[Society] Remebering 9/11: Day of Victimization

Today was the sixth anniversary of the 9/11 attacks on the U.S., and, I may be speaking alone here, but I, for one, am a bit disgraced by the way in which in we commemorate this day each year. It will be nearly impossible to broach this subject without committing what some offended person will consider blasphemy, but I feel very strongly that this country marks this day in a very unfortunate manner.

When Septmebr 11th comes around each year a few choice phrases are tossed about with litte regard to their meaning, phrases such as "Remember that day," and "Let us never forget." And, of course, it goes without saying that we should not forget, but why? Is it because we are likely to forget if we do not mark the day with endless coverage of the reading of the vicitm's names? Of course not. To suggest that one might forget such a day is absurd, to say the least.

Another comment I heard recently (I can't remember where) seemed similarly absurd as one person lamented, "Will September 11 soon be just another day on the calender?" Seemingly, a valid question. But is June 21st just another day? (FYI: June 21, 1788 is when New Hampshire ratified the U.S. Consitution, arguably the most important document in modern history, creating what is argubly the most important government in modern history, our government). In fact, June 21st is the same as any other day, and yet, in history, it is arguably far more important than the day we do commemorate on our nation's founding, July 4. The point is, the events of September 11th, and our commemoration of them, are much bigger than the day and month they occurred on. Thus, the above question is actually giving more credence to the date itself than to what happened on that date.

For me, not a day goes by that I do not think about 9/11. It does not need to be September 11th on the calender for me to contemplate deeply and emotionally on the events of that day. Thus, when that day occurs on the calender why does such sad contemplation deserve a monopoly of my thought?

But I digress, because it is certainly important that we remember 9/11, the date and the event, but to what extent? When the above person asks, "Will September 11 be just another day," shouldn't they be asking, "Why, if this day is so important to remember, do I go to work just as I would on any other day? Why do we carry on with the same routines we had on September 11, 2000 when we should be mkaing something substantial out of this day?" My friend made the very good point that if the day is so important in our history, particularly if we subscribe to the thinking that "9/11 changed everything," why is it a day in which the victims are remembered and families mourn while everyone else goes to work as they would on any other day, simultaneously reminded of the one day when nothing seemed more trivial than our morning commute?

The fact of course is that 9/11 has changed nothing, and unfortunetly, by simply tossing around phrases such as "Never forget," while carrying on with life as usual codifies the fact that 9/11 did not change a thing. It did not change our attitudes or our priorities, and every year, on this day, I am reminded of that fact as much as I am reminded of the tragedy.

So, if you believe it is a day worth commemorating, then it is time that we commemorate it with some sort of national holiday. Now, be sure that I am not suggesting that 9/11 should be remembered with hedonistic celebration, but in our current state the day represents nothing more than a commemoration of our victimization. In fact, so much do we mark this day as one of victimization that we are easily begged, through every medium, to be saddened. We mark a tragedy only by reminding ourselves of why we cried. There is certainly nothing wrong with mourning, but to make victimization our identity on a day in which we, the most powerful nation in the world, were attacked smacks of self-indulgence.

The question is, do we want 9/11 to have changed everything? Because if we do, if we think that 9/11 was a day that shed light on just how superficial and insiginificant the lives we lead can be, then we should make it a day in which we do anything but that which makes life insignificant and superficial. It shoud be a day spent with our families or reaching out to a fellow man in need. It should be "empowerment" day, not "victimization" day. The latter, the way in which we currently mark the occasion, I am sorry to say, seems little more than the most powerful nation in the world indulging seeking pity. It is as if we mark this day, not to say "remember what happened," but rather to say "remember that we are victims too," which we are decidedly not (which is not to say there are not victims still suffering from 9/11 related atrocities).

By making September 11th nothing more than a day of mourning every year, what we do, in effect, is give those that attacked us the satisfaction of knowing that they have caused irreparable pain. But we have an opportunity to turn that around, to turn tragedy into triumph and make 9/11 a day in which we do not turn our tears inward, but use our grief as fuel for a better tomorrow. It doesn't mean we can't remember and mourn, but it is the difference between tears of defeat and the tears of victory. Personally, I prefer the latter.