# How do you feel about this 9/11 memorial? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 11, 2010, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-feel-about-this-9-11-memorial/553412 "2010-09-11T15:45:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Cisco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Cisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cisco)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2010, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-feel-about-this-9-11-memorial/553412/1 "2010-09-11T15:45:11Z")
A few nights ago I was at my university really late, and out on the lawn I saw the College Republicans planting little American flag tchotchkes. I asked what they were doing and they said it was for their 9/11 memorial - “one flag for each victim.” I don’t like it, for a few reasons: 1. I’m not a 3-cent American flag, and I don’t want to be memorialized that way, no matter how I die. 2. They planted them right up to the sidewalk, and (as of yesterday), a great deal of them have already been knocked over and trampled on. Even some in the middle have apparently been blown over by the wind. What was shaping up to look nice and orderly (and soberingly abundant) when I watched them setting up a few nights ago now looks like a redneck’s lawn on the 5th of July. 3. Not everyone who died that day was an American, and representing them all with little American flags does a great disservice to this fact. It was a human tragedy, not solely an American one. ---
**Author:** ![Kyla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/eada6e/32.png) [@Kyla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kyla)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2010, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-feel-about-this-9-11-memorial/553412/2 "2010-09-11T15:54:03Z")
Sounds poorly planned to me. ---
**Author:** ![MsWhatsit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eb8c5e/32.png) [@MsWhatsit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsWhatsit)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2010, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-feel-about-this-9-11-memorial/553412/3 "2010-09-11T16:01:48Z")
I don’t like it because I’m tired of the American flag being used in this jingoistic, tear-jerking way. Also, the OP’s reason #3 is really good, too. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2010, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-feel-about-this-9-11-memorial/553412/4 "2010-09-11T16:10:33Z")
Sounds like political ritualism from your description, but it’s hardly the worst activity taken in the name of 9/11. Maybe a letter to editor type of thing pointing out #2 above (without the redneck comment) would at least get people to apply more forethought in the future. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2010, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-feel-about-this-9-11-memorial/553412/5 "2010-09-11T16:29:34Z")
I don’t mind it entirely, but I think collecting together the citizenship of every person that died and putting out that nation’s flag would not be that difficult to do. Putting American flags out for every person seems odd. Did they subtract the 15 terrorists from the total? ---
**Author:** ![LouisB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/dfb087/32.png) [@LouisB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LouisB)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2010, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-feel-about-this-9-11-memorial/553412/6 "2010-09-11T16:56:31Z")
Looking out my back window towards our clubhouse, the sidewalks are lined with small American flags just as the OP describes. There is a large American flag on the flagpole outside the clubhouse and an even larger one hanging from the clubhouse roof; along side that, there is a large Florida flag, which looks very much like the infamous Confederate battle standard at first glance. We so patriotic today it just chokes me all up. ---
**Author:** ![Mozart1220](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f1d935/32.png) [@Mozart1220](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mozart1220)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2010, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-feel-about-this-9-11-memorial/553412/7 "2010-09-11T17:10:53Z")
I’m torn. On one hand we should remember those that lost their lives, and on the other I feel we are being very petty about it. England was bombed almost constantly for years during WWII. You don’t see them as “wound up” over that as we are about ONE incident. And the bigotry shown by the opponents of the community center in NYC and this retard “reverend” in Fla almost make me ashamed to be American on 9-11 not proud. ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2010, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-feel-about-this-9-11-memorial/553412/8 "2010-09-11T17:20:31Z")
We represent our war dead here by the identity-neutral poppy. Would have been nicer if they had found something similar to represent the 9/11 victims. For example [67 British people were killed](http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2002/aug/18/usa.terrorism) in the 9/11 attacks. I don’t personally think it’s appropriate to represent them with an American flag. Did they plant one little American flag for each of the hijackers too? At the end of the day, though, I guess people will do what they do, so, whatever. ---
**Author:** ![Hello\_Again](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/85e7bf/32.png) [@Hello\_Again](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hello_Again)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2010, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-feel-about-this-9-11-memorial/553412/9 "2010-09-11T17:46:33Z")
It really pisses me off when people who are trying to spread their jingoistic and rah rah ideology using the flag actually treat the flag with such shameful disrespect. One should never place the flag in such a location where it is likely to become tattered or soiled. Plus, as other have said they are demonstrating their ignorance of the nationality of the victims. It takes 10 seconds on wikipedia to find out the nationalities of the [310 foreign nationals who lost their lives](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Casualties_of_the_September_11_attacks#Non-American_casualties). ---
**Author:** ![Xema](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/9de053/32.png) [@Xema](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xema)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2010, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-feel-about-this-9-11-memorial/553412/10 "2010-09-11T23:32:28Z")
> [@Mozart1220](#): > > England was bombed almost constantly for years during WWII. You don’t see them as “wound up” over that as we are about ONE incident. To be fair, they got reasonably wound up over it at the time. ---
**Author:** ![Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/f04885/32.png) [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qin_Shi_Huangdi)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2010, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-feel-about-this-9-11-memorial/553412/11 "2010-09-12T00:31:38Z")
> [@Mozart1220](#): > > I’m torn. On one hand we should remember those that lost their lives, and on the other I feel we are being very petty about it. > > England was bombed almost constantly for years during WWII. You don’t see them as “wound up” over that as we are about ONE incident. > > And the bigotry shown by the opponents of the community center in NYC and this retard “reverend” in Fla almost make me ashamed to be American on 9-11 not proud. They are a few nuts you shouldn’t be any more ashamed than moderate Muslims are of the fact that OBL is a Muslim. ---
**Author:** ![Peremensoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@Peremensoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peremensoe)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2010, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-feel-about-this-9-11-memorial/553412/12 "2010-09-12T00:46:22Z")
> [@Cisco](#): > > Not everyone who died that day was an American, and representing them all with little American flags does a great disservice to this fact. It was a human tragedy, not solely an American one. > [@Mahaloth](#): > > Did they subtract the 15 terrorists from the total? I live sort of near Virginia Tech, and after the [2007 shooting](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virginia_Tech_massacre), these same exact issues were raised about memorials there. One memorial site _did_ include the killer but was subject to repeated vandalism/theft of “his” marker. A separate display did not include Cho, but used American flags for all the victims when several were of other nationalities; after some fuss, they were eventually replaced by “appropriate” flags. I wondered why it was _flags_ to begin with; these were not soldiers or statesmen. ---
**Author:** ![Peremensoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@Peremensoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peremensoe)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2010, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-feel-about-this-9-11-memorial/553412/13 "2010-09-12T00:49:32Z")
> [@Curtis LeMay](#): > > They are a few nuts you shouldn’t be any more ashamed than moderate Muslims are of the fact that OBL is a Muslim. I’ve heard Muslims say they _are_ embarrassed and ashamed (and angered) by terrorists who claim the banner of Islam. ---
**Author:** ![Kimmy\_Gibbler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Kimmy\_Gibbler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimmy_Gibbler)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2010, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-feel-about-this-9-11-memorial/553412/14 "2010-09-12T00:51:34Z")
> [@Kyla](#): > > Sounds poorly planned to me. I agree that the execution leaves something to be desired. And the flag of the United States usually represents the Union, not any individual victim—so that element seem a little ill-thought out. Of course, worst of all is the politicization of the flag, which, like George Trow’s fedora, can no longer be deployed as just a flag. Republicans use it as a salvo, and Democrats take studied offense at the sight of it. Observe: It would have been impossible for the College Democrats to use American flags at a 9/11 memorial or even to put on a 9/11 memorial. The whole thing has already been ritualized—Republicans do a maudlin, red-and-white-and-blue salute to 9/11, Democrats contend that Republicans are perverting it for political advantage, everyone gets upset, and the whole sorry spectacle is repeated next year. It’s the American way. Soon we will have no holidays, only culture war skirmishes. The War on Christmas, the War on 9/11, the War on Columbus Day, the War on Halloween, so on and so forth, war war war, ad nauseam. ---
**Author:** ![Kyla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/eada6e/32.png) [@Kyla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kyla)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2010, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-feel-about-this-9-11-memorial/553412/15 "2010-09-12T01:14:57Z")
> [@Mozart1220](#): > > England was bombed