Thoughts of tragedies

Today is the 10th anniversary of the tragic incidences that happened on 9/11/01. It is important to never forget the lives that were lost on that day. ON the other hand, I find it highly inappropriate the way in which the country is now “celebrating” this anniversary. This tragedy is being used as propaganda to reaffirm the misguided attempts to eradicate an ideology of terrorism. I find it highly disrespectful that the media finds it expectable to shows the videos of the towers smoking, people free-falling out of windows, the planes hitting the towers, a gaping hole in the Pentagon, and a black, and smoking field where Flight 93 went down. The families are being forced to relive the loss they have fought so hard to move passed. Instead of showing the past, people should focus on showing the signs of moving on, such as focusing on memorial services at the new Freedom Tower and Memorial Pools. This shows that the as a country, we will not forget the tragedy but that we have moved on, as all survivors of tragedy should.

Yes it is hard, and yes for those immediately involved here is an enormous sense of guilt, but the current “celebrating” is not helping either. I remember the souls lost, pray for them and their families, but will not be part of bringing the tragedy back to life, glorifying the actions the actions it brought about, and inflicting more pain on the families who have lost. I prefer the approach People magazine took. They interviewed the widows who were pregnant while their husbands lost their lives. Although the loss of fathers and husbands was described, the way the mothers and children have coped, moved on, and are looking towards the future inspires hope. I would rather have remembrance that focuses on the hope of healing and forgiveness rather than promoting the hate and bitterness that showing the tragedies does.

And what about the men and women who are suffering and being killed in the aftermath? The tragedies that occurred on 9/11/01 did result in a country ready for war. Outrage led to the invasion of Afghanistan and later Iraq. In the ten years since 9/11/01, 1,680 American men and women have died as a result of going to Afghanistan and 4,474 have died as a result of being in Iraq. This is downplayed. We are not given daily death tolls. We are not reminded everyday then men and women from out soil are being killed in a place far away. These Americans are dying for their country, and we do not even know it. I cannot even fathom the pain these people feel.

Let’s not USE a national tragedy as propaganda. Remember the lost souls, pray for their families, and hope the pain has eased.