September11 was a tragedy that will go down in history as the worst attack everto occur on American soil. About 3,000 people died that day, but thepeople of the United States have risen to the occasion and shown a senseof patriotism I never thought possible. The American flag is everywhere,and hardly a day goes by when I don't see someone at school wearingpatriotic attire.

I am pleased that we have not let ourselves becrushed by the devastating blows dealt us, but enough is enough. For awhile, the flood of red, white and blue merchandise was uplifting. Theincrease in the number of flags and the flag symbol on clothing andother merchandise made me smile and remember days when most teenagersrarely stopped to think what their country meant to them.

But howmuch is too much?

September 11 was a tragedy of momentousproportions, but patriotism has taken advantage of it. Companiesrealized that because people feel so passionately about their country inthe wake of the attacks, they can slap some good ol' red, white and blueon their products and make a few extra bucks, knowing that people willeagerly purchase them just to have a piece of the tragedy. And we arebuying it up like lemonade on a summer day.

I've seen patrioticshoelaces, paper clips, pencils, even star-spangled pillow-cases.Countless books have been published, TV programs aired, websitescreated. Every manufacturer known to man has been producing t-shirtsthat say "Remember 9/11," but what really gets me are the NYPDand FDNY hats that are circulating. So much money has been milked out ofthis one horrific day that I'm almost positive we could feed the hungrychildren across the world for a very long time with it.

I'mcertainly not trying to force people to stop singing the NationalAnthem, I simply don't understand why so horrible a tragedy, with such ahigh loss of life, must be accompanied with its own line of t-shirts.Can't people remember the tragedy by attending memorials? Or by givingmoney to charities set up to help the victims' families? By celebratinglife, instead of dwelling on the tragedy? It just doesn't makesense.

So what if the day is permanently remembered by its ownfashion brand? Go ahead, buy a t-shirt. Stock up on red, white and bluepaper clips. I won't even complain if you outfit your entire bedroom inthe American flag. But next time you're in a store, see that 9/11 topand say to yourself, "I'd look good in that!" just step backand think for a moment.

Are the deaths of 3,000 people worth youlooking good in a t-shirt?