It's Got To Be Talked About
Someone I know has been reading and watching everything she can that pertains to 9/11, saying we need to remember. I agree - we do need to remember. Everyone remembers in their own way and should do what works for them. Personally, I don't need to read and watch everything put out there to do it, though.
One of the wisest things I ever heard about death is that people die two times: Once when they leave this earth, and a second time when they're forgotten about.
When people learn that I'm from New York they often ask if I've been to the WTC Memorial, and expect to hear that I have been. When I say I haven't, they seem surprised. A couple of people have asked why not.
Why WOULD I? I was raised in New York. I can still be brought to tears in less than 30 seconds if talking about 9/11 with another New Yorker. The idea of the WTC site being a tourist trap grosses me out, and I want nothing to do with the gawking. The idea of people being excited to see where the towers went down, or bragging about having been there sickens me. I don't need to go there to see it in person. I personally worried and saw enough on tv on 9/11 and 9/12 and won't be forgetting any time soon. In my opinion, the Memorial should be there for the people who in some way or another, were related to those who died. It's not there for me. It feels like I would be where I don't belong if I went.
I understand that different people mourn in different ways. That for some people, as Americans, New York feels like the most American place to be in the country. That people feel they have to acknowledge what happened five years ago. Some people do it in small ways, like writing about it on their blogs, and others do it in big ways, like stringing up huge sheets that are red, white and blue that list the names of all the people who died five years ago. That's what the AT&T Ballpark did. Imagine three translucent sheets hanging down behind the statue they have of Willie Mayes. That's what I saw when walking to the train a couple of nights ago. It took my breath away. Something about that sort of display rubs me the wrong way, in a "Look how creative we are to have come up with this cool way of showing how great we are to incorporate into baseball what everyone else is talking about!"
I'm not saying that's how the meetings went down, just that that's how it felt to me. Hell, you could be reading this blog being disgusted by me for writing about 9/11 when none of my family members died. And really, what's more traditionally American than baseball and defending the U.S. and all the freedom it stands for? Or, used to stand for. But that's how it felt to me.
If I feel the need to read about 9/11, I'll start by going here.
One of the wisest things I ever heard about death is that people die two times: Once when they leave this earth, and a second time when they're forgotten about.
When people learn that I'm from New York they often ask if I've been to the WTC Memorial, and expect to hear that I have been. When I say I haven't, they seem surprised. A couple of people have asked why not.
Why WOULD I? I was raised in New York. I can still be brought to tears in less than 30 seconds if talking about 9/11 with another New Yorker. The idea of the WTC site being a tourist trap grosses me out, and I want nothing to do with the gawking. The idea of people being excited to see where the towers went down, or bragging about having been there sickens me. I don't need to go there to see it in person. I personally worried and saw enough on tv on 9/11 and 9/12 and won't be forgetting any time soon. In my opinion, the Memorial should be there for the people who in some way or another, were related to those who died. It's not there for me. It feels like I would be where I don't belong if I went.
I understand that different people mourn in different ways. That for some people, as Americans, New York feels like the most American place to be in the country. That people feel they have to acknowledge what happened five years ago. Some people do it in small ways, like writing about it on their blogs, and others do it in big ways, like stringing up huge sheets that are red, white and blue that list the names of all the people who died five years ago. That's what the AT&T Ballpark did. Imagine three translucent sheets hanging down behind the statue they have of Willie Mayes. That's what I saw when walking to the train a couple of nights ago. It took my breath away. Something about that sort of display rubs me the wrong way, in a "Look how creative we are to have come up with this cool way of showing how great we are to incorporate into baseball what everyone else is talking about!"
I'm not saying that's how the meetings went down, just that that's how it felt to me. Hell, you could be reading this blog being disgusted by me for writing about 9/11 when none of my family members died. And really, what's more traditionally American than baseball and defending the U.S. and all the freedom it stands for? Or, used to stand for. But that's how it felt to me.
If I feel the need to read about 9/11, I'll start by going here.
posted by Green at 9/11/2006 02:38:00 AM
2 Comments:
Yup, I think it needs witnessing.
I have never heard anyone brag about going to Ground Zero. I don't know very many people that have. The ones I have met, were greatly affected and felt a deep need to go there. Just like some people go to Holocaust death camps. The Mr, and I have plans to go to Normandie. It is something we need to do. Just like when we went to Ground Zero. I was bothered by giggling tourists , taking pictures, but not enough not to think it needs to be there.
I guess the 5 to 30 minutes I focus on 9-11 a few times a year, just doesn't seem unhealthy to me. The courage of the day always lifts me up further than the terror brings me down.
I am reduced to silence when I think or try to talk about 9-11. There are no words. I can't watch the TV shows or movies about it, I, like you, will never forget. I don't need to be told.
However, there is one piece of art that I still find moving to this day. I hope you don't mind if I link to it. You may enjoy it also.
http://gawno.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/popart_wtc.jpg]LA Popart rendering of WTC
Charlene
http://lifedramatic.blogspot.com
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