Ask any American what the single defining day of the last decade has been, and the answers will almost certainly be the same: Sept. 11. We belong to a generation that has grown up surrounded by reminders of that horrible day, spending six years inundated by breaking news reports, shows involving terrorism, songs about the Bush administration and other materials dealing with questions raised by what happened six years ago last week. But here on campus? Nothing. No vigils, no moments of silence, no programs, flag-planting or anything overt in commemoration of the anniversary of the attacks. Have we moved past Sept. 11?

It would seem that we've become, in a word, tired. Tired of turning on the news and hearing nothing but "security," "terrorists," "troop surge," "Baghdad" or "al-Qaida." Tired of endless seasons of 24 or The Unit either questioning or advocating the use of torture to combat terrorism; tired of the Dixie Chicks or Green Day or Bright Eyes writing protest music and then watching FOX News jump at the opportunity to question their patriotism. We were overwhelmed by this media overload, and now it simply washes over us, inducing a quiet indifference to any mention of Sept. 11 or the war in Iraq. By now, we're pretty sure we've heard this song before.

Then again, it could just be a matter of time. Last year was the fifth anniversary of the attacks; 2011 will be the 10th. We mark time with milestone years-decades, half-centuries and centuries-but a six-year anniversary is a sort of awkward in-between year, too unimportant to mention but too close to the event itself to ignore. What significance can we really be expected to draw from a six-year anniversary, anyway? It's not as if we honestly believe that the anniversary is less meaningful this year, and yet there wasn't a memorial on campus as in years past.

When it is understood, however, what the attacks of Sept. 11 represented, we realize that commemorative ceremonies aren't needed to rekindle our memories of that day. The attacks were an act of war, a siege upon the people of this country, the single most monstrous terrorist strike this or any other country has ever seen. I will always remember what I was doing when I found out about the attacks, in the same way that our parents remember where they were or what they were doing when they heard about the Kennedy assassination or when Neil Armstrong landed on the moon. Who can forget that image-the towers falling in a pillar of smoke, fire and twisted metal?

We need no constant news reports, no mention of "Sunni-Shi'a tensions" or "Abu Ghraib torture scandal" to feel and remember Sept. 11. In fact, this constant media barrage has desensitized us to what we should be feeling-recognition of what happened that day and how it affects us now.

This is not to say that we should dwell on thoughts of the World Trade Center or al-Qaida, for that would poison our national discourse until all we have left is fear and self-pity. But to ignore the passing of that day is to ignore everything that has happened since-Afghanistan, Iraq, Guantanamo, suicide bombings, IEDs, civil liberties, car bombs, "bring it on," "support the troops," "Mission Accomplished." As informed and concerned citizens, we must recognize our world for what it has become, and to do that we must recognize Sept. 11 as the catalyst for it. Sept. 11 is not yesterday's tragedy. It is right now.