It's what sells advertising, too, which in turn keeps the consumerism up, which keep the oil and gas companies, etc. going, which keeps the excuse for war, in some minds, going, which....

I am sure there is some healing in various private and public ceremonies, but the media has made it meaningless in a general sense with over-the-top.

I have found some of the stuff on NPR interesting, but I don't understand the weeks long lead up to the day. Like Jeri, I think it's got a very wrong feel to it.