I am not one to observe death anniversaries, especially for those close to me. I consciously avoid remembering those dates, preferring instead to focus on random memories of people and the lives we shared, rather than a sad annual remembrance. Of course, with this anniversary that is not possible. I have a very personal connection to the events of that terrible day, which I will not discuss beyond that statement. I realize other people respond differently, and I regret if they are upset, but I will not apologize for the timing of my post or for speaking my truth.
For one day a year we focus on the tragedy of 9/11 and refocus our anger on the perpetrators of those heinous acts, an anger that of late has been grotesquely and violently extended to anyone of the Muslim faith. It is right and good that we make this annual observance (influenced in large measure by the media) and that we remember those who were the victims of this senseless tragedy and honor those who sacrificed themselves trying to save them. For one day a year we pull together as a nation in a public display of unity and we are "all Americans". But when I look at the fevered hostility in this country (even today in the streets of New York) the words spoken on this day ring increasingly hollow, and the rituals observed start to lose their meaning. How long will we gaze sadly at this wound to the American psyche before we turn our attention to healing? How long before we put this all in perspective and take an honest look at ourselves? How long before we confront the lessons unlearned?
What is missing for me is any examination of the bad roads we took as a nation leading up to and following the tragedy, and how they lead directly to the road we are currently on. As the day wore on I felt increasing frustration, indeed anger, from the realization that despite all the solemn ritual and patriotic rhetoric, it seems to me that the victims of 9/11 died in vain. Yes, it's a hard truth that few are willing to face and none are willing to say. That, on a very personal level, is the source of my anger and frustration. Not only was our national unity in the aftermath wasted, it was used to manipulate us, and as a consequence we are now more divided than ever. Not only was the goodwill of the world squandered, it was used to justify unwarranted military aggression. As a result there is more hostility in the world than before, both in general and directed at the US in particular.
In a few short years we went from standing high and proud on the world stage to being the worst bully on the block. We were given a slight reprieve with the hope and excitement that accompanied the election of a new president and a chance to turn the page. But that hope and excitement has now faded, and if worldwide opinion is any indication, it will be some time before we can redeem ourselves - provided that is our goal. Before that can happen we need to take a good hard honest look at ourselves and where we went wrong and make a radical course correction. Only then will the lives of those lost be truly honored. If the healing is to start, and it really needs to, it needs to start within. Maybe we need to pull the scab off that festering wound and take a look at it. The problem is, no one seems willing to do that. To even suggest it would be viewed as 'unpatriotic'.
It was not my intent to be provocative with this thread. It was my intent to cause people to think and share their thoughts. In fact, I hadn't intended to start a thread at all. I was writing my thoughts on the day in my journal to exorcise those feelings of anger and frustration I felt over the senselessness of the tragedy - but more so the senselessness of making this annual observance stand for little more than a yearly feel sad, feel good flag waving moment - before everybody goes back to business as usual and the same shit slinging that is tearing this country apart.
As I was writing though, I saw another thread open on the subject that, though genuine and heartfelt, took me aback with phrases like, "Symbols of wealth, America the free, America the prosperous; America offering opportunity". Other words nobly intended, "Truth shall always triumph over terror; valor shall always be victorious over vindictiveness. America will stay strong as we show the world we are capable of withstanding the brutal impact of tragedy and terror. Even brought to our knees we will not stoop to brutishness or bullies".
I could not help but feel a discomfort, a disconnect, and even a sense of irony in some of those words and these, "If our arrogance and pride has caused us to be too callused to those hurting in the world, or we have used others for our own greed, then let this be the vigilant wake up call to sacrifice self for the sake of others." The OP closed interestingly enough with a reference to lessons learned, "No words can adequately express the sadness of heart, the bewilderment felt or lives forever changed, but our tomorrows will reveal if we have learned the lessons so vividly taught us on this day of terror!" It struck me cold that not only have we not learned any lessons at all, we haven't even begun to ask the right questions.
In no way do I wish to detract from this other thread, which as I said was genuine and heartfelt, but to me it smacks of a certain jingoism that pervades our national attitude towards the events of 9/11 - how we responded in the aftermath, and how we observe it year to year - that distracts from reality and glosses over those hard uncomfortable truths. It was that last mention of "lessons learned" that compelled me to post my own thoughts. Rather than sully his respectful remembrance thread with my possibly unwelcome and unpopular views, I elected to start an alternative thread as counterpoint. Had I known it would upset some people, I might have waited until today to post and entitled it "9/12 2010 A day after a day of remembrance". It's done now though, and now it's 9/12. I wonder if today would be a good day to start learning our lessons, or tomorrow, or the next day? Sometime before the big ten year anniversary coming in 2011 would be good, which I imagine will observed with high ritual, many patriotic platitudes, and much political unity. At least for a day.
