9-11: Does America Even Care Anymore?
by Seems we’re far too busy to…
Eight years ago today, the world was changed on a very fundamental level. We as a society were forced to take a good long look at ourselves, our place in the world, and the arrogance we projected. We changed. We were reminded just how truly sanctified life still is. We remembered how to appreciate each other. We became everything that, as a society, we are capable of being…. for about a week.
One of the moments that stand out for me; one I will in all likelihood remember for all of my days, took place the evening of September 11th. Like many others, I ran to the gas pump to fill up. I was standing next to my car, waiting for it to fill, when George W.’s address came on over the radio. Everyone had their car radios on, and it was being piped through the speakers above us as well. I remember that everything stopped… traffic in the street, people on foot. Those in their cars got out. It was, as cliche as it sounds, as if the world stood still. I remember images of that night. An old couple in front of us, leaning on each other; a group of teenagers by the door in a cluster. People looking up, all with the same expression on their face. Uncertainty. Fear. Worry. It was every bit like a scene from a movie.
The next day was similar. I remember lots of flags. People saing hello to strangers. Church parking lots full. It was as if we had, through tragedy, been forced to lean on each other. But it didn’t last all that long. Oh, we didn’t forget… we had tributes, musicians wrote songs that we all sang (Lee Greenwood found a second wind being proud to be an American).
And, over a sadly brief period of time, we stopped caring. Bills to pay, things to do.
Looking back, what changed? Are we more afraid? Are we safer? The Patriot act happened; millions of Americans cheered as we signed away a number of the civil rights we were so proud to have to our own government. Of course, being America, we went to war, sent a bunch of our kids over to sacrifice their lives without a second thought. (Cheering again, even as we realized we weren’t going after the ones who had done this). (side note: while we don’t seem to care any more, they’re still over there dying.)
The bottom line is that we no longer care. In the 8 years since, we have grown more arrogant, more hated. What 9-11 did was show the world our true colors. We are a wasteful, obese, arrogant, self righteous society. We have lost touch of what once made this a great nation in favor of TiVo and Ipods. We have become a willingly Orwellian society. We encourage racial profiling. We are having our privacy invaded randomly and we couldn’t care less, as long as technology’s pretty keys are being dangled in front of us.
It’s sad, and every one of us is to blame. We are all part of the collective problem. We’ll remind ourselves of this a bit today, and we might do something nice for someone. We’ll complain to each other about what an awful man that Bin Laden fellow is. We’ll blog about it (just like my hypocritical self is doing now.)
Perhaps, if we really care, we should, perhaps…do something? Tomorrow, instead of just going about our business and forgetting about it for another year (how long till we see 9-11 greeting cards?)… Let’s take a minute and remember that while one person rarely changes the world, one can start a revolution. Instead of telling ourselves that we can’t do anything and leaving it at that, try to do something to make change in your own back yard. Your yard touches someone else’s, and so does theirs. Let’s stop being what the world perceives us as. Let’s act like the Americans we should be.
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Post CommentTheresa Johnson
On September 12, 2009 at 3:59 am
wonderful [iece about thaat tragid day and th rememberance there.
jacksangel
On September 12, 2009 at 4:11 am
I enjoyed this artical very much. I think we would be a better America (economically, and for some emotionally) if we just bring our troops home. To many dying and not enough people, If any, know what they are dying for. I think about our troops daily. I have family and friends there and hate to see the day they knock on the door giving us nothing but a flag. I have also seen the bad effect of this war. people coming back are just not right and we have no idea how to fix them. How can you erase the terribe things they have seen or where given no choice what to do? I was in a class at college when the events of 9-11 took place and like you the images are burned into my brain. We are arrogant and we do not have many fears but that is because we are not the ones who left all they knew to defend a country that seems to have forgotten.
miraj
On September 12, 2009 at 5:33 am
Thanks so much for the link,I wonder what Brad’s reaction will be when he reads this.
This article is not a lesson for the Americans,but for Humanity,to shake our conscience and remind us who we really are.evolution is a bad motorist,it madly guides our raw instincts to drive on a highway to nowhere,and in the process dissolving the subtleties of life.We(as a whole)are becoming so dependent on materialistic pleasures and desires that we tend to forget about caring others.
It doesn’t take much to achieve this task though.Another bane to mankind(as rightly stated in your article) is technology though not in every way,it has its own benefits but we should learn to harness its power efficiently and peacefully.
The opinions stated in this article carries high value,and I think everyone(regardless Nationality) should read and introspect upon this.
Thank you for sharing this article.
