Remembering 9/11
By Jeremy Gulley
In his book Stuff of Thought, Stephen Pinker argues that the events of 9-11 are difficult to categorize. He explores the difference between seeing the attacks as one attack, with the events lumped together, or whether to separate them into four separate attacks. As I read Pinker’s argument, I started thinking . . .
On September 11, 2001, I sat on the couch in my home holding my one month old son in my arms and watched my three year old run around trying to get into trouble. I cried as I watched the events unfold on television, wondering what kind of world my children had entered. I tried to find hope that day, but I couldn’t, as was the case with many of us watching those tragic scenes.
On September 11, 2011, I sat on the couch in my home and wept as I watched the 9-11 memorial live on television. Every name of every person who perished on 9-11 was read out loud, some by family or friends of the victims. All 2,996 names were said individually, and I thought to myself, that is so American.
We, as Americans, have not taken for granted that the events of 9-11 impacted everyone, from those who lost friends, co-workers, spouses, children, aunts, uncles, mothers, and fathers to those of us who watched on television or listened on the radio. And not just in the United States, but everyone in the world, it could be argued, was impacted on that day.
Stephen Pinker, I argue, has it all wrong. The attacks on 9-11 cannot be categorized as one event, or four events. There were 2,996 separate events, 2,996 individual people who were only trying to go to work, fly home or otherwise go about their daily lives. Beyond that, though, are the million other events that impacted those of us who remained. We each had our own personal event, and they cannot and should not be lumped together with everyone else.
On Sunday, as the names were being read, my son asked if he could stop watching and go play. I said no. I told him about how I held him ten years ago. I told him how much I feared for his future and for our family. I told him about how, though my life changed because of 9-11, the change was nothing compared to the lives of those who were reading the names on television. They deserve to be remembered – their names deserve to be heard. I told him the least that we could do was sit and listen, and remember.
I am so proud that we have not lumped everyone impacted by 9-11 into one group and moved on. We, as Americans, should be proud that we still honor the individuality of the victims by saying their names, one by one, ten years later.
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on Sep 14 2011. Filed under Jeremy Gulley, Opinion.
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