Because of my affiliation with Project 2,996—an effort to remember the victims of the 9/11 attacks—I have been contacted by several people who assume I would be in favor of creating a national holiday to remember the victims or 9/11. And most are rather surprised when I express my opposition to the idea.
Now, normally, I’m a to-each-their-own kind of guy, but in this case, and because of my public stance in the matter of the 9/11 victims, I thought I should at least state my reasons.
I’ll start by saying I love the sentiment behind the idea of making 9/11 a national holiday. I appreciate the thoughts of anyone who cares enough about remembering nearly 3,000 of our own civilians to campaign for a special day to remember them, but I have several objections to making 9/11 a national holiday.
But the only objection that really matters to me, is that I don’t think I can stomach the free market turning 9/11 into another reason for a car sale, or a furniture clearance event. And that’s what it it will become. Memorial Day is supposed to be a day to remember those who have given their lives in the military service of this country. But over the years it has become a day to celebrate the beginning of summer…a day for the mall to hold a slew of sales, and the opening day for half of the pools in America. But who really takes more than a moment to remember our military heroes?
If 9/11 becomes a holiday if will just become the day that businesses will end their week long Labor Day Sales Events, and I can’t think to a worse way to remember 2,996 unwitting heroes.
Where Is My Spot? 
I don’t think it should be a national holiday either. A minute of silence YES.
I can’t stand how business use long weekends for mega sales. That’s the one place I don’t want to be in a crowd mall looking for deals.
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Hi Dale, have wandered over with my cuppa and setting up camp here for a bit – hope you don’t mind!
I totally agree with you on this. As dreadful as it all was – it doesn’t deserve a holiday. In Aust we have a day called ANZAC day – similar in ways to your memorial day. Most people go and get drunk or go camping on the day instead of observing the true horrors of what the day represents and the gratitude we owe to those who fought, fell and returned.
thankfully at the moment at least, in Aust no shops are allowed to be opened until 1 pm on ANZAC day. but as you said – commercialism will change all that and it saddens me
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I totally understand were you are coming from but keep this in mind. Does anyone know or remember why Pearl Harbor was attacked? I know that there is no comparison, just think in 50 years from now (if Earth will still be here) will September 11, 2001 mean anything to the upcoming generations? If it is a federal holiday nothing will be open, who would want to have a cookout on such a sad day? That day would give elders an opportunity to discuss the horrible chain of events that followed as well, those who don’t know history are doomed to repeat it!
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I wholeheartedly agree with you, Dale. I think that making 9/11 a National Holiday desensitizes us to the actual events that took place. Just like holiday’s have done in the past- the true meanings of holiday’s are lost in the hustle and b bustle of activities that surround the holidays.
Project 2,996 is a valiant effort to pay tribute, honor, and respect to the lives that were sacrificed on that day.
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I don’t think 9/11 should be a Holiday, that’s putting our country MORE at risk of what happen in 2001. I agree with one of these people here, Just a moment of peace for 10 minutes of what happen of the first plane attack us. I DON”T WANT to use this as a holiday. Please and thank you. Crissy
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