Nikita K
On September 12, 2009 at 5:52 am
Some very strong opinions and rightly so because you are Americans and you should be supportive of your country. A strong message. Nice work.
ken bultman
On September 12, 2009 at 7:06 am
Your point escapes me. Haven’t we always been pretty good neighbors. We did not create 9/11,,,we greive over it…and it will occur again. We will greive again and send sons to fight again.
thestickman
On September 12, 2009 at 8:07 am
I’m a little confused as your intended sentiment here, but the effort is noted.
Tlchimes
On September 12, 2009 at 8:16 am
The idea that we allow ourself to remember is great. I use 9-11 to give back. (actually I have several dates that I remember in that way) I don’t see the flags waving anymore, I don’t see the support for those who fight our fires like we did for a time there, and I don’t see folks pouring out the love for our troops….. sad.
Here’s my take on it, if you’re interested: http://authspot.com/biographies/then-and-now-september-11/
Bo Russo
On September 12, 2009 at 10:36 am
My flag flies every day in my living room window.
J J Neuman
On September 12, 2009 at 10:38 am
Some of this is great, especially the ending but some of it I don’t get. I think you forgot that we continue to honor those we lost in 9/11 and, thanks to globalization, we’re really not arrogant anymore…the world is not our oyster and we know it. Many Americans have lost thier jobs, permanently, which you’ve overlooked because you can’t be too arrogant in a raging recession where people are now talking about a jobless recovery. But overall, we are a little safer and a lot more alert today than prior to 9/11.
Uma Shankari
On September 12, 2009 at 10:40 am
It calls for a deep sense of integrity to take a strong look at oneself. You should feel proud about that.
I second what Miraj said in his remarks.
We are all a bunch of emotional people. What stops us from effective action is not knowing what to do and where to begin. We need strong, committed and conscientious leaders who are able to look beyond themselves and look at the common good. When that happens, a lot will fall in place.
Littlekid137
On September 12, 2009 at 11:00 am
I will never forget what happened that day. I remember being in 3rd grade when I found out it happened, the teachers were crying but they never told us why.
Every year they play a special on a channel regarding 9/11 and every year it gets to me it just open my eyes up to what disaster really looks like. I will never take anything for granted and I will never forget what happened on that awful day in 2001. A day which will live in infamy forever.
Lauren Axelrod
On September 12, 2009 at 11:14 am
I think that from the moment September 11th happened, our nation was completely changed and created a down spiral honestly. Leave it to a terrorist attack to unite Americans when we should be united already.
Poetic Angel
On September 12, 2009 at 11:33 am
I so agree with Lauren! This was truly an interesting article. Just as stated in the article…we came together for a brief moment
Leonardo da Vinci E.
On September 12, 2009 at 12:24 pm
Americans don’t march in union because they are all different and free to be different, even their concerns and perspectives on these matters are different. But don’t be so dissapointed about that, it merely shows that freedom is alive and well. Much good has been produced by struggle and conflict in America…and in the future that will increase.
Joe Dorish
On September 12, 2009 at 1:45 pm
Many things change but human nature never does.
MySoldiersSweetheart
On September 12, 2009 at 1:54 pm
Yes, so many are to blame on the actions they make, but yet, how many of these people who just commented have any idea. I may be younger then a lot of u, but I am far from ungrateful for the things I have. I am grateful for being able to dress the way I do, talk to way I do…Every minute I have been given to breathe. I hear so much about people wanting the troops home, YES!!! I DO! More then anything I do, but in all reality, what happens if we just back out now?? Then what? Hope for the best, that nothing will happen when the terrorists regroup and grow stronger. Then what? I do not support the war by no means, but I stand by my soldier and all others, for the job they are doing. I am doing my part to help more then just one person, whether they are black, white, asian, or purple with green spots.
I loved the article btw.
Cynthia Bartlett
On September 12, 2009 at 2:18 pm
People voted God and prayer out of school.
Over reacted in the teachings of the golden rule
Can’t own guns and ammo at the same time
person breaks into your house and you defend yourself
you are arrested for the crime.
stolen property have to prove you own
drugs are rampant, spouses cheat
and we wonder why Americans suffer from defeat
Pride is a sin when too extreme
no pride in ones self is cause to scream.
Write Easy
On September 12, 2009 at 2:39 pm
very good article…i think it is the same with all countries…publich has very short memory. Its only when disaster strikes is when people act…
Zunairah
On September 12, 2009 at 3:43 pm
Great work..I have also recently written an article on facts of 9/11 …some important facts to consider
)
JoshuaD
On September 12, 2009 at 3:46 pm
Frankly I am tired of listening to people suggest that Americans are arrogant as if that somehow justifies what happened. It is wrong, foolish and ignorant.
