::le sigh::
It's September 11... again. Yes, we all know where we were 6 years ago (Was it 6? I've lost count--but I could tell you where I was!). Yes, we've all rehashed the tragedy of the event again. Yes, we all (well, most of us) agree that it was a terrible thing to have happened. But really, does everyone have to have this same discussion AGAIN?!
Further, and more importantly, why aren't we discussiong the thousands and thousands of people who are dying all over the world RIGHT NOW. They are no less removed from us. They are still individuals and therefore deserving our memory. I may not be able to tell you exactly where I was when each individual passed, but I can tell you the many places where I have been, thinking of the collective "them."
So for now on, I propose that 9/11 be a date of remembrance of ALL wastes of human life that go on in our world--even those that we ourselves are indirectly responsible for through our inaction. (Darfur, anyone?) No, we can't possibly fix everything. Yes, horrible things will continue to happen. But, just maybe we should widen our minds-eye and instead of thinking with a nationalistic point of view, really appreciate the fact that all humanity is connected by sharing this one world.
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i specifically stayed away from reopening/bringing back those sad and painful memories but focused on something related that has significance today
if you have read it then you know, it is not another 9/11 post
but you make complete sense in this post
"Pride is concerned with who is right. Humility is concerned with what is right."
I don't know maybe it was kind of an important deal to some people. Since according to recent polls almost 81% of Americans believe that 9/11 was the worst tragedy in their lifetimes. If we can't except one day of hearing what 81% of the nation feels is the worst tragedy then we should be ashamed of ourselves. I could care less if the blogs are poorly written, the point is that the blogger feels something and wants to write it, and at least today, we should listen(read) with respect.
Silent enim leges inter arma
whcih is what grade i was in when this happened, i had this approach that we will never forget this but we would learn to move on and live with it and it would be something that would change us but maybe educate us
i don't know if that happened for a lot or many people but it did for me and people i know
"Pride is concerned with who is right. Humility is concerned with what is right."
This is exactly the sentiment to which I am replying. You speak of what 81% of the COUNTRY feels... I'm asking you to think about what 81% of the WORLD feels.
Let's look at some cold, hard facts:
-2,974 died as a result of 9/11
-60,000-160,000 have died/are dieing in Darfur
(this range is actually criticized as being a low estimate)
-100,000 estimated civilian Iraqi deaths since the beginning of the war
-280,00 died or were reported missing due to the 2004 tsunami in Indonesia
Those are just tragedies that have occurred since 9/11, this list is hardly conclusive. But it begs the question, unless someone was DIRECTLY affected by 9/11 (i.e. lost a friend, family member, a job, etc.) spending more time moaning over what happened reveals that the "moaner" (i.e. blogger) elevates the value of American lives over those of the rest of the world. In this modern age, such a nationalistic attitude directly contradicts any claims an individual could make toward opposing racism and all other forms of discrimination.
I respect the fact you looked up the actually numbers, and yes that number on Darfur is ridiculously low. However, big events always change the attitude of Americans. If there was no Pearl Harbor there would be no US in WW2. If there was no 9/11 there would be zero iraqi casulaties b/c Saddam would still be in power.
Now on the one hand, I think I have a gift at seeing a bigger picture. For example had there been no Pearl Harbor attack the US would not have gotten into WW2. Therefore we would not have created the A-bomb and Germany would have. Hitler would have held off the british from advancing b/c there would be no america to back them up. Germany develops A bomb and doesn't hesitate to use it on England, Russia, and whatever was left of France. Now America would have entered the war by now but would have taken a long time, after Pearl Harbor it took one year to get One Army Division into action.(Hint a division is only 20,000 men) Hitler has the A bomb and can use it at his will to destroy whatever he wants of America or the rest of the world.
How's that for a retelling of history? Fact is 9/11 impacted the world in so many ways that we will never realize and it is a very important moment in our country. I think we all need to take this day to remember how one action can have such a powerful affect on the world. For better and for worse.
Silent enim leges inter arma