You brought up “the 343 FDNY members who perished on 11 SEP 01,” saying that their survivors were giving a big finger to Dio. I was pointing out who they really should give the finger to, as it seems quite likely that Rudy’s choice of ‘bunker’ contributed to many of their deaths, while Dio is just a guy posting on a message board whose words have essentially no effect on events.
Through the firefighting community, you undoubtedly know people who were friends with some of those brave 343. It’s quite possible that you may share the tale of Dio’s words here with some of them, so they can agree with you about what a jerk you think he is.
When you do, don’t forget to mention Rudy too, OK? Just sayin’.
I didn’t watch any TV on 9/11 until the Daily Show. I don’t watch much TV, any way.
I concur with Dio --and it’s amazing to me how many people don’t actually read for content on this bb. Sure, the tone may be a bit over the top, but the reasoning was not out of line.
I dislike exploitation and I dislike manipulation–the TV coverage of 9/11 anniverseries is both. I choose not to participate, but there is more to it than that. The mindset that we must have this national annual wallow of sentimentality and hysteria is offputing. We are never allowed to forget (as if we could, anyway)–who needs 24/7 coverage? If I never see someone jump from a building again in my life, it will be ok–I cannot get the images of that out of my head.
Is this what we want as a nation? Easy tears and red, white and blue? How about helping those who are in need because of this? Someone upthread mentioned the respiratory ailments now becoming prevalent–why not help them? Why not hold the pols and leaders responsible for the lack of port security and the debacle that the memorial has become NOW? Why not combine the memory of 9/11 with Muslim outreach, so that people can learn that it is fundamentalism that is the true enemy, not Islam?
But we would rather ball up Kleenex, feed off vicarious gried and feel en-nobled. It’s sickening. My distaste stems not just from the media coverage, but also the demand that seems to drive that coverage. It’s gruesome. It’s vicarious–and vey voyeuristic. Whoever called it tragedy porn nailed it.
My sister (now deceased) lost many of her fellow office workers in 9/11. The main office was located in the Twin Towers; she worked at the Chicago branch. IMS, there was a meeting with the Chicago and NY offices in NYC at that time–so she lost friends, as well as distant co-workers. It is a huge loss for everyone.
My comments here are not intended to take away from the shock, grief or loss for anyone. It just seems to me that the work of grieving is not being done, on a national level–there has been no healing. The media feeding frenzy on 9/11 impedes that healing.
How can you say that with the house locked in a life or death struggle over the wording of a resolution commemorating the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks?
We’ve got Gridlock here people, and unless the house can find the right words for it’s resolution in time, Osama will win. It’s very important that Osama doesn’t win, isn’t it?
People have a tendency to remember things that are more immediate, things that are more dramatic, things that have a wider impact on their world in the here and now.
