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9/11: Should We Forget?
I was on Facebook yesterday and saw a status that shocked and scared me.
"," the person said. "It's been 10 years, move on!"
"I wish there was a way to fastforward thru that date!" she ranted.
And "We remember the day- maybe-& move on."
Is anyone else upset by this?
I was almost going to comment with my opinion opposing her, but I refused to feed the fire. I didn't want to create a bad relationship between myself and this person, so I held my keyboard back.
But I went to sleep that night bothered. Not only had she posted such an atrocity to their memories, but others had also commented with their thoughts on 9/11 and how it shouldn't be remembered! I couldn't believe it.
Needless to say, I had a troubled sleep.
Then, the next day...
"I'm sorry if I offended anyone," she posted. "It wasn't my intention."
Well, I was offended, I wanted to shout.
America was offended!
The thousand of men and women who died that day, either trying to escape their offices or trying to save others, are offended!
It may not have been her intention to offend, but that is most definitely what happened.
Now, I am not going to continue to write about this specific person for a few reasons:
1.) I was torn over whether or not to use her actual words in this post, and decided that it was the only way to get the correct message across.
2.) It's not really about her, or even those other people who commented in agreement. It's about something much bigger than that.
So I will continue with what I think needs to be heard.
Is this really where America is going? I find it hard to believe that in Vermont, the state next to the site of the attacks, people are already against remembering the tragedy.
How many of us lost family members that day? I'm willing to bet my life that many of us did. Why are we so willing to take place in Irene's path, but we turn our noses in the wake of 9/11?
How can it already be so impersonalized? It was only ten years ago. Our country has been afflicted and changed forever because of one event that only took about two hours to occurr.
Two hours, and we are never going to be the same.
It makes my blood boil to even think that we are forgetting. I am not saying that we need to mourn every day until the world ends, but I am saying that we need to be respectful of the thousands of lives lost that day.
And we need to do it without blaming the Muslims.
That is another thing that makes me want to rip my hair out. Didn't we destroy racism in the last century? Haven't we already seen that it is a bad idea, worldwide?
Why are we willing to watch people blame the Muslims for 9/11?
Yes, the men who conducted the attacks were Muslim, BUT THE MUSLIM PEOPLE ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE.
They were extremists, who, by definition, do not fall in the majority of the group.
I have personally been in heated arguments with my peers over this issue, so I won't go too far into it. Already in this post, I have erased almost a paragraph and a half's worth of writing on this issue because it was unnecessary.
So back to the original topic for a wrap-up: Are we ready to say good-bye for good? I don't think we ever can. Because of 9/11, we are constantly stereotyping others. Many peers of mine have admitted to boarding a plane and becoming afraid when they see a person wearing a turban. It sickens me, but it can't be helped. My class was in second grade when the attacks happened. We have grown up with that irrational fear.
I don't know, maybe I am one of the few people left who completely and totally disagrees with this. Maybe I am the outlier.
But for the sake of humanity, I really hope not.
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Remembering
People need to remember 9/11 as a tragic event, a part of our American history. Those deaths need to be recognized, even the Muslim extremists who did it, under a higher chain of command. No one should forget about this, and it's truly upsetting that they have. Glad you are bringing them back to tomorrow (or, really, ten years ago.) Even though the two towers fell, we are still strong. It's a matter of faith-- whatever happens. Great work, i.LO.VErmont. This is truly breathtaking.
Rogue
Thanks
Thank you. I'm glad to hear that someone else agrees with me. Haha
ϟ
"Of course it is happening inside your head, Harry, but why on earth should that mean that it is not real?”
Maybe
Maybe she was upset about her loss of 9 11
By the way luv the Quote from Harry Potter
Maybe
Maybe she was upset about her loss of 9 11
By the way luv the Quote from Harry Potter
Perhaps it wasn't expressed
Perhaps it wasn't expressed too well, but the way I see it, the author meant to say that living in the moment is the best way to be, which is true. I don't put too much stock in anniversaries or remembrance because doing so distracts from living my life in the now.
(Side note: have you seen the documentary 'Zeitgeist'? Might put a new spin on your views about September the eleventh.)
(More relevant side note: 'only ten years'? What fraction of your life is ten years? At the VERY least it's half (it's more than half for me, and I'm dead certain I'm older than you), and I'm willing to bet it's about two thirds of your life... I just wouldn't use the qualifier 'only' with the phrase 'ten years'.)
-A
Although
Although I see where you're coming from, I don't think that's how she meant it. I could very easily be wrong about that, because I'm not her, but the tone she used throughout the status definitely made it seem as if she was just fed up with the memory. At one point, she said something along the lines of, "you don't hear the Pearl Harbor survivors whining anymore, do you?"
