As DC knows, I have very, very personal links to the September 11th attacks. I don't say that as some sort of trump card, but rather as someone who was affected personally that day. I don't, however, happen to agree with the "too soon" argument.

When Simon Weisenthal spoke about the Holocaust, his constant mantra was that only by sharing his story, and the story of other survivors, could we prevent such a thing from happening again. History does have a horrible way of repeating itself. Complacency does have a way of making us blind to certain warning signs. There are those who have said that if we had acted more aggressively after the 1993 bombing of the World Trade Center, or after the attack on the Cole, then maybe we wouldn't have had a September 11th attack. And in hindsight, I would have to agree. But, let's face it, we were on a strong economic upswing and nobody truly wanted to rock the boat. And I doubt that anyone here at that time raised a hue and cry for stronger action.

I think that September 11th is a day that will echo in our hearts forever. I believe that there are thousands upon thousands of stories that could be told, and should be. I think that only by relating those stories, by listening to the humanity behind the statistics, can we remember the sadness of that day, the horror, the terror, the confusion and the heartbreak. I think that only by remembering those that were so senselessly lost that day can we possibly bring back a spark of the unity that held us together as a nation.

I think that we NEED to retell those stories, to hear those 911 tapes, to learn more about the people lost. I understand that it may be horrible for the families of the survivors. I know that it may rip open wounds. And perhaps some Hollywood blockbuster type of film may not be the best venue, but who are we to judge that? I think that we as a nation owe a debt to those that died that day, and that debt is to hear their stories.