Most people on this campus can tell you where they were five years ago.

Nearly every student will tell you a story of how they were in a high school class. Maybe they watched 24/7 news coverage or begged their teachers to turn on the TV. But everyone has a story.

When the tragic events of Sept. 11 occurred, most of America sat glued to their TVs for instant news updates. There were updates on the number missing, personal stories of triumph and tragedy and the official government response.

Pennsylvanians found themselves with a new governor when Tom Ridge moved to Washington D.C., and we saw beefed up airline security and longer check-in lines.

Regardless of where you were on Sept. 11, everyone remembers it.

But is the world safer since those tragic events five years ago?

We've seen attacks on Madrid's and London's transportation systems. Just this summer, officials thwarted a terrorist plan attempting to use liquids as explosives on a commercial airliner.

The truth is we may never be safe. Regardless of the government's steps and missteps, it is possible that the terrorists will always be one step ahead.

Despite what we may think of Osama bin Laden, his tactical brilliance cannot be denied.

While almost everyone pays more attention to terrorism when an attack occurs or when political campaigns shove it down our throats, some forget about the issue.

We cannot live in fear of future attacks and perhaps a lack of constant attention does provide a sense of comfort. But, we cannot forget or disrespect the events of Sept. 11.

Viewers of this weekend's Notre Dame-Penn State match-up could hear audible boos on their TVs when Notre Dame's president offered a prayer in remembrance of those who lost their lives five years ago.

While it is unclear which fans were booing, we should all be embarrassed that such a thing could occur.

A priest was offering a prayer in memory of thousands of people who died that day. Did the heightened competition between two program-rich schools trump the memory of the dead?

As today marks the five-year anniversary of Sept. 11, 2001, we should remember the people who lost their lives and the work of the men and women who have worked to preserve our freedoms.

We should not dismiss it. We should not boo. And we should not forget.