I do agree with you a little bit; we can't live completely in the past. I just think we should remember those who died without dwelling too much on their memories. We should at least give them that.
I have not seen Zeitgeist, but I've heard about it. Isn't it about conspiracy theories with Christianity and September 11th and such?
Ten years is almost half of my life. I didn't mean ten years in relation to my life, but ten years in relation to the lives of those who died, and to our country.
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"Of course it is happening inside your head, Harry, but why on earth should that mean that it is not real?”
Well, you're the best judge;
Well, you're the best judge; I don't even know this girl.
In terms of Zeitgeist, yeah, that pretty much sums it up. If you watch it with a level head and sift through the wild guesses, though... Some of the truths they point out - the stuff that's actually grounded in cold, hard fact - are impossible to ignore, and raise some pretty big questions about what we've been told, even if you don't believe in the conspiracy theories (I don't).
-A
Well...
I think in some sense, she was right. I don't feel that we should forget the people that died, but the US government used that event, and that sorrow, to justify war. I do not think that the people who died would want that. The 9/11 hype has almost become an excuse for the US government to promot a kind of racism towards the middle east. The people who died should always be remembered, but it is not a reason to go to war. The event of remembering this tragedy should have been confined as a memorial for the victims, not used as a weapon. That is why I think she was right, but she could have put it a little better and less harshly.
In a sense, yeah.
Yeah, they were wrong in going to war afterwards (in my opinion). I think that no matter what they did, a group of people was going to be unhappy. Most people wanted war right after the attacks, but I don't think it was right. The government definitely used it to promote anti-Muslim views, which is completely wrong. And I agree that it should be a memorial, but not a justification for war and persecution.
Actually, I think my Facebook status from today sums up my views:
"I hope we can remember without dwelling, and react without persecuting."
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"Of course it is happening inside your head, Harry, but why on earth should that mean that it is not real?”
one more thing
We did not destroy racism, the world is just as racist. All we did was get better at hiding it. a large amount of americans do still blame muslims, and their are many soldeirs who, when waving their guns around, do not differenciate between terrorists and muslims. I wish we had destroyed racism like you said, but sadly that is still a long ways away...
Agreed
Thank you for writing this. There are too many people, many of them people who weren't really old enough to fully understand this tragedy, who just believe that life should go on. Which it should, to an extent. However, we can never forget those who lost loved ones that day. People who went to work and never came home. To forget is a great insult to their memories.
I also agree with your view on blaming the entire Muslim population. One group does not a population make, and jumping to the conclusion that the entire race is at fault is cruel and unfair.
This was a great piece, i .LO. VErmont, and I look forward to reading more from you.
Best,
Stars
Life goes by pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you're gonna miss it.
--Ferris Bueller, Ferris Bueller's Day Off
Thank you.
I actually have a friend whose uncle worked on one of the top floors in one of the towers, and by some miracle was late to work that day, and missed the attacks.
I'm so glad you share my views! It's good to know I'm not alone.
Oh, and I love your signature. I love Ferris Bueller. :)
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"Of course it is happening inside your head, Harry, but why on earth should that mean that it is not real?”
That's amazing about your
That's amazing about your friend's uncle. My dad was working in a building not far away from the attacks; I'm so greatful that he survived.... And it only makes me feel worse for those that weren't so lucky.
Why thank you! I happen to greatly enjoy yours as well :)
Life goes by pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you're gonna miss it.
--Ferris Bueller, Ferris Bueller's Day Off
i don't think we should ever
i don't think we should ever forget 9/11. its a reminder that we aren't invincible, that bad things can happen anywhere.
and ferris bueller is hilarious. i love that movie
So sad.
So sad.
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"Of course it is happening inside your head, Harry, but why on earth should that mean that it is not real?”
Pretty unrelated but
Pretty unrelated but interesting side note: I just met someone who was THERE there. Couple of blocks away. There was a boy in her class staring out the window, and the teacher was all, 'what could possibly be more important than this lesson I'm teaching you right now?' And his only response was, 'the twin towers falling down' and a pointed finger.
-A
Oh my gosh
That is so sad. And kind of ironic.
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"Of course it is happening inside your head, Harry, but why on earth should that mean that it is not real?”
i.LO.VErmont-
Maybe it is sadness about losing relatives and everything that makes the people say what they say, about wishing that 9/11 would be forgotten. But so many people have been hurt, so many lives affected, I can't just sit here and listen to someone complain about remembering, and mourning, and bowing our heads in silence. I will not start fights with people who wish to forget, but I will not support them either. And whoever disagrees with me may disagree all they want to, for it is their choice. Their voice. But I have mine. And this is my voice. I'm agreeing with i.LO.VErmont and I'm explaining why, that's all. 9/11, even though it happened 10 years ago, deserves to be mourned. It deserves to be remembered.
