September 11, 2008
Posted: 1732 GMT

NEW YORK - It's a sad day for the United States – the seventh anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. It's also a strange day for the U.S. presidential campaign.

John McCain talks to the brother of one September 11 victim on Thursday.
John McCain talks to the brother of one September 11 victim on Thursday.

Right in the middle of the tumult, both sides have declared a one-day truce. They have pulled their TV attack ads off the air, given up active campaigning and both presidential candidates will appear on the same stage to talk about public service and the common good.

A non-profit group that encourages volunteerism is staging what's being called the Nation of Service forum. Both Barack Obama and John McCain are being invited to speak. It's not a debate but it should be an interesting window into the men, their ideas and their lives. Obama's early career was spent as a community organizer in Chicago. McCain spent years in the military, as a Navy pilot and a prisoner of war in Vietnam.

It's an overlooked topic in the U.S. election campaign, but both men speak from the heart when they talk about it. Both men routinely encourage Americans to do more for their communities and their country. It will be interesting to see whether they do that tonight in a way that resists the temptation to try to win a few votes. We'll see how long the truce lasts.

Editor's Note: See the presidential political forum live on CNN International, Friday at 0000 GMT. We will replay it again at 0900 GMT. Viewers around the world can also catch Jonathan Mann every week on The Campaign Trail, which airs Fridays at 1730 GMT, Saturdays at 0300, 1300, 1900 GMT and Sundays at 0800 GMT. Click here to check out The Campaign Trail Web site.

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Filed under: General • Politics


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Jim L   September 11th, 2008 1806 GMT

Wake up america! if you want this to happen again vote for Mcshame / Palin. She wants to impose her religious beliefs upon you, ban your books and ultimatley control you, which will destroy our country! Maybe the physical destruction will not happen such as the world trade centers but the end result will. Extreme Islam is equal to Sarah Palin!

You women who are voting for her because she is just a women, please understand her policies and how dangerouse she is! The glass ceiling will be broken but please not her.

I fundamentaly do not understand how a woman can say I supported Hillary now I support Mcshame / palin! They are opposite ends of the political spectrum.

george kirk   September 12th, 2008 048 GMT

If Senator McCain should die in the process of the elections, what role will Gov. Palin play, will she still be Vice Pres. elect?

Johnathan Verski   September 12th, 2008 427 GMT

This was all the governments fault. They wouldn't send the F16 in the air to gun the plane down. All done on purpose so that we could have a reason to get into Iraq to take their oil.

tsk_tsk   September 12th, 2008 612 GMT

//both sides have declared a one-day truce. They have pulled their TV attack ads off the air, given up active campaigning and both presidential candidates will appear on the same stage to talk about public service and the common good.//

Meaningless, as long as both sides continue to entertain the crowds with the same set of lies, the next day.

By the way, aren't the CNN people tired too, of the lies?

joe   September 12th, 2008 622 GMT

each time we remember any massacre we feel we're living in the prehistoric age. it's a shame for those who are still teaching their young generations new ways of killing instead of believing in new ways of peace. just try the way of mahatma ghandy or create new ways. we are human beings; we are sensitive. don't make your new generations loose their sensation. they loose what God has created in them.
all the people of the world are one family. the discriminations and the doctrines made so far are of man's origin. so be peaceful to live in peace.

Mr. Britt   September 17th, 2008 907 GMT

9/11 WE should NEVER forget.

Put prayer back in school, bring back the Pledge of Allegaince. I support our US troops 100% and believe that if we dont take care of this now, my child and his children will have to deal with this. God Bless President Bush and God Bless the USA.

Shaun Ezekiel   September 22nd, 2008 1400 GMT

I think its good that we can take a moment to remember those who worked for a stronger economy and died trying to put food on the table and a roof over their children's heads

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