9/11: Re-Aired and Really Disappointing
This morning, major news network MSNBC re-aired The Today Show's original coverage of the September 11 attacks, which were broadcast in full, in real time, and without commercials. It was as if 9/11 was happening all over again.
When I learned of the re-airing, I was incredibly conflicted and majorly digusted. The idea of this seemed both in poor taste and exploitative. In essence, I felt as if I was watching the victims suffer and die all over again -- the same way I now feel when I see and watch the close-up photos of people jumping from the burning Towers.
At the same time, however, I just couldn't look away from the television. I was in bed, re-watching the Towers stand and burn, and I was so tense knowing what was going to happen, but I just kept watching -- waiting for Tower One to collapse, and then for Tower Two.
I suppose the re-airing is part of the media's "We Will Never Forget" coverage, and I suppose it's "good" that I'm still so affected by the images (maybe even more so than six years ago), but it just felt so wrong. I can't even justify the broadcast as being "for people who don't live [in New York]," an idea that was hypothesized in newyorkers. I, personally, am not from NYC, nor was I living anywhere near the city on 9/11, and I honestly feel there's no need for me, or anybody else, to "relive" the day in this manner.
Historically speaking, no, people should never forget, but images and clips from the day are in no danger of disappearing. To further bombard families, victims, and society with this rebroadcast is unnecessary and tasteless. If someone needs to see the actual coverage for historical purposes, I'm sure it's on microfilm in libraries across the country.
When I learned of the re-airing, I was incredibly conflicted and majorly digusted. The idea of this seemed both in poor taste and exploitative. In essence, I felt as if I was watching the victims suffer and die all over again -- the same way I now feel when I see and watch the close-up photos of people jumping from the burning Towers.
At the same time, however, I just couldn't look away from the television. I was in bed, re-watching the Towers stand and burn, and I was so tense knowing what was going to happen, but I just kept watching -- waiting for Tower One to collapse, and then for Tower Two.
I suppose the re-airing is part of the media's "We Will Never Forget" coverage, and I suppose it's "good" that I'm still so affected by the images (maybe even more so than six years ago), but it just felt so wrong. I can't even justify the broadcast as being "for people who don't live [in New York]," an idea that was hypothesized in newyorkers. I, personally, am not from NYC, nor was I living anywhere near the city on 9/11, and I honestly feel there's no need for me, or anybody else, to "relive" the day in this manner.
Historically speaking, no, people should never forget, but images and clips from the day are in no danger of disappearing. To further bombard families, victims, and society with this rebroadcast is unnecessary and tasteless. If someone needs to see the actual coverage for historical purposes, I'm sure it's on microfilm in libraries across the country.