With the memory of Sept. 11, 2001, still burning painfully in our memories and in our hearts, we understand that for today, justice does not exist, revenge will always be impossible and the price we pay for our freedom sometimes requires the ultimate sacrifice.

We are also reminded, today, that life is not fair, and that tragedy strikes good people and families — people and families who deserve something better from life. We are reminded that for thousands of Americans, living an honest, hardworking life does not protect anyone from that which is out of our control.

We are reminded of our own mortality, that we are all just visitors on this planet with a temporary visa, given the ability to make every day better than the last, and with a mandate requiring that each day we have the gift of breath, we must repay this gift with a gift of our own choosing, one constricted only by our own imaginations.

Five years later, with just our hearts and minds, we are still seeking the strength to comprehend our own disbelief that our world can be so cruel.

As we will every Sept. 11, we also think of all the young and old innocent lives taken from us tragically — with still so much more left to offer. And, we realize that every day we go about our lives thinking we are going to see our loved ones some time soon, we remember that many that day knew they were saying "I love you" for the last time, while many others never had the chance to make that last phone call.

Today, as we continue to search for symbols to honor those who honored us by giving their lives to save ours, we realize that no symbol could ever do justice to the heroes and victims of 9/11.

Today, as every Sept. 11 should be, is also about honoring the thousands of heroes of 9/11, in whatever way our hearts tell us we must honor them. For many people the best way to honor the tragedy of 9/11 is through selfless acts of kindness. For some, that will be collecting clothing for the needy, showing appreciation for local authorities with gifts of bakery, raising and donating money to their favorite charities, building homes or any of the other countless ways that volunteer opportunities provide. The website www.mygooddeed.org lists just a few of the good deeds pledged on behalf of the victims and heroes of 9/11.

Opportunities in Madison are plentiful. From the My Good Deed website I entered my zip code, 53703, which returned 38 volunteer opportunities within 20 miles. Opportunities, just to name a few, range from serving the elderly meals, signing up to be a Big Brother or Big Sister, participating in Habitat for Humanity, teaching English to non-native speakers, and teaching children and adults how to read.

Today, we also should remember the words of Alexis de Tocqueville, writing about the United States more than 150 years ago. "Not until I went into the churches of America and heard her pulpits aflame with righteousness did I understand the greatness and the genius of America … America is good. And if America ever ceases to be good, America will cease to be great."

Sept. 11 reminds us that there is no better day than today to do something good for someone else. Tomorrow, and the rest of the year, our rage will be fierce and our resolve strong. Tomorrow, the memory of 9/11 demands that we do everything in our power to protect against another tragedy. Tomorrow, we will continue to fight with guns for our freedom, but today, we must act with our hearts.

Jason S. Ebin ([email protected]) is a third-year law student.