About 9/11
So, this post isn't going to win me any popularity contests, but I feel the need to get this off my chest...
We've just passed the eighth anniversary of 9/11. I don't watch television, so I managed to escape whatever heart wrenching coverage there was. What I didn't escape were the facebook posts.
I was struck by how many people posted "never forget" for the day. Several people posted personal stories of how they found out what was going on, about their feelings, their fears, their confusion; I completely understand that. However, this "never forget" line I'm having a hard time with, because it can mean so many different things. It's incredibly difficult to believe that anyone who was old enough to remember the events of 9/11 could possibly have forgotten what happened eight years ago, so theoretically "never forget" can't refer to the direct events. So, what are we wanting to remember by insisting we "never forget?"
Are we supposed to hold onto the feelings of panic, fear and sadness?
Are we supposed to hold onto the anger and frustration, feelings of vengeance?
What I'd like to believe is that when people typed "never forget" they were honoring those who lost their lives, those who lost loved ones, and our lost security and innocence. Unfortunately, I know that many people are still motivated by their feelings of anger and a desire to retaliate. Who are we supposed to retaliate against? We killed more people in Afghanistan and Iraq in the first few months of going in and that was how many years ago? Are we going to "never forget" those lost civilians? We collectively seem to forget horrible things we do to other countries- but we should latch on to this tragedy forever because, what? Do we deserve more sympathy? Is our pain more important than everyone else's?
I'm scared to think about what the history books will say about our actions after 9/11. The only thing that makes me happy about that time is how many people came together and tried to help one another. This tragedy inspired people to truly love and care for one another, if only for a brief time. I think it's this feeling of kinship that we should "never forget" because that love is something we can take into the future with us to make the world a better place, instead of looking backwards in sickness and in anger.
We've just passed the eighth anniversary of 9/11. I don't watch television, so I managed to escape whatever heart wrenching coverage there was. What I didn't escape were the facebook posts.
I was struck by how many people posted "never forget" for the day. Several people posted personal stories of how they found out what was going on, about their feelings, their fears, their confusion; I completely understand that. However, this "never forget" line I'm having a hard time with, because it can mean so many different things. It's incredibly difficult to believe that anyone who was old enough to remember the events of 9/11 could possibly have forgotten what happened eight years ago, so theoretically "never forget" can't refer to the direct events. So, what are we wanting to remember by insisting we "never forget?"
Are we supposed to hold onto the feelings of panic, fear and sadness?
Are we supposed to hold onto the anger and frustration, feelings of vengeance?
What I'd like to believe is that when people typed "never forget" they were honoring those who lost their lives, those who lost loved ones, and our lost security and innocence. Unfortunately, I know that many people are still motivated by their feelings of anger and a desire to retaliate. Who are we supposed to retaliate against? We killed more people in Afghanistan and Iraq in the first few months of going in and that was how many years ago? Are we going to "never forget" those lost civilians? We collectively seem to forget horrible things we do to other countries- but we should latch on to this tragedy forever because, what? Do we deserve more sympathy? Is our pain more important than everyone else's?
I'm scared to think about what the history books will say about our actions after 9/11. The only thing that makes me happy about that time is how many people came together and tried to help one another. This tragedy inspired people to truly love and care for one another, if only for a brief time. I think it's this feeling of kinship that we should "never forget" because that love is something we can take into the future with us to make the world a better place, instead of looking backwards in sickness and in anger.