The events of 9/11 2001 were indeed a "wake up call" for America, but not in the way it's popularly thought.
I wonder if we'll wake up before it's too late.
For one day a year we focus on the tragedy of 9/11 and refocus our anger on the perpetrators of those heinous acts, an anger that of late has been grotesquely and violently extended to anyone of the Muslim faith. It is right and good that we make this annual observance (influenced in large measure by the media) and that we remember those who were the victims of this senseless tragedy and honor those who sacrificed themselves trying to save them. For one day a year we pull together as a nation in a public display of unity and we are "all Americans". But when I look at the fevered hostility in this country (even today in the streets of New York) the words spoken on this day ring increasingly hollow, and the rituals observed start to lose their meaning. How long will we gaze sadly at this wound to the American psyche before we turn our attention to healing? How long before we put this all in perspective and take an honest look at ourselves? How long before we confront the lessons unlearned?
What is missing for me is any examination of the bad roads we took as a nation leading up to and following the tragedy, and how they lead directly to the road we are currently on. As the day wore on I felt increasing frustration, indeed anger, from the realization that despite all the solemn ritual and patriotic rhetoric, it seems to me that the victims of 9/11 died in vain. Yes, it's a hard truth that few are willing to face and none are willing to say. That, on a very personal level, is the source of my anger and frustration. Not only was our national unity in the aftermath wasted, it was used to manipulate us, and as a consequence we are now more divided than ever. Not only was the goodwill of the world squandered, it was used to justify unwarranted military aggression. As a result there is more hostility in the world than before, both in general and directed at the US in particular.
In a few short years we went from standing high and proud on the world stage to being the worst bully on the block. We were given a slight reprieve with the hope and excitement that accompanied the election of a new president and a chance to turn the page. But that hope and excitement has now faded, and if worldwide opinion is any indication, it will be some time before we can redeem ourselves - provided that is our goal. Before that can happen we need to take a good hard honest look at ourselves and where we went wrong and make a radical course correction. Only then will the lives of those lost be truly honored. If the healing is to start, and it really needs to, it needs to start within. Maybe we need to pull the scab off that festering wound and take a look at it. The problem is, no one seems willing to do that. To even suggest it would be viewed as 'unpatriotic'.
It was not my intent to be provocative with this thread. It was my intent to cause people to think and share their thoughts. In fact, I hadn't intended to start a thread at all. I was writing my thoughts on the day in my journal to exorcise those feelings of anger and frustration I felt over the senselessness of the tragedy - but more so the senselessness of making this annual observance stand for little more than a yearly feel sad, feel good flag waving moment - before everybody goes back to business as usual and the same shit slinging that is tearing this country apart.
As I was writing though, I saw another thread open on the subject that, though genuine and heartfelt, took me aback with phrases like, "Symbols of wealth, America the free, America the prosperous; America offering opportunity". Other words nobly intended, "Truth shall always triumph over terror; valor shall always be victorious over vindictiveness. America will stay strong as we show the world we are capable of withstanding the brutal impact of tragedy and terror. Even brought to our knees we will not stoop to brutishness or bullies".
I could not help but feel a discomfort, a disconnect, and even a sense of irony in some of those words and these, "If our arrogance and pride has caused us to be too callused to those hurting in the world, or we have used others for our own greed, then let this be the vigilant wake up call to sacrifice self for the sake of others." The OP closed interestingly enough with a reference to lessons learned, "No words can adequately express the sadness of heart, the bewilderment felt or lives forever changed, but our tomorrows will reveal if we have learned the lessons so vividly taught us on this day of terror!" It struck me cold that not only have we not learned any lessons at all, we haven't even begun to ask the right questions.
In no way do I wish to detract from this other thread, which as I said was genuine and heartfelt, but to me it smacks of a certain jingoism that pervades our national attitude towards the events of 9/11 - how we responded in the aftermath, and how we observe it year to year - that distracts from reality and glosses over those hard uncomfortable truths. It was that last mention of "lessons learned" that compelled me to post my own thoughts. Rather than sully his respectful remembrance thread with my possibly unwelcome and unpopular views, I elected to start an alternative thread as counterpoint. Had I known it would upset some people, I might have waited until today to post and entitled it "9/12 2010 A day after a day of remembrance". It's done now though, and now it's 9/12. I wonder if today would be a good day to start learning our lessons, or tomorrow, or the next day? Sometime before the big ten year anniversary coming in 2011 would be good, which I imagine will observed with high ritual, many patriotic platitudes, and much political unity. At least for a day.
The events of 9/11 2001 were indeed a "wake up call" for America, but not in the way it's popularly thought.
I wonder if we'll wake up before it's too late.
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