Saturday, September 11, 2010

Remembering 9/11

How we treat 9/11 is different for everyone. I think it should be a solemn day, but I'm closer than some to what happened. I didn't lose anyone I knew that day, but my husband did. I wonder - how many people will stop and think about 9/11/01? Will it be a quick "oh yeah, it's 9/11" moment? Or will it be a more thoughtful, reflective moment. I'm not criticizing those for whom tomorrow doesn't mean much. I don't even think I want 9/11 to ever be a national holiday - after all, what has Memorial Day become but a day for picnics and parades? What do we all do on Veterans' Day? Do we stop to think about those who lost their lives in service of our country? Certainly not like we should. And I knew soon after 9/11/01 that it didn't have the same impact on some people that it did on others. I remember being at a conference about 8 months later and someone used photos of the fireballs coming out of the towers in a talk on disaster preparedness and document retrieval. I sat there stunned, thinking "it's too soon, how can they use the photos so casually". But, this person was from the mid-west, probably had no connection whatsover to the attacks, other than as an American citizen. It wasn't as personal to her. It's not as personal to me as it is to A, who lost friends that day. It impacted us all differently. And that's the way it remains. And as time continues to pass, and generations of children go to school who weren't even alive on 9/11/01, what do we teach them about it? I don't know exactly, but I do know that we owe it to those innocent men, women and children who were killed that day to remember in some way.

2 comments:

Unknown said...

It's a tough day and hard to convey emotions for many I'm sure. I didn't lose anyone close to me either. I know those that did lose friends and relatives. The whole tragedy for me will have an impact on my life forever. The world as I know it changed that day and never went back to the way it was before, nor can it. Every 9/11 I absolutely get teary/shed a tear and I remember exactly what that day felt like in 2001. My sincere condolences to A and those that lost friends and loved ones.

Aims said...

I came here today knowing you'd post! I wish you and Aron a peaceful day... started mine with a walk on the Hudson... still surreal after 9 years.