It irks me that the retail sector uses holidays such as Memorial Day, Independence Day, Veterans Day, and Presidents’ Days as revenue generators; of course there’ll be Stars and Stripes everywhere – especially on the clothes, the ad flyers, and the banners that adorn the inside and outside of the stores.
It’s how many choose to celebrate important days in our country’s history; what better way to honor the patriots who served and the patriots who died than to buy Designed-And-Accounted-For-In-America-But-Sometimes-Manufactured-Elsewhere Products?
Can a “9-11 Fire Sale” be far behind?
In recent weeks, articles like these have been written about what is perceived by some to be an increasing amount of “disrespect” at the 9-11 Memorial complex including reports of local kids tossing garbage into the memorial’s reflecting pools. I’ve heard more than a handful of people question “Why is 9-11 still such a big deal – that was over ten years ago?” or “50 more cancers? Why is so much attention is paid to first responders?” or “Haven’t ‘those people’ been given enough money?”
I can offer about 3,000 reasons why these people are very, very wrong…
As in the ten previous years, I’ll be at the Squad 1 firehouse in Park Slope, Brooklyn and as in the ten previous years, there will be moments of silence. Have you ever gone to your local firehouse and asked any of the firefighters why 9-11 is “still such a big deal”? Or your local police department? Have you ever asked someone who is currently in the military why 9-11 is “still such a big deal”?
One thing I can assure you is there isn’t a single New Yorker who doesn’t look up and flinch a bit when a jet flies overhead on a cloudless blue-sky day – especially on 9-11. Same goes for the Washington, DC and Shanksville, PA areas. I guess it’s “still such a big deal.”
Have you ever asked someone whose loved one was murdered on that day why it is “still such a big deal”?
Perhaps it is something you should consider doing. I know you think you’ll hear people bemoaning their losses – and you will – but most of the people will tell you what they’ve learned about themselves and others and the world around them near and far.
Not forgetting is not about being maudlin or holding on to the past; history is studied and analyzed so that we hopefully don’t make the same mistakes in the future. On a personal level, Penelope Trunk wrote a nice piece on how to live without regret in a time when it often seems as if towers are teetering all around us.
9-11 has significantly altered the way first responders address catastrophic events; yet mistakes are still being made and bureaucracies still need to catch up with present day realities such as how cooperation on local, state, and national levels is actually a good thing or how having far better communication systems that don’t degrade during all-hell-is-breaking-loose events is not bad either.
In what is now the eleventh year since 9-11, I’m still learning about how I’ve been affected. Remembering 9-11 is more than remembering loss and grief; it is thinking how to live a better life and be a better person, neighbor, friend, parent, spouse. It is Penelope Trunk making a compelling case for not living a life of regrets.
9-11 reminds me of the work I need to perform on myself because there are 3,000 more Angels in Heaven than I anticipated and I’m just not sure there’s room for me. It is and always will be a sacred day.
Most of all, I hope it’s never a shopping day.
The Recruiting Inferno 
Wonderful post Steve. Retailers sure do have a way of turning holidays and events of a historical nature into shopping opportunities; maybe I’m jaded, but I guess I’m used to this.
The thing that I am not used to and will never accept is people being disrespectful to something another person honors, or worse to choose to forget the events and circumstances (the good and bad) that have shaped our country and helped form the fabric of our society.
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Reblogged this on subjunctive collapse and commented:
Worth sharing.
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Thanks Amy…I like the name “Subjunctive Collapse”
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As usual you “tell it like it is” and also as usual you are spot on! My traditional 9/11 commemoration is to send an email to a former boss who was one or the survivors of the attack and a true hero. She claims to have done nothing and doesn’t talk about the experience unless asked, but I know she led others to safety at risk of her own life. Perhaps it is human nature to try and forget traumatic experiences no matter how personal they are, but the explanation of the current national forgetfulness and rampant disrespect comes from one thing: We are being led by idiots!
I have been looking for the origin of the term “The masses are asses” and so far it could be anyone from Alexander Hamilton to Karl Marx. On Sunday I posted a link to a thought provoking TED presentation by Bulgarian Ivan Kratstev on “Can Democracy Exist Without Trust” [http://owl.li/dCId5] which is not only insightful but also mentions that politicians have evolved their messages from that of discussing ideas and policy to manipulating the emotions of the people. The current political campaigns are proof of that. I refuse to allow my memories to be rewritten by those who want to manipulate my thinking into a belief that patriotism is not important anymore!
Thanks for reminding us to remember and to think. I know where you are and hope that hugging a firefighter is something that is not too unmanly for you. Give them a hug for me.
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Thanks TB…I have many friends who are FDNY; going into their houses and pouring myself a cup of coffee is just like doing the same thing at home. The firefighter who welcomed me back on 9-13 is now a Captain; the interim Lt is now a Battalion Chief and many of the guys at Squad that week are now retired. But they pretty much all come back on 9-11. And they all make me feel part of the family… How can I ever forget them?
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Movingly crafted, Steve. It’s unfortunate that so many have such short memories. As you accurately point out, those close to the events of that day, geographically or otherwise, have not forgotten. For those of us in DC, accustomed as we are to all the political and national defense chatter that engulfs us daily, driving past the Pentagon or watching planes come down the Potomac towards national Airport still brings back memories of ha day. I can’t fathom the emotions of those whose association to the tragic events of that day are more personal and direct. Thanks for keeping it real.
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Doug, thanks for the reality check as well. Sometimes I think a day like 9-11 would be better served if an event were held where political factions work to actually solve an issue after first participating in a “remember the 3,000 mass”…can you help make this happen in your area?
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