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Wednesday Rant: “Don’t Do Me Any Favors”
By Courtni K. George | September 12, 2007
{The following is a special rant from Phattitudes’ Courtni K. George. Her opinions and views may or may not reflect the other bloggers and contributing authors associated with Phattitudes.com. Please keep this in mind when you are reading as it is a controversial post. Thank you, KeMari}
I was not gonna post anything more about 9-11. Period.
I said my peace, and I mourned and paid tribute personally.
But as I was walking out the door to work yesterday, I caught the news broadcast of the family members, friends and important people who want to look as if they give a shit about things other than themselves live at Ground Zero droning on and on as they read the names of those who were victimized 6 years ago.
They sounded as if someone were standing behind them with a 9mm stuck in their backs. So I stopped, stared, and was sucked into the force-fed memorial that was displayed before me.
Afterwards, as I was driving, I thought about how each year has become more and more forced. I found myself wondering if it was because we as a society have silently decided to numb ourselves from the pain of it all. I wondered why Mr. Politician was even reading off the name of some father/son/brother/friend that he didn’t even know. Would this man want some strange snaky senator calling out his name? I know I wouldn’t. I would rather my name not be called at all, than by some slick-back governor who is looking for ratings.
Maybe it is just me.
I guess I feel like we are disrespecting those lives that were lost by doing something that our hearts aren’t in. We are disrespecting them by make a glorified holiday out of that tragic anniversary. We are disrespecting them by losing focus of what was important about that day.
I mean… if it were me, I would be rolling in my grave. I would be sick of all of the fakers in the world, trying to be different or attempting to make this big statement about what “you” all should be doing, how often “you” should be doing it, and how the way “you” do what “you” do isn’t appropriate if “you” only choose to do it on the specified date.
Give me a break.
Who really cares if the only day we choose to really sit down to think and reflect on this awful tragedy is on September 11th? What if we think about it every day… but only ever say something out loud on that day?
How dare someone pass judgment? It is almost like someone passing judgment on how many times a Christian prays.
Anyway… I am over it. I am over all of the hype, the coverage, the four hour monotonous name readings, the seemingly forced “tribute” blogs that seem to be written because it is the right or cool thing to do.
I don’t mean to be rude, but all of that isn’t needed to just remember.
In the echoes that follow the reading of the names, or the hollowness in those moments of silence, I can practically hear the voices of those lost:
“We will never forget, because we remember you. Our pain was real. Please don’t fake yours out of obligation. Don’t do me any favors. Please.”
Tags: Phattitudes |
I agree. It is about time that all the tributes stop and real life ensues. They will never be forgotten b/c that event will never be forgotten. I also balk at calling the people who died heroes…now the police and firemen that searched for remains, the volunteers that helped out afterwards and the solidiers that fight b/c of that day, yes…but not the people that died in the buildings.
well, i think that the people on the plane were.
they apparently tried to stop the planes from crashing.
that was supposed to read buildings and airplanes!
only the one that crashed in Philidelphia…I WILL agree that those guys are heroes!
It’s a difficult thing to live through every year. I could see something special done on the 5th anniversary (last year) but at this point, we really need to move on and heal and not dwell on the past in as you say a “forced” manner. We will never forget what happened, but it has become a holiday of sorts as you have said. It was painful for all of us…but when do we move on!
so you are suggesting like a 5-10-20 type of commemoration?
that would make the memorials and tributes more special i think.
Courtni,
I am completely with you on this. I will NEVER forget the feelings I had watching the “attacks” on 9-11. I missed school because of it. My family watched in horror as the news described the events that were taking place that day and several days later. My dad frantically called his family in NY only to get a busy signal for hours upon hours. But now, 6 years later- what’s done is done. Any one that has any sense will always remember, but I just don’t think its necessary to have to relive the tragedy over and over and over. So there’s my rant. Love your writing.
it is like beating a dead horse.
i dont want to forget them, but seriously.
and thanks.
You have been tagged for The Personal Development List. Your site is listed under collaborated sites (these are listed toward the bottom of the list). I would love for you to participate.
It was a horrible tragedy, but the loved ones, if you look at them, while they are reading their loved ones’ names on plaques and the wall, and hearing their names being called out, watch the tears of love pour out of their eyes. It’s not to remember the horrific incident, although that’s inevitable, but it’s to remember their lives, and to respect who they once were…and most of all, their bravery. Those lives weren’t lost in vain. I’d be more than honored if I heard someone calling out my loved ones’ names, if it were me, even if…they mispronounced it. It’s an honor, in my opinion. I do see your point of view though.
Last year I was criticized for saying “Ok, how many years are we going to do this?” I wasn’t being insensitive, I was really wondering. 20 years later will we still be reliving that day over and over and over. I didn’t see it this year but I remember last year they kept showing the planes crashing. Then they had that thing online on CNN where they played the news footage from 01 the entire day. No disrespect to anyone who has lost a loved one but really….we aren’t honoring anyone, we are just giving lip service.
I agree if we are going to hold a tribute there should be really feelings and emotions involved. Not have people there who feel obligated to give a tribute.
I know I will never forget that day but at the same time I don’t turn into a statue frozen to never do anything on that day. My heart went out and still does to all the ones that died.
very interesting, but I don’t agree with you
Idetrorce