Tomorrow, as I'm sure all of you know, is the 5th anniversary of 9/11.  Everyone through the blogosphere is busying their keyboards and cracking their knuckles, either already writing down their thoughts, memories, and remembrances, or imaging what they're going to say right now.  I've personally been thinking about how my life has changed because of the events that unfolded that day, and came to a very startling realization.

My life hasn't changed.

A few thousand people died on that day, and countless others have died since.  We've invaded two countries, and still have soldiers fighting two wars because of that day five years ago, and yet I don't notice any difference.  Do you?  Honestly ask yourself that question.  Unless you have a loved one serving in the armed forces... how would your life change?  What sacrifices have you been asked to make because of September 11th?  Sure gas is a little more expensive... and the guy with the rubber gloves at the airport security checkpoint aren't as gentle as they used to be, but has anything else changed for you?  When the Taliban fell, did it really hit you?  When Saddam was found cowering in his spider hole, did you do anything other than say, "Well that's good."  Sure, the war is all over the news... but how is that different than any other conflict that might have been covered prior to that infamous say in history?

I've been doing a lot of thinking recently about why Americans are believing so many conspiracy theories being spouted by loons in the world about 9/11.  I've been trying to figure out why so many people don't seem to think that Saddam was really that bad of a guy, and we could have just left him to his own devices.  I've been trying to figure out why so many people have forgotten so much of what has happened.  The simple truth of the matter is that people have forgotten, because they can.  There is nothing that they see around them, or things that must be done every day that crystallizes this war in their minds.  There is no sacrifice asked of anyone, and so the the shouts of the importance of this war simply ring hollow in their ears.

In part, I think we've been framing this war all wrong.  And when I saw "we", I mean that in the "royal" sense of the word.  Not only is the White House at fault, but so is the media, and all of us.  It would seem to me, that we've had three major battles occur.  First there was 9/11, then Afghanistan, and now Iraq.  That's an awfully bad way to cope with a war.  No wonder we feel like we're losing... we never see the end of anything.  During WWII, there was Normandy, Iwo Jima, the Battle of the Bulge, and many others.  Where are those equivalents today?  How many battles can you name in Iraq or Afghanistan?  Can you name a Medal of Honor recipient?  How about someone who received a Silver Star?

I'm sitting here trying to remember 9/11, and all I can remember is that we're not doing enough.  I don't know what is to come, and I sure as hell don't know what to do instead, but it's time we change how we think about these things, and what we ask of ourselves.