In the past several years, the 9/11 anniversary coverage has begun to wane. What started out as a day when every man, woman, and child of America relived the events over and over on television and radio and through various print and digital mediums has become just another blurb in between coverage of actual news.

Here at DU, the only mention I heard of the anniversary of 9/11 was from a woman handing out “I Remember” stickers on the bridge. I took one, but I didn’t put it on, largely because of political implications. Terrorism and 9/11 could be the tag line of the Bush administration. In a move that some would call noble and patriotic, and what others would classify as fear-mongering and opportunism, President Bush took full advantage of the post 9/11 climate to push America into a war in the Middle East.

The war, however, is not my topic. Many, many people, some smarter than I, have been debating that for years. Rather, I wish to discuss the decline of American interest in the anniversary of 9/11. Mostly, I’d like to discuss the why.

I remember the first anniversary after 9/11. It had a special significance at my high school, even though we were in Boise, Idaho and none of the students had known anyone directly affected by the attacks. My own high school newspaper which normally publishes only once a month threw a special anniversary edition together to be released on the same day.

But what’s truly memorable was the fear. Students bedecked in the most patriotic clothing they could find were roving the halls in loosely organized mobs. They had taken it upon themselves to remind everyone of the day’s significance, and they did so by harassing anyone of Arabic descent. At least one girl had to leave school early because she was afraid of what might happen.

And that brings us back to fear. That’s always what the anniversary of 9/11 has meant to me. I do feel for the families of the victims and I don’t mean to sound callous, but it seems to me that the anniversary “celebrations” were more like reminders that any one of us could be next.

I’m glad the awareness has waned in recent years, because it means that we as a people are moving on from the paranoia that has gripped us. To me, it feels like the nation is finally starting to heal. I’m done being afraid.

I remember 9/11, but I won’t be a slave to the memory.