Well, as the weeks get further and further from the tragedy that struck America (9/11/01), I have noticed the rise in the need for a quick buck.

American flags are being sold for $30 a piece, and that doesn't even include the flag pole. Ribbons and pins are up to $4-$10 a piece. Posters and laminated pictures are selling for $15 a piece, and people are making it a habit of going in to Manhattan to photograph the ruins and the clean-up and selling the photos on the internet for as much as they can get. People are making computer graphics and selling them for others to use on their sites. It's outragious!

There are also special flag holders for the cars, coins, pins, shirts, hats, banners, ect. The sickening part of it now is that it is being used with charity as a marketing ploy. The coins cost $40 and they donate $5 to the vicitms families. If it was maybe $20 from each sale, I'd say cool. But this is an obvious marketing ploy.

I just find it simply amazing that we grieve so fast and then find the perfect chance to make a quick buck off of something that not only disrupted the lives of every American, but also took the lives of thousands.

I have gotten several e-mails over the past few months advertising hats and shirts with the logo of the NY fire and police departments. Everything people can muster to sell, they do, at an outragious price. I'd pay if the money was going to the families of the victims, but that's not where it's going. It's going into the pockets of some suit who sees this as a great way to make money. It's something that effected the entire country and everyone wants to show their support for the country, so let's rob them blind on all the merchandise we can pawn off on them. If the money was going to the families, they would make a point of saying that because it is better for sales. But they don't. And no one is going to tell me that the guy in the cardboard newstand is donating any of that money.

This was a tragedy. This was the end of many promising lives. It was not a rock concert or the Yankees winning the world series. This should not be seen as a chance for a quick buck, but a chance for support. It all just makes me angry. And I support America as much as the next guy, but my wallet is staying closed. I have my stuff, all the stuff I need. And while I share the need to support my country and show my undieing love for America, I will not dish out $30 for a flag or buy shirts for the fire and police departments at $25 a piece. That is not the American dream, never was, and it shouldn't become that now. Show your support by donating money to places that will give it to those who need it. Hell, make a sandwich for a homeless guy! That's showing better support and love for your country than dishing out thousands of dollars on memorabilia and stuffing the pockets of some suit who is smoking a cigar and laughing at us while exploiting the deaths of thousands.

I watched the Twin Towers fall from my front porch after the noise of the first one going down woke me up, breathed in the dust that was left behind, and watched the bombers fly over my house. It effected more than I can explain, even to this day. It kills me to see people making a quick buck off of these feelings, feelings I know a lot of people are having.