Seven years ago, after the 9/11 attacks, University of Georgia Professor Richard A. LaFleur (editor of the Wheelock's Latin Course, 6th Edition, Revised) wrote a moving piece with the title Sunt Lacrimae Rerum et Mentem Mortalia Tangunt (from the Aeneid Book I, line 462: "There are tears for human events and mortal matters touch the soul,") that is still well worth reading.
Click the link above and scroll down about halfway to read Dr. LaFleur's comments.
