The seventh anniversary of Sept. 11 is upon us, and even though it was a tragic event, there are many people who are tired of hearing the phrase. Instead of being a memorializing, significant set of words, the time has come wherein “Sept. 11” has transformed into a commonplace, overheard reference to many people.

Furthermore, it deals with (or at least subtlely hints at) a topic that has very divisive consequences: politics. Democrats and Republicans, anarchists and neo-conservatives: Listen up. There is a difference between being anti-government and anti-philanthropic – and they should not be confused. It is fine – beautiful even – to raise questions and dissent about the way the country is being run.

It is also beautiful not to. That’s a main perk of living in the United States – that ability to choose. However, it is also important to remember that the supporting of the troops is apart from supporting the war in Iraq. In the same light, it is important to remember that the Sept. 11 attacks were waged on U.S. soil, to U.S. citizens, many of whom were sitting in cubicles, unaware of what was about to transpire. (The Penn staff does this cubicle thing often, we can tell you. It hits close to home.) This is absolutely separate from whatever political thought or opinion (even suspicion of conspiracy) that may come to mind. Now, there has got to be a common ground between hating the government and consequently dismissing Sept. 11 completely, and taking it so close to the heart that you end up adopting generalizations – or discriminations – regarding other races or societies. It seems to be the case here that the mention of a simple date on the calendar can cause more argument than a bad referee call in the World Cup, but with a little compromise and understanding, we think there can be a bit more cohesion in thought – especially when it comes to the concept of simple remembrance. IUP’s Sept. 11 memorial Thursday is not about where you stand in the 2008 election, or where your beliefs lie. It is only about taking some time from your day to remember the people, the individuals, the mothers, teachers, and fathers who are no longer with us. To see more of The Penn, which covers the Indiana University of Pennsylvania community, click here.