I think Jon Stewart said it best on 9/20: "They said to get back to work, and there were no positions for a man curled in the fetal position, under his desk crying, so I came here."
I was ten when the attacks happened, and my overwhelming memory is of people going "oh shit -- how's America coping with that? ...Should we send them a card?".
I don't know anyone who was affected to the point of crying under desks (obv, I don't live in America), but more memories of people observing through a wince -- like people slowing down on a road to get a better look at a car crash. America was this place where everything seemed to go right and terrorist attacks seemed bound to our past (with the IRA bombings and Lockerbie), not anything that America should be worried about. Because it's America. And nothing bad happens in America.
I've written about it a lot but as someone living 10km outside of DC, it was terrifying. A lot of my friends parents worked at the pentagon. I watched the local fire trucks head to DC out a window.
I think I see what you're saying, though - It's kinda like when Magic Johnson got HIV and Linda Ellerbee taught us all about condoms on Nick News. I knew, on some level, that he was sick and would die. But HOLY CRAP WHAT ARE THEY DOING TO THAT BANANA!
There's a British mentality of "that's not cricket" which America doesn't have, and this swarming sweep of patriotism that suddenly occurred with you guys is probably something which I'll never fully understand. I mean, I love my country, but when someone attacks it my response has always been "oh dear me, that's not on! Play fair now, young scallywags" *monocle + cup of tea* and expect the RAF to do something about it.
America was all "how dare they do this to America -- it's America!" and I don't understand that at all. I'm not giving anyone the right to kill anyone, but I take for granted that people will at least try. It might be because we tend to be so damn close to everyone we piss off, while you usually have a huge boarder of language or just sheer ocean.
IDK, it really is an America centric event, despite what LJ has said with that title. The rest of the world took advice and gave empathy, but we're always going to view this as "America's day".
I'm not sure I really understand it, either. America is such a YOUNG country, in the grand scheme, and an isolated one. Europe grew up elbow-to-elbow, everybody jostling for place and through elbows. America has the prarie, manifest destiny, the frontier. And, like all kids, we think we're invincible.
You knock down England's brick tower, and you laugh and say "Yes, well, France did THAT better!" Knock down America's and goddamnit where's the teacher NOFAIR NOFAIR NOFAIR.
It's like the American revolution - over there they teach it as an involvement second front in that thing with the French, if they teach it at all. Over here, it's the whole story. Becuase clearly when the world changes for America, it changes for the world.
It's because you don't have Europe, maybe. Or that all your neighbouring countries aren't in a position to explain that they are the bestest. If England dares to say anything positive about itself we get a big "lol, no" from Spain, Russia, Iceland and Scotland.
When I was in my last year of high school there was a sniper driving around the area shooting people. He hit a Home Depot and I went the next day, because I figured it was the safest place to buy paint.
I was trying to say something pithy, but I don't get it either. Why are we so interested in hurting each other and not helping? We're just cocks like that, I suppose.
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I don't know anyone who was affected to the point of crying under desks (obv, I don't live in America), but more memories of people observing through a wince -- like people slowing down on a road to get a better look at a car crash. America was this place where everything seemed to go right and terrorist attacks seemed bound to our past (with the IRA bombings and Lockerbie), not anything that America should be worried about. Because it's America. And nothing bad happens in America.
At least, to my 10 year old mind of Nickelodeon.
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I've written about it a lot but as someone living 10km outside of DC, it was terrifying. A lot of my friends parents worked at the pentagon. I watched the local fire trucks head to DC out a window.
I think I see what you're saying, though - It's kinda like when Magic Johnson got HIV and Linda Ellerbee taught us all about condoms on Nick News. I knew, on some level, that he was sick and would die. But HOLY CRAP WHAT ARE THEY DOING TO THAT BANANA!
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America was all "how dare they do this to America -- it's America!" and I don't understand that at all. I'm not giving anyone the right to kill anyone, but I take for granted that people will at least try. It might be because we tend to be so damn close to everyone we piss off, while you usually have a huge boarder of language or just sheer ocean.
IDK, it really is an America centric event, despite what LJ has said with that title. The rest of the world took advice and gave empathy, but we're always going to view this as "America's day".
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You knock down England's brick tower, and you laugh and say "Yes, well, France did THAT better!" Knock down America's and goddamnit where's the teacher NOFAIR NOFAIR NOFAIR.
It's like the American revolution - over there they teach it as an involvement second front in that thing with the French, if they teach it at all. Over here, it's the whole story. Becuase clearly when the world changes for America, it changes for the world.
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Also implying the Daily Mail has ever got over it.
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When I was in my last year of high school there was a sniper driving around the area shooting people. He hit a Home Depot and I went the next day, because I figured it was the safest place to buy paint.
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I was trying to say something pithy, but I don't get it either. Why are we so interested in hurting each other and not helping? We're just cocks like that, I suppose.
But you eat spotted dick and have royalty.
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Christ, I want spotted dick right now, ngl. And yes, ooh err, etc.
The royalty is fun! They open fairs and promote cars which run on garbage! BD
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And their costume parties. I hear they're a laugh reich.
Also you drive on the wrong side of the road and have a metric system.
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