It has no more place in a discussion than suggesting that a woman deserves to be raped because of how she is dressed.
martie
On September 12, 2009 at 3:54 pm
You are so right. Many people have changed since 9/11 but people fail to see the difference. I have seen big changes in the way my small community treats one another and the problems with the economy even made things in many ways better.
Here people have and are continuing to pull together over the long haul. But even here there are those who want for themselves giving no regard for the people around them.
Perhaps, your article will make a difference. I sincerely hope so.
Diverseblogger
On September 12, 2009 at 4:27 pm
Very good article but people have the whole thing about the world trade centers mistaken.
Steven West
On September 12, 2009 at 5:32 pm
I believe many Americans care. However, there is also a lot of cynical thinking. We went to war under false pretenses. As you said, we gave up liberties because of a destructive President and Vice President. We heard one threat of terrorism after another just to scare people into staying with a morally corrupt government. Also, the divide between liberals and conservatives has just gotten bigger. I thought your posting was very well written.
W.C. Barron
On September 12, 2009 at 5:47 pm
Great job my friend and thank you for the invitation to read your work. It was a good read…”We Will Never Forget”
gary smith
On September 12, 2009 at 5:58 pm
No one really cares anymore….more importantly…the war and terrorism wouldn’t have started if george bush didn’t order the attk on iraq just so we could get more oil…but instead….the oil prices went up(george bush wanted that cuz if u look at his family…most of them are hard time oil company owners) and the economy went down the toilet.
Jeebus
On September 12, 2009 at 11:16 pm
i blame the media as to why i’ve stopped caring for this tragic day. don’t get me wrong, i still feel bad that those innocent people had to die because some douchebag thought he needed to warn america. but as i remember it, they talked about it every day for months after it happened. i get it, it was a terrible thing, but they were blowing it too far out of proportion. so, because of them, i’ve stopped caring for the most part about the tragic day…
it’s just like the whole MJ thing, i felt bad that he died, but now i couldn’t give a rat’s ass about him because the media just won’t shut up about him. i mean he died in July or June (can’t remember which month) and every day i still here these new facts about how he was “possibly murdered, or possibly doing drugs, or whatever”
Chambo
On September 13, 2009 at 1:56 am
Conspiracy?
RJ
Shamanz
On September 13, 2009 at 3:28 am
A good read mate.
Thanks for sharing.
The Reporter
On September 13, 2009 at 10:39 am
I found this very interesting, I thought it was going to be another 9-11 article about how sad it was, but instead you managed to put a twist in it and I truly enjoyed it. I agree with the comment about how it had to be 9-11 that reunited us, when we were supposed to already be the UNITED states of America. It a sad and ugly truth but people are generally selfish unless they are confronted by a tragic event.
Roctetttt
On September 13, 2009 at 11:05 am
What i remember the most is people walking out of that smoke that just did it for me
Firewall706
On September 13, 2009 at 11:13 am
Interesting article, I think people try to forget this tragedy ever came because so many familys were lost. People will always remember that day..
Earl Schmegley
On September 13, 2009 at 12:23 pm
I didn’t appreciate the judgemental tone of this article and I also think the premise is flawed. 911 created a chain reaction that has rippled through every layer of American society. Before 911, Americans just went about their day not thinking about their place in the world or giving much of a second thought to politics. Since 911 and the wars that ensued, Americans have become much more politically active – they are turning out to vote in greater numbers and joining the entirely voluntary military to protect the country. Heck, we are reminded of 911 every time we take our shoes off at the airport. To say everything just went back to the way it was a week after 911 is totally disengenuous.
Borneon
On September 13, 2009 at 12:39 pm
Although I am not an American, I’m from the other side of the world, I think no one could ever forget 911. When it happened, I still remember watching it on live tv. Just seeing it made me cringe with fear and sadness fills my heart, and I know that was nothing compared on how the people there felt. 911 did not just change the Americans, it changed the whole world. It certainly changed my opinions about how some people can do something so horrible and at the same time how some can be so compassionate towards others. l
TammyFSmithCaldwell
On September 13, 2009 at 1:34 pm
This is a very well written article and I commend you for writing on such a sensitive subject.
I Have Had Enough
On September 13, 2009 at 3:33 pm
Great article Mnof. I expected to see a few outraged comments.
Fuck You and Fuck Jesus
On September 13, 2009 at 4:05 pm
Great article, MN. I really enjoyed it. Especially the part about the Patriot act. That day will forever live in infamy. We have forgotten how we felt that day and the stupid bastards that caused it are still out there despite 8 years of our family and friends dying overseas.
s hayes
On September 13, 2009 at 6:35 pm
Great article – I think that everyone, all across the world cares now as much as the day that this atrocity hapened.
