I’m not a popular writer. My views aren’t popular or well-liked sometimes. I try to say things that people need to hear but don’t want to. Like “take responsibility”. No, I’m not popular and I certainly won’t be well-liked after today’s post.

Today is September 11th. The 10th anniversary of the attacks on the World Trade Centre. I remember exactly where I was. I was working for a shit-hole telephone answering company and all our news was coming in second-hand. Not knowing the truth, I thought World War Three was here. I was taken back to a time in my younger years when I was terrified that a nuclear holocaust was imminent (I grew up in the 80s and anyone from that decade will understand that sentiment).

When I got home to see the news, I was relieved to see that it wasn’t as bad as I thought. I was horrified that all those people suffered so senselessly, but no nuclear bombs meant things were a step up from what I feared. I watched in horror as the towers came down and cried when I saw the second plane hit the tower. So much death.

Weeks went by and I watched my country, Canada, being blamed for having a part in the attacks. One of the terrorists made his way to the United States via Canada. I watched as my fellow countrymen offered their help and support and was angered by the finger-pointing that the U.S. aimed my way. Canada didn’t facilitate this. As a matter of fact, it was a Canadian on one plane who encouraged those on the flight to fight back and, thereby, preventing the plane from reaching its target.

Okay, so Canadians are bad people because we let others into our country. Got it. Moving on, ten years later, I am dismayed that the 9/11 attacks have become something of a holiday. A twisted Fourth of July, as it were. There’s specials on television (all a variation of “tell us how you feel”), celebrities talking about how they feel, you can buy memorial items for just $19.99 if you only act now. When did the marketing set in? Newscasts are running and re-running photos and video of the attacks like it isn’t permanently etched into our souls. Numbers, baby, numbers. What the hell? I’m confused.

I’m watching all this and thinking that if Pearl Harbour were attacked now we’d get the same thing. I’m not saying we shouldn’t talk about it, but this feeling of celebrating the 10th anniversary just seems wrong. It’s like holding a party on your dead mother’s grave. Pass the scotch, please.

Maybe I don’t get it. I’m only Canadian, after all.