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Death of Invincibility
By News Desk | September 16, 2008
We are a nation that remembers. We memorialize the good and the bad, in our quest to keep history alive and to honor the citizens that had a role in it. We have annual holidays and our calendars bare reminders to keep fresh in our mind what happened in our short lifetime as a nation. 9/11 is no different.
Seven years ago, Americans suffered a tremendous blow that shook them to the core. We, who live in a land of safety, bore witness to violent destruction and death. From the ashes of our fallen comrades we rose up, displaying the heroism so often forgotten.
Only days ago, the anniversary of this tragic event rolled around. Work places spoke to their employs, schools had a moment of silence, and individuals remembered the horror. This is the way we as a nation have deemed fit to commemorate such a loss, with sorrow.
But why do we feel the need to act in such a somber manner? Why not rise up out of the pain of years ago, and be joyous for those that lived? To continue to dredge up pain we no longer feel is (in my opinion) disrespectful and utterly false, a terrible memorial.
”A single death is a tragedy, a million deaths is a statistic.”
— Joseph Stalin
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It may seem odd to quote a man who in his life portrayed ideas that Americans find completely opposite to the views they hold dear. But in this respect, I must agree with Stalin though you may deem me mad.
Each person holds dear only those they know. When a loved one passes we feel that loss most acutely, but it is not sorrow for the dead, but sorrow for ourselves. The dead have no great pain to suffer; it is their absence that we mourn. So how can we feel so much pain for 3000 strangers? Millions more die daily and we do not bow our heads for them.
Note: I don’t want to offend anyone. And I understand the pain for those that were directly affected. But for the masses, myself included, 3000 people died but I remember the death of my notion of an invincible nation.
By: Landis Grenville
Topics: Discuss Amongst Yourselves |