As we pass this Friday by finishing up our classes, doing that last test and thinking about what we are going to do for the weekend, it can be tempting to forget what this Friday should be about.
 It’s been eight years since that day that changed America forever. It has been said that the 9/11 attack is the defining moment of our generation. Almost everyone can tell you what they were doing and where they were when they heard the news. But it’s not something many people are going to think about.
 For others however, they will never be able to forget, no matter how much they might want to. According to Medical News Today, 900 of the 25,000 rescuers who helped on that day have developed asthma from the dust. According to Medicinenet, up to 70,000 people may now suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder. Thousands of other family members are still missing the nearly 3,000 people who died in the attack. Thousands of troops are still over in Iraq.
Some may not forget what day it is and what that means, but may say it was long ago and nothing can be done about it now.
 That’s not true.
 It is true that we can’t take away the effects of 9/11. It is true that we can’t bring back the people who died that day, but it is not true that we can’t do anything. What we can do is our little part to help ensure that nothing like this happens again.
 The first thing is to be alert and be aware of what’s happening in our government. We’re in a democracy that lets us participate and protest if something is not right. Know what your leaders are doing and tell others what they are doing, and if you don’t agree, say something about it.
 The second thing is to make the little sacrifices necessary to keep the country safe. It’s not that big of a deal to wait in a long line at the airport for security. If they let everyone just hop on, things would go a lot faster, but it probably wouldn’t be nearly as safe. Don’t let small inconveniences prevent you from seeing the big picture. Remember what did happen and what can happen again.
 We don’t only remember this day to honor those that died, but to remind us what happened and what can happen again. STAY AWAKE. Don’t stress yourself out, but don’t think we’re made of steel.

This editorial was written by Ashley George (ajgeorge@valdosta.edu) and it expresses the opinion of the entire editorial staff.