Wow
Well said, Summer Gal! That made me so happy to read. You put that in such strong words. To everyone reading the above comment: Listen, please. Just read it, and listen. We don't all have to agree. We are here, and we each have our own lives. We cannot, and should not try to, sway others' opinions. Each person has the ability to believe whatever he or she may wish to believe. Continuing to argue over whether or not we should remember 9/11 only stirs up the hate and dissatisfaction that was dealt ten years ago.
Please, this piece was not meant to become a controversy. I love reading everyones' opinions, but the arguing about those thoughts should cease. We may disagree, and we may even argue heatedly about it, but in the end, we are all part of the one.
To each his own.
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"Of course it is happening inside your head, Harry, but why on earth should that mean that it is not real?”
Fortune cookie wisdom:
"Remember yesterday, but live for today." ;)
I agree with Summer Gal, reading this was sad, I hate to listen to people whine about memorials for 9/11. I mean, do people just go up to a funeral and say "Why can't we forget about this person? I mean its been 2 weeks!" Well these past ten years have been one long funeral for those who lost people in 9/11. Maybe that was a bad analogy, I don't know. It just pains me to hear someone say this. On a slightly lighter note, this piece was very moving and beautiful i.LO.VErmont!
Oh and Ferris Beuller is possibly the funniest movie I have ever seen. I love the part when Camden sings "When Camden went to Egypt land, let my Camdens go...."
Truth.
Thanks, JellyBean! :)
Oh, and I love that part too. Best part ever. Haha. And when the music is playing right before that part, and it's all sad for Cameron and then like, Hawaiian for Ferris? :D Best. Ever.
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"Of course it is happening inside your head, Harry, but why on earth should that mean that it is not real?”
The bit where Cameron is
The bit where Cameron is having his discussion with Mr. Rooney on the phone was one of my personal favorites. Oh, and the ever popular: "Ferris Bueller, you're my heeeero." :D
By the way, I liked your analogy.
Life goes by pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you're gonna miss it.
--Ferris Bueller, Ferris Bueller's Day Off
Wow!
That is great. You could be a lawyer or politician or a WRITER! this was full of detail, pizazz, and was something I thoroughly enjoyed.
-K
I really believe that people
I really believe that people should remember that day, not only was it a turning point in Americas history it is also a day to honor the people lost in that awful day.
you have every right..
You have every right to be this upset about something someone said all over facebook. As you stated too many people died in this tragic event in our history. My dad's best friend died that day in the building, leaving four young boys and his wife behind. There are no words that can be said about that day, other than a tragity. I will never in my life ever forget the 9/11, no do I think anyone else who lived it will.
To the person who said such an awful thing on facebook...you have a right to express yourself and to say whatever it is that you want, but just know that your words I'm sure have hurt many many people. And no, no one will ever forget 9/11, especially those who lost many loved ones that day.
The emotion behind your writing is great...I think that you should continue writing pieces that inspire you, and as you said, "get your blood flowing." Keep it up!
I believe
I think everyone should remember 9/11. It was such a sad day. If people say they want people to forget it's stupid. It's defiantly something to remember.
How you wrote this with such emotion it's great!
ditto
ditto
This is wonderfully written.
This is wonderfully written. (I realize I'm reading it severel months after it was posted) I think with any tragedy, people continue to go back and examine what happened, and the loss. Because they need to understand what happened, and maybe what the woman was trying to ask is "why do we do that?" I think it's because that's how we process tragedy, and life loss. I absolutely agree with you that that's offensive. Maybe she lost someone in 9/11 and she's so crazy with grief that she doesn't realize what she's saying. Maybe in 10 years she'll look back at what she said, and be horrified. It's hard for me to believe that someone would intentionally say that. Look at us now, 100 years later, with movies about the Titanic. In 100 years will there be movies about the shooting in Connecticut, and 9/11, and any other major tragedies of our time? I find that infuriating.
Thank you for posting this. It brings great awareness.
~Sigrid
"You cannot escape anxiety, you cannot escape the clutch of fear at your heart. And yet, I hope the certainty of what we have to meet will help you rise above those fears."
~Eleanor Roosevelt
Your Opinion..
Your opinion matters. It should be remembered, not forgotten! I like this peice of writing.
κeeρ ωяıтıиg!
~мιѕту