9/12
So out of respect of those who use the annual day of 9/11 as a somber remembrance of the lives lost seven years ago I refrained from posting my opinion yesterday. Today is 9/12, so I feel safe to blog about what some might find as “negative” or “unpatriotic”.
I am constantly in awe over the human obsession with death. In the past I have used the reference about the hypothetical scenario of my mother dying in a car wreck. Will millions of people come together on the anniversary of her death and “never forget”? Will the media constantly replay the taped footage of the fiery car crash? Will many Americans demand the blood of those not involved simply because they have held a long time grudge? Will the American way of justice and liberty for all bring the driver responsible to justice?
Many, if not all, of the answers to these questions will be a resounding no. Why? Because humans are obsessed with “more” and “death”. The human desire for more is nothing new. We need more gas, money, kids, Starbucks, internet speed, cell phone minutes, Apple products, etc… The human desire for more death might be a new realization for many. What makes the death of 3,000 people more important than only 1? What makes people flock yearly to events or stay glued to their televisions to commemorate the death of many people? Will the same people visit my hypothetical mother’s grave? My mother’s hypothetical death is just as important to me as one out of the many who died on 9/11.
These are the questions I pose to myself and to others on this anniversary. People are quick to cite the buzz phrase “never forget”, but the strange thing is most people are thinking or talking about the World Trade Center attack. Coverage in the media is limited to the other attacks on the Pentagon, and the heroic efforts of those involved on Flight 93. Have we forgotten those attacks? Why? Is it because there are no video archives of the Flight 93 attack and limited footage from the Pentagon? Maybe.
This is where I get controversial. What makes an office worker that shows up for work and an hour later is killed by a terrorist attack a hero? Many are voicing how those killed are heroes. Granted those like the fire and police departments and others who helped the evacuation of the towers are most definitely heroes. What about the others? What makes them a hero? Does being at the wrong place at the wrong time qualify people to be heroes? What if one of those that died was a secret child molester or serial rapist? Would they still be deemed as “heroes”? Those that counterattacked on Flight 93 are definitely heroes. Would my hypothetically dead mother be considered a hero just because she was at the wrong place at the wrong time? Of course not, many will argue those people died in the name of freedom and liberty. The greatest sacrifice for their country. What war were they fighting? What war did they voluntarily sign up for and willingly gave their lives too?
I fully understand the need for humans to grieve. I have grieved way too many times in the past. But where are the boundaries between grieving, seeking attention, and obsession? How many people did you remind yesterday that it was 9/11? How many replied that they didn’t realize until the news reminded them? Did they forget? Did they immediately put on their sad face and forcibly kept themselves from being happy for 24 hours?
I will never tell people to simply “get over it”; however, this anniversary is turning into a circus. The fact is nobody will ever forget. Those who always remember to be seen as patriotic, loving, or want extra customers into their Applebee’s on this day will always remember. Those who lost actual loved ones will never forget. Those that think we are in Iraq because Saddam was the one responsible will never forget. Alan Jackson and Toby Keith will definitely force us to never forget.
Besides the emotional impact why should we truly never forget? Seven years later their murderer is still out there and everybody forgot.
