9/11
I don't know what the significance of five years is, and I've always thought it somewhat arbritrary to place some sort of value on the cycle of 365 days, the chance distance around the sun...but why not? Most traditions are arbritrary.
All over, people are commemorating the events of 9/11 today. Marisa and I, who witnessed firsthand the World Trade Center devastation, haven't really done anything different...but we're both thinking about it. How can you not?
I don't yet know if I could yet stomach watching the new World Trade Center movie, but by chance, I did end up watching United 93 last night (at someone else's house, and they just put it on). I've never seen any action movie half as tense as that one. The power of that movie is simply its realism.
If you can, check out Paul Kemp's thoughts on today. Both introspective and warming.
All over, people are commemorating the events of 9/11 today. Marisa and I, who witnessed firsthand the World Trade Center devastation, haven't really done anything different...but we're both thinking about it. How can you not?
I don't yet know if I could yet stomach watching the new World Trade Center movie, but by chance, I did end up watching United 93 last night (at someone else's house, and they just put it on). I've never seen any action movie half as tense as that one. The power of that movie is simply its realism.
If you can, check out Paul Kemp's thoughts on today. Both introspective and warming.
posted by Jeff LaSala at 10:08 AM
5 Comments:
I have seen neigher United 93 or World Trade Center, but I have more fiath in U93 to present something more heartfelt than the major Hollywood Blockbuster of WTC.
I think about the whole event a lot, even to this day, which tells me that I don't need to see a movie. No one needs to try to draw my emotions to the surface- they've been bouyant since 9.11.2001
I think you're right, Josh. I suspect the Word Trade Center will have a very different feel. United 93 barely even had music, and where it did it was very, very subtle.
Also, Nicolas Cage was absent. ;)
But of course, I'm all for bringing emotions and memories to the fore. One thing 9/11 did for us is help draw us out of complacency. I daresay it's already beginning to return to this city. But it won't ever go away entirely. Too many memory cells were burned into around here.
Keep in mind that society NEEDS some complacency. If everyone in Manhattan was tweaked on high alert constantly, there's be lots more hatred, attacks, accidental deaths, paranoia, and all around ill-spirit. A society under terror cannot function- that's the point of terrorism.
The only true way to fight terrorism is to show how is has NOT brought you to the brink. The fact that people in NYC can live their lives and feel close to how they felt before it happened? That's truly a testament to how our country shields us from terror.
I'm not a big fan of the current leadership, so it's not about them- we are lucky that missiles aren't flying over our roofs every night, and that we don't have car bombs explode at every post office. We aren't the kind of people who can be terrorized, truly.
My wife and I watched some of HBO's 9/11 documentary Sunday morning before going to church. I found myself choked up quite a bit and hugging my baby girl. My wife made me change the channel when they started showing people jumping from the towers.
I think it is important to remember that this was an attack in which innocent people died, and not a political event that will win votes (for either side).
Jw, that's a very good point. Although I'm not certain that going about our lives is the same thing as complacency. Complacency is not too far from obliviousness, unawareness. That's not quite where we need to be.
But I know, that's not what you're saying.
Kam, I haven't been able to watch the news too much today. The little I put on was a bit too much. But honestly, I need the flush of emotion. Got to keep it ever-present.
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