As I'm sure even babies in mothers' wombs have heard today, it is the 10th anniversary of the September 11th attacks. I've read countless posts on Facebook from people, heard from their mouths, read blogs about where these individuals were and what their reactions were when they first heard about the attacks. Really, what is it about anniversaries? Especially those with magical numbers which are multiples of 5? You never hear about an 8-year high school reunion or a big party celebrating a couple's 24th wedding anniversary. Nope. It's 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 40, 50, you get the picture. This also pertains to yearly holidays and celebrations, like Valentine's Day, Memorial Day, 4th of July, Christmas, etc.
Why do we need these reminders? Why can't the majority of people illustrate to their spouses that they love them through both words and actions throughout the duration of the year and not need Valentine's Day as a reminder? Why can't people regularly do things to support the troops/veterans without needing "Memorial Day" on the calendar to reflect and ponder volunteering or donating some money? Why must we obsess with 9/11 ten years after the fact only on this very day?
I don't need these reminders. It doesn't matter if the day is February 14th, September 14th or February 12th, if I'm dating someone, I'm going to do all I can to show that I care about them. I don't need Christmas as a reminder to make or purchase gifts for loved ones. I try to do this all year. I don't need a 10-year anniversary to remind me of 9/11. The fact is, I and most every other person in this world are outsiders to the attacks on 9/11. Yes, it happened in the U.S., the country in which I and millions of others reside. However, the memories will never be as vivid to us as they were to those in New York City and those whom had loved ones die that day in the attacks. It's terrifying to most everyone with a conscience, but never will I be as traumatized by the events as those whom witnessed these atrocious acts at ground zero and we (none of us) shouldn't need a 10-year anniversary for us to remember that day. Perhaps most of us need this reminder, as we weren't in New York City at the time of the attacks, but I can guarantee you, those in New York will never need that reminder. It will forever stay with them and it should forever stay with the rest of us, without needing a reminder.
Why do we need these reminders? Why can't the majority of people illustrate to their spouses that they love them through both words and actions throughout the duration of the year and not need Valentine's Day as a reminder? Why can't people regularly do things to support the troops/veterans without needing "Memorial Day" on the calendar to reflect and ponder volunteering or donating some money? Why must we obsess with 9/11 ten years after the fact only on this very day?
I don't need these reminders. It doesn't matter if the day is February 14th, September 14th or February 12th, if I'm dating someone, I'm going to do all I can to show that I care about them. I don't need Christmas as a reminder to make or purchase gifts for loved ones. I try to do this all year. I don't need a 10-year anniversary to remind me of 9/11. The fact is, I and most every other person in this world are outsiders to the attacks on 9/11. Yes, it happened in the U.S., the country in which I and millions of others reside. However, the memories will never be as vivid to us as they were to those in New York City and those whom had loved ones die that day in the attacks. It's terrifying to most everyone with a conscience, but never will I be as traumatized by the events as those whom witnessed these atrocious acts at ground zero and we (none of us) shouldn't need a 10-year anniversary for us to remember that day. Perhaps most of us need this reminder, as we weren't in New York City at the time of the attacks, but I can guarantee you, those in New York will never need that reminder. It will forever stay with them and it should forever stay with the rest of us, without needing a reminder.
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