An apt observation from Steve M. about all the complaints about yesterday’s memorial in Tucson:
Magazine publishers routinely publish special “commemorative issues” when tragedy strikes. Booksellers know that people want books about well-known victims of tragedies. Disasters often inspire musicians to make charity recordings, which are eagerly acquired.
When we unite in mourning, we often like to collect stuff.
Those commemorative “World Trade Center” coins come to mind, too. It’s really true. Americans mourn through swag. I hadn’t thought about it that way before, but I save all my funeral programs.