Mark Steyn: Don't Dianafy 9/11

National Post (Canada) ^ | 08/30/2002 | Mark Steyn

[Grampa Dave]

Well, here go the education thugs of the Lunatic Left in their attempt to whitewash and eventually change the history of 9/11.

Makes you wonder how much money has been contributed to the NEA by the Opecker Princes over the years.

[jellybean]

Carlo3b wrote an essay over a year ago with much the same theme...although 9/11 hadn't happened yet.

[Damocles]

This guy can put an arrow through my heart everytime. Thanks for the ping.

[facedown]

Another fine-Mr.-Steyn-piece BUMP.

[Psycho_Bunny]

Which brings us to September 11th. In those first moments, no one quite knew what was happening, and so the events themselves set the tone. One plane hit, then another, then the Pentagon was smoking, the White House was evacuated, the towers crumbled, a plane crashed in Pennsylvania, there were other flights missing, there were bomb scares ... For a few hours that Tuesday it felt like the Third World War, and so commentators fell into war mode. And by the time the networks had shuttled Diane Sawyer, Barbara Walters and the other glamorous pain-feelers to the scene it was too late to revert to the banality of "healing" and "closure" and all the other guff of a soft-focus grief wallow. It's very, very rare for the media to be caught so off-guard by an event that they lose control of their ability to determine its meaning. Within minutes of JFK Jr's plane going down, for example, you know Dan Rather was dusting off his Camelot lyrics and the producers were ordering up their "America's Son" and "America's Prince" graphics.

.....An observation so astute, it bears repeating.

[Alamo-Girl]

Thanks for the heads up!

[Mercat]

Anna Quindlen said that? Isn't she a hard core liberal?

[JohnHuang2]

Quite welcome =^)

[badfreeper]

One observation that I made in the fall of 1997: Were it not for the over-the-top reaction and coverage of the death of Diana, the death and funeral of Mother Theresa the following month would not have gotten nearly the coverage that it did. The networks were essentially shamed into providing similar coverage to the person who actually deserved it.

[KC_Conspirator]

We honour Christine Hanson's memory by righting the great wrong done to her, not by ersatz grief-mongering.

I say we honor her memory next by invading Iraq.

[JacksonCalhoun]

If Steyn isn't the greatest columnist, I don't know who is. He summarizes my feelings to a T, about Diana, JFKJr, and 11 Sep 02.

On that day I plan on getting up, drinking coffee, going to work, going to class, coming home and drinking a good 'merican beer, thanking god and praying for the victims and their families throughout the day.

[aculeus]

Bump

[Corin Stormhands]

I say we honor her memory next by invading Iraq.

Works for me.

[iconoclast]

Just got in the door ... responded immediately to your always welcome Steyn ping!

[MeekOneGOP]

I think that bears repeating:

All I can do for Christine Hanson is insist that the terrorist movement which killed her is hunted down and prevented from deliberately targeting any more two-year olds.

[knighthawk]

Ping

[afraidfortherepublic]

The Gettysburg Address is a fine address, but it's nothing to do with September 11th.

I couldn't agree more. Better that George W. Bush's words of September 11, 2001 be quoted, "Freedom will be defended!"

[iconoclast]

On that day I plan on getting up, drinking coffee, going to work, going to class, coming home and drinking a good 'merican beer, thanking god and praying for the victims and their families throughout the day.

Good for you, son. You're one good carpetbagger. ;o)

[Cincinatus' Wife]

***All I can do for Christine Hanson is insist that the terrorist movement which killed her is hunted down and prevented from deliberately targeting any more two-year olds. We honour Christine Hanson's memory by righting the great wrong done to her, not by ersatz grief-mongering. ***

BUMP!!BUMP!!

[JohnHuang2]

Mark Steyn -- the best columnist in the business.