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Anniversary
Sep. 11th, 2003 07:57 am
Hey there, all...
So two years ago today, a really, really horrible thing happened. Thousands of innocent people died in an attack on our way of life. It was unlike anything we've ever seen, and I'm still having a hard time wrapping my brain around the idea that someone could do that, have that much hatred for other human beings. It still numbs me to think too hard about it.
Of course, the major news networks and cable outlets will be padding their programming with all kinds of commemorative coverage, detailing ceremonies taking place at Ground Zero and all over the world. There will be lots of flag-waving and righteous indignation, and news anchors will be asking all kinds of questions except the ones that need to be asked:
"Will we ever win the War on Terror?"
"What's changed in America since that fateful day?"
"Will there be another terrorist attack on American soil before this is over?"
People will not think about why it happened. People will not think about the dead and the horror that an entire country had to watch that day. People will not remember. They will debate, and offer opinions, and express hatred, and confusion, and misunderstanding. People will try to cash in on the tragedy. People will try to capitalize on the bodies of thousands of people to further political agendas, to promote their businesses, to makes themselves look better. There will be posturing and fake, appropriate grieving.
This is not the way that death is supposed to be remembered. Do what you have to to mourn these people. Cry, read a book, light a candle, have dinner with friends, appreciate what you have...do anything. But don't watch television. The media should not be the role-model in how we remember. There are better ways of mourning our losses.
So two years ago today, a really, really horrible thing happened. Thousands of innocent people died in an attack on our way of life. It was unlike anything we've ever seen, and I'm still having a hard time wrapping my brain around the idea that someone could do that, have that much hatred for other human beings. It still numbs me to think too hard about it.
Of course, the major news networks and cable outlets will be padding their programming with all kinds of commemorative coverage, detailing ceremonies taking place at Ground Zero and all over the world. There will be lots of flag-waving and righteous indignation, and news anchors will be asking all kinds of questions except the ones that need to be asked:
"Will we ever win the War on Terror?"
"What's changed in America since that fateful day?"
"Will there be another terrorist attack on American soil before this is over?"
People will not think about why it happened. People will not think about the dead and the horror that an entire country had to watch that day. People will not remember. They will debate, and offer opinions, and express hatred, and confusion, and misunderstanding. People will try to cash in on the tragedy. People will try to capitalize on the bodies of thousands of people to further political agendas, to promote their businesses, to makes themselves look better. There will be posturing and fake, appropriate grieving.
This is not the way that death is supposed to be remembered. Do what you have to to mourn these people. Cry, read a book, light a candle, have dinner with friends, appreciate what you have...do anything. But don't watch television. The media should not be the role-model in how we remember. There are better ways of mourning our losses.