You raised some very important issues in this article regarding the erosion of civil liberty – participation in wars which the majority are not in favour of –
I believe that it is human nature to want to get on with life, we don’t like change or confrontation BUT the big question is how far can people be pushed before they wake up to the big picture and begin to sort it out …because there is no end to what we can do when we work together – there has to be a turning point soon.
Jamie Myles
On September 14, 2009 at 12:50 am
I lost a dear friend in an attack on the twin towers and I do not appreciate when people try to insinuate that we brought the horrific , barbaric attack on ourselves because we work hard and long to acheive “the American Dream.” We should never have to apologize for striving for the things we want in life . And Osama Bin Ladin and his terrorists had and have no justification for the 9/11 attack. They are a bunch of evil murderers that should be dealt with in the same measure of compassion they showed for the innocent lives they took including the children in the daycare that were murdered by those monsters. You can pontificate all you want trying to pretent these evil devils are just misinderstood and their really not responsible for their acts of war against our country But It doesn’t change the truth. They are monsters and should be delt with as such. and no America is not to blame for the evil these dusgusting waste of flesh perpetrated against their victims.
Reverting
On September 14, 2009 at 4:41 am
Don’t waive your rights with your flags, people.
I didn’t serve in the military so that I could be chastised for not having a flag in my window or on my car. The last time in history flags were mandatory was in Nazi Germany.
It’s one thing to support our troops. It’s another thing to blindly support the entire government. I’ll do the former and question the latter, because those in uniform have no right to complain or question.
Emma Green
On September 14, 2009 at 6:00 am
A good read. I am not American but I became affected by 9-11 and every year I stop for a moment and think of those who lost their lives to such a remorseful act and of their families and of you the American people, of whom I care very much for.
Nickubus4
On September 14, 2009 at 10:16 am
anyone interested or who agrees about all the downfalls of our society and our own government should watch Zeitgeist 911 right now! at least the part on the federal reserve
Alice
On September 14, 2009 at 10:31 pm
I don’t think we have stopped caring. My school placed a flag in the ground for every single person that died. We have done this every year. Many schools had assemblies on 9/11. And in the morning we had a very long moment of silence where no one in the school spoke a word and many were crying. This is usually the moment in the morning where we all try and finish our homework. I remember. And I think many more do also.
Judy Sheldon
On September 14, 2009 at 11:24 pm
I am not sure of the intention of this article. Everyone grieves differently. I still feel immensely sad about what happened. Nothing can take that away, but to send our youth overseas..What are we solving? We are in an economic down spiral from the Bush administration and he blamed 9-11. Can we say we were attacked for our arrogance? Does that make sense? We did not enter into war because of weapons of mass destruction. Americans are tired of being lied to. They have been betrayed and are afraid to trust.
We all walk to our own beat and my eyes are on my Lord. If we had not taken prayer out of schools I believe our nation would be truly different, but IF – it is such a big word. It has happened. Children shoot one another in school. So is violence a surprise?
As far as saying Americans don’t care. I care. My friends and family care. We can only answer for our own actions. There probably is not a man/woman alive any where who could not improve in their attitude or actions.
Joshua Ben Hebron
On September 18, 2009 at 12:50 am
First of all, it is highly unfortunate that Americans with the exception of few have not learned anything from 9-11!!
Look at how the majority of them had voted. After all the needless casualties in Iraq and billions spent needlessly on toppling the secularist Saddam who had sanctions on him, anyway, we are faced with an extremely dangerous Iran,supported by China and Russia very soon on their way to completing their nuclear aspirations by preparing their bomb factories. If Israel disarms them, Europe and the rest of the planet will curse them in spite of benefitting from this directly.
Left to their own devices, the “peaceful” Persian religious sector and government lead by the legendary
Mahmoud AMad Jihad will wage nuclear war on the rest of the planet and surely Barack Hussein Osama will protect America, Israel, and the entire west and Europe against these children of the Good Lord. By the way, they’re selling a bridge in Brooklyn!!
Lee Ness
On September 18, 2009 at 7:13 am
Very true
Sincelrey Lee Ness
fishfry aka Elizabeth Figueroa
On September 24, 2009 at 7:45 pm
You have pointed out some very important facts. I throughly enjoyed your article, I pray for the future of this country, because Hussein Osama, is destroying our liberties one day at a time
Awesome, earlier in the year I wrote a few article regarding 9/11 because I realized the patriotism that was displace for 6 weeks or so after, is totally gone, and I find that very depressing