A painful anniversary almost four months past. A financially uncertain holiday season looming on the horizon.

In most cases these two events shouldn’t even come up in the same conversation, let alone relate to one another.

But this is America — land of the free and home of the brave. A place where anyone and everyone has the right and opportunity to make a buck.

Capitalism at its finest.

And with the holidays quickly approaching, the production and marketing of Sept. 11 has once again reached a fever pitch.

But where do we — as a country — draw the line? Many felt the events of Sept. 11 would be held to a higher standard, and experience an unprecedented immunity to off-color jokes, pop-culture references and carpetbaggers. The United States responded immediately with a blanket knee-jerk reaction after the Twin Towers fell. An eerie hypersensitivity washed over America, touching on anything related to the terror attacks. Networks pulled questionable programming, studios recalled movie posters and trailers and record labels pushed back release dates as a nation walked on eggshells, trying to avoid hurting or offending anyone further.

It has been said that time heals all wounds, and Sept. 11 is no exception. Just make your way down to ground zero and experience firsthand the surreal strip mall that has sprung up from the ashes of tragedy. Come one, come all — let the healing begin.

At least that’s how the multitudes of New York street vendors have chosen to defend their actions. Calendars, T-shirts, ashtrays and shot glasses are all available for those who seek comfort. And if that doesn’t seem to dull the pain of the attacks, maybe you would rather shop online from the comfort of your own home.

EBay has more than 200 Sept. 11—related items you can browse through. Choose from “Framed commemorative art” to “Ground Zero Heroes Beanie Bears” for only $9.99.

Fancy yourself more of an intellectual? There have been more than 150 Sept. 11 books that have shown up on the non-fiction best-seller lists.

And in one of the most unsettling displays of entrepreneurial savvy, a Florida businessman, who felt the terror attacks would dramatically impact the sales of his trading cards based on promoting industrial hemp and medicinal marijuana, decided to create and market trading cards of those who died in the attacks.

The truth is we don’t need a T-shirt or a trading card to help us remember the unforgettable events of Sept. 11. These baubles cannot and will not help relieve the pain of loss and suffering, and no matter how you market them, they cannot replace the only source of support and understanding we have — our friends and families.

Editorial Board:Cavan Reagan, Amber Billings, Ayrel Clark, Charlie Weaver, Rachel Faber Machacha.