holiday", which DO quickly deteriorate in these times into "beach" and "shopping" days, sad to say. I NEVER shop on holidays. Nor do I go to "fast-food" joints.

So, I fully agree on "Day of Remembrance" with NO HOLIDAY for September 11th.

Notice that even THAT term -- Septermber 11th -- has deteriorated into the "short-cut" term of 9-11, the way the "news"papers and TV news-geeks have "saved" the extra print, and "saved" several syllables, rather than say "September 11th"?

It's ALREADY deteriorating.

In addition to my rather lengthy comment above, I also noticed that I could NOT find any September 11th TV commemorations on the 2 or 3 days before September 11th.

TV is ALREADY ignoring the Remembrance, except for the day itself.

And tonight, September 12, NO coverage was on -- here in San Diego, except for a Spanish-Language TV station, which I found while "surfing" looking at the "vast wasteland" which TV has today become. While I do not speak Spanish, I COMMEND that station for carrying the Commemorative TV Program, honoring September 11th.

Yes, it should.

I think it should be...we should all remmeber what happened that day...and never forgot all those that were lost....

NO

I agree with Bruce (no more government days off --- after all the average person doesn't get days off for national holidays) and Monderday (this is not about politics)

Americans should get more vacation time, but that should be days that each person is free to celebrate how they chose

Nat'l Day of Remembrance is more appropriate. Perhaps set aside as a day when the school system devotes a day of study as well as tribute activities, assembly, etc.

I think September 11 should be a national holiday. If it is made into a holiday, people will remember the heroes better. I think having September 11 as a reminder, it will help people to be vigilant and help keep our nation safe. We should never forget! Having a special day will help us and hopefully, start to heal us.

If it became a national holiday, I would be okay with that, but it wasn't just Americans that were killed that day. There were numerous people from other countries that were killed on the planes and also the buildings. They need to be remembered as well, and there were people that were muslims-same beliefs as the Terrorists, that were killed too. Whether it becomes a holiday or not, we will never forget what the terrorists did to our country.

no way, you don't celebrate such things. We got kicked in the teeth and that is not something to celebrate. Remember, hell yes but a holiday...it would be like Veterans and Memorial day is to so many people nowadays, just a time to play or sleep late.

Holiday implies joy or celebration.

What is there joy about? What are we celebrating?

No, this is a tragedy. Pretty much everyone would agree with that assessment. This was a TRAGEDY. By very definition there is no joy or celebration in a tragedy.

We all lost that day. The 3000 dead. The 19 hijackers. The Islamic religion and its true adherents. And we, America.

There is no joy in that. There is no celebration in that.

I think it would be hypocritical to make it a holiday, if not outright desecration of what happened.