Seeking the Calm in the Storm

Today, the nation pauses to memorialize the nearly 3,000 people who died during the Sept 11. terrorist attack. The seventh anniversary of the 9/11 attacks comes in the midst of bitter and divisive campaign attacks. Let this be a moment for the campaigns, media outlets and the public to put the political bickering aside. Perhaps today may be an opportunity to pacify the personal assaults (I'm hopeful!) and focus on the issues at hand - how are we going to best protect America at home and restore America's image abroad.

John McCain and Barack Obama have both put their campaigns on hold to honor the victims at Ground Zero. The two candidates will gather at the site of the World Trade Center and bear witness to the tragedy that killed nearly 3,000 people in New York, Washington and Shanksville, Pa. Later, in the evening, McCain and Obama will intersect again for half-hour appearances at a TIME-sponsored forum on national service at Columbia University. The candidates will not speak together at the forum, but will participate in a discussion about national service with TIME managing editor Rick Stengel and PBS's Judy Woodruff.