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9-11 — is there a shelf life for national tragedies?
A story in the New York Times asks if people have grown weary of tributes and memorials to the Sept. 11 attack, which will have its 6th anniversary this year.
Some feel the 6 years is "just a blink of an eye" in relation to the life-altering tragedy, while others feel a small tribute is sufficient. I think this, just like Pearl Harbor, was a pivotal event in America. While there may be a time in the future when it gets reduced to an "Oh, yeah, that's right this is the day that happened" notice, we aren't near that yet. The corollary question is whether we as a country have settled the 9-11 problem — the war on terrorism and the protection of our borders. The answer to that is clearly no. 9-11 is a day to reflect on what happened and what needs to be done to improve our security. Posted by Steve E. Swenson 22 comments from 17 users
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posted by
robbwillis
on Sep 4, 2007 at 12:09 PM
Is there a shelf life for national tragedies? 9-11 no. Princess Di yes. posted by
jfrancais
on Sep 4, 2007 at 12:19 PM
...Bush serving two terms in the white house, yes.
posted by
randomfactor
on Sep 4, 2007 at 12:32 PM
When Bush took office, FEMA studied the "worst that could happen," national disasters which were theoretically possible. The first was a massive terrorist attack on a city like New York. Another was massive flooding of New Orleans after a hurricane. The third was a major earthquake in San Francisco. . I ain't going *NEAR* SF until Bush is out of office. posted by
sagefever
on Sep 4, 2007 at 12:59 PM
Clearly, no. With so many still suffering, and with so much still at stake 9-11 will remain in the national conscious for quite awhile
posted by
OldBlue56
on Sep 4, 2007 at 03:32 PM
Today is the one year anniversary of a national tragedy for Australia... the death of the croc hunter, Steve Irwin.
posted by
johnburnssucks
on Sep 4, 2007 at 03:38 PM
9/11 won't reach its expiration date until the new "Freedom Tower" has been completed at the very least. Long way to go yet.
posted by
ProgressivePete2
on Sep 4, 2007 at 04:52 PM
Not as long as Guliani is running for pres. He'll milk 9-11 for all it's worth. Of course he put most of the first responders and the people doing the cleanup in grave danger, but that's beside the point.
posted by
AudreyB
on Sep 4, 2007 at 06:57 PM
There is no shelf life to national tragedy. Americans like to drag disasters out once a year, dust them off and create new conspiracy theories to explain them. It's even more entertaining when a new book or movie comes out at the same time to re asses new blame. Yes, our annual wallow in tragedy gives the least intelligent among us something to blog about. Oops.
posted by
gsisola
on Sep 4, 2007 at 09:47 PM
First of all, Princess Diana was not “our” national tragedy. It was the England’s national tragedy, although she did have global impact. She was “the peoples Princess” The Brits liked her because she “thumbed her nose” at traditional English monarchy and did her own thing without regard to her own status, a rare trait in a British royal.
9-11 to those of us born after WW2 was the greatest national tragedy we have ever witnessed, or lived through that was brought about from “outside” forces. Lets hope they stay that way, “outside”. It is my belief this is why we are engaging against them in “their” country, to keep them “out” of ours. I would much rather “play at their house” than have them “playing at my house”. “Ground Zero” has since been cleaned up, and for all who have been involved there has been somewhat “closure”. (I really don’t like that word, but I used it for lack of a “better” term, where did that word come from, 15 or 20 years ago no one ever heard it, or used it?)
As far as Hurricane Katrina goes, one of, if not thee worst “natural disasters” in our homeland. From what I understand the entire region affected is still to this day just one big “giant mess”. The reasons for this being many, the sheer size of the affected area for one. If it’s not in “my backyard” why should I care mentality. That sounds bad I know, oh sure there was tremendous response and assistance when the event first occurred, but from what I understand “little” or “nothing” is being done at this point. Myself being as guilty of this as anyone else. A little distance makes it all seem Ok I guess. What the solutions are, I have no idea.
If you want to talk shelf life, here are some examples for you – Pearl Harbor, JFK, Marilyn Monroe, Elvis, WW2, Viet Nam, Watergate, Oklahoma City - just to name a few….. and….. WE SHOULD NEVER FORGET ANY OF THEM….. NEVER !
posted by
robbwillis
on Sep 5, 2007 at 02:24 AM
First of all, Princess Diana was not “our” national tragedy. Tell that to "our" media. You could have fooled me... Spam code: ZURIK posted by
damitjanet
on Sep 5, 2007 at 04:07 AM
I can see the comparison of the 2 but I think they are in no way related. 9 - 11 is the day the USA changed forever. As for Princess Di' although her death was a tragedy, her death really did not change anything in the USA. Maybe another reminder would be the Death of John F. Kennedy. I believe there becomes a time that healing must take place and we as a nation needed to remember where we have been. The sad thing is that more emphasis is on Princess Di at times in our media. What about the most recent tragedy Katrina, Has it had a shelf life? They still need help. They still have a long way to go to get there lives back. Why not see more of that in the media? As in any shelving system there are multiple shelves... We need to bring more down onto the eye level shelf! posted by
TSM
on Sep 5, 2007 at 12:11 PM
It's only been two years and already most Americans have forgotten about the Katrina tragedy. But poor Blacks are easily forgotten about in this country.
posted by
sagefever
on Sep 5, 2007 at 12:35 PM
annual wallow in tragedy? we should be so lucky~ tragedy abounds, true many people enjoy rehashing the whys, but I personally much prefer the How to fix it approach when we examine tragedy and history will repeat,even if it is studied. We need all Americans the superior, the middle level and the least intelligent~whatever that means~ among us to participate. Maybe we can all learn something.
posted by
sfinboston52
on Sep 5, 2007 at 12:40 PM
I dont think so, but I do believe it is a day of rememberance. My company lost one of our co-founders on 9/11, so each year on 9/11 we as a company do volunteer work throughout our community as a way to remember 9/11 and to remember our co-founder who was killed that day.
posted by
Rettchr
on Sep 11, 2007 at 04:40 AM
Today's poll re whether or not I'm getting tired of honoring the events of 9/11 dishonors those who died as a result of the events of that day! After all, we still honor those who lost their lives in WWI when we celebrate on Nov. 11th. We still honor those who lost their lives on 12/7/41 at Pearl Harbor. We still celebrate the 4th of July and remember those who set about to provide us with an independent nation. So why shouldn't we remember all the innocent lives lost on 9/11? They are as deserving of the honor and respect as any president, war hero, or any other person we honor on special days. I, for one, will post my flag in the morning as a show of respect for those who died and for all the first-responders who worked so hard to find and rescue those who survived!
posted by
ghostriter
on Sep 11, 2007 at 10:24 AM
Three words: Pearl Harbor Day. Over sixty five years ago and still we memorialize, even though many of those who participate were not even alive at the time. The anniversary of 9-11 should be one of those "live in infamy" days, as should Katrina, for many decades to come.
posted by
randomfactor
on Sep 11, 2007 at 11:53 AM
2/15 changed everything. posted by
Rettchr
on Sep 11, 2007 at 01:33 PM
Random, please explain 2/15.
posted by
randomfactor
on Sep 11, 2007 at 02:00 PM
posted by
siouxcityranch
on Sep 11, 2007 at 06:52 PM
2603 in New York City in the towers and on the ground, and 125 at the Pentagon.Among the fatalities were 341 New York City Fire Department firefighters, 2 New York City Fire Department paramedics, 8 private ambulance personnel, 23 New York City Police Department officers, and 37 Port Authority Police Department officers.Lieutenant General Timothy Maude was the highest ranking person killed at the Pentagon and John P. O'Neill was a former assistant director of the FBI who assisted in the capture of Ramzi Yousef and was the head of security at the World Trade Center when he was killed trying to rescue people from the South Tower.An additional 24 people remain listed as missing. HOW CAN YOU FORGET THESE PEOPLE, and pretend IT NEVER HAPPENED???? posted by
bynary
on Sep 27, 2007 at 01:24 PM
In Nov of 1963 I thought a day or so of 'tributes' was enough. On Sunday (3 days after Kennedy was killed), many people, including myself were clamoring for a return to regular programming. Remember, in those days there were only 3 networks and a handful of independents. 6 years is quite enough for most. Those deeply affected may reminisce longer, but there should be no more 'public' memorials. Just my opinion. posted by
mattloch
on Sep 27, 2007 at 02:07 PM
Apparently six years is enough time after a tragedy to begin using it for crass political gain (in the most naked of ways; before that it could only be veiled and given at least mock respect).
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