9/11 Survivors Should Stop Moaning

New Times ^ | Sept. 5, 2002 | Jill Stewart

[Glenn]

If Bush did it, I agree. But did he? Or was it Congress?

As with all things, Congress created it. Bush encouraged it and signed off on it. Ashcroft demanded it be done with all possible speed.

[Conservababe]

The writer of the article suggests we send a dollar to the illiterate children of Afghanistan.

Actually, it was President Bush who requested that American children send a dollar to an Afgan child.

But let me add that I only agree with the author's characterization of the victims. I do not agree with her moral equivelency of global crisis.

[TiaS]

. . . a prayer . . . .

[Husker24]

Doesnt all that money go to charity.

[ladysusan]

There is much truth in this article. 9/11 was a tragedy (an appropriate word to describe it). But all too many Americans are making a maudlin fetish out of 9/11. 9/11 is becoming an American cult.

I humbly suggest that people need to do so in order to completely work through their trauma. You and I may not have lost anyone; it's different for us. While I agree that there are people who are milking the situation (media, lawyers) , I'm not cynical enough to believe that Lisa Beemer is one of them.



This is not the high point of history, the most momentous event of all time and space, the greatest suffering ever to inflict a nation. Some 50,000 Americans die every year on the road. And yes, she's right, 20,000+ Indians apparently died in a quake.

While factually correct, this does not in any way diminish the suffering of folks who were directly affected by 9/11.
They need to grieve in the way they need to grieve...who are we to criticize them?




But some Americans seem to want to wrap themselves in the bloody flag of 9/11, and devote all their lives to "remembering" and "comemorating" forever and ever...


Rhetoric,yes, but also part of the grief process. Survivors of other tragedies say exactly the same thing. "A day that shall live in infamy." "Never forget."


She's right. I do not BARF at this article, I applaud it.



I don't applaud it. I find it reactive. I find no new ideas in it at all.


Like she said, let's not be like other nations, let's not nurse our wounds for centuries. The cliche holds true: Time to move on.



Perhaps for you. People directly affected should be afforded the option to move on when they are READY - and that is not something others can decide for them.

[Conservababe]

Mrs Beamer's friend quit his day job to run the foundation, so I must assume he draws a salary from contributions.

[Pining_4_TX]

Well, I agree with part of the article. It isn't just Americans who go over the top whenever a tragedy occurs, though. Remember the maudlin carrying-on that the British people did after the death of Princess Di?

And as for sending a $1 to help an illiterate Afghan kid, I'd rather send a $1 to blow up an dirt-bag Muslim country. This would do a whole lot more good than all the hand-wringing, candle-lighting, where-were-you-when-it-happened-stories, and general schmaltz that we are currently wallowing in.

[Movemout]

She makes some good points. Human greed is once again on display. It is not new. It was there all along. The attack has created marketing strategies at the same time it has turned government on its collective head. Lisa Beamer lost a husband and the rest of us gained a hero. If Lisa can parlay her loss into a financially secured future for her and her kids then I am all for it.

The author totally loses me with the do something for the children in Afghanistan bit. She reveals her agenda which was to use 911 to advance a liberal cause. She has become a 911 shill which she allegedly abhors.

[ladysusan]

Actually, it was President Bush who requested that American children send a dollar to an Afgan child.

As did the writer.

[Huck]

See the (paid) author cash in on the cashing in of others. A parasite with a parasitic host.

[ladysusan]

She reveals her agenda which was to use 911 to advance a liberal cause.


Exactly. Nothing new here.

[Commie Basher]

I have to admit that I am fed up and disgusted with all the emotional orgies going on.

Emotional orgies is a good way to describe it. It reminds me of Britain's temporary insanity when Diana died. Not the the tragedies are comparable in terms of scale. But I had the sense that many of the public mourners had worked themselves into tears, not because they cared about Diana, but because they wanted to be part of "the happenings."

I think Florence King has written of this curious phenomenon, whereby people try to horn into public tragedies, trying to "share in the grief." Not truly grieving, but wanting to share in the attention that comes with grieving.

King has written of the "teddy bear brigades," all those people who litter accident scenes with teddy bears and candles and school kids' fingerpaintings.

The walls around the viewing platform at Ground Zero are similarly graffitied and littered with plush toys and finger-paintings and other such maudlin nonsense.

[hole_n_one]

Posted here, with the original title intact.

You know better, CB.

[ladysusan]

See the (paid) author cash in on the cashing in of others. A parasite with a parasitic host.


It's the holier than thou attitude with which she writes that gets me.

[HoustonCurmudgeon]

..... and I thought I was the only one to hold this view!

Time to get over it and get even. Never forget, but stop the whining.

[paul544]

Gee and to think we might have made it through just ONE thread on Free Republic without a Bush basher showing up. And we wonder why Free Republic is dying?

[Commie Basher]

Well, I'd searched under "9/11" and "moaning" and "Stewart."

[Glenn]

Gee and to think we might have made it through just ONE thread on Free Republic without a Bush basher showing up.

I'm sorry to have spoiled your day, moron. Open discussion is permitted, you know. If you have a problem with me, report it to the authorities and have me permanently banned, okay?

[hole_n_one]

And we wonder why Free Republic is dying?

You have a mouse in your pocket?

[Just another Joe]

we have not changed in the year since September 11.

It's my belief that we HAVE changed.

We, as a country, no longer believe that we are invincible.
We no longer believe that a terrorist organization will not be able to execute mass killings of American citizens on American soil.

Some of us have taken a long hard look at our borders and our immigration policies and have found them wanting. We have too many illegal immigrants in our country with no way of knowing whether they came to try improve their individual lot or whether they came to plot to kill citizens of our country.

Patriotism has been given a new lease on life. There are more flags still being flown now, at almost the one year anniversary of 9/11, than I can remember on any given day in prior years except flag day or Memorial day.
I see flag pins being worn on pockets, purses, suit jackets, and blouses.
I hear discussion of whether Jimmy, or Johnny, or Carl is going to enter military service not because they HAVE to but because they want to serve and defend their country.

Are there individuals that take advantage of this situation for private gain? Yes.
Are there individuals that take advantage of this situation to be hate mongers? Yes.
Are there individuals that have come to love and believe in their country more than they did before this situation? YES!

This attack by terrorists on our country is in the realm of many other catastrophes that our country has had to deal with over the centuries that we have BEEN a country.

Has this situation changed us?
Yes, I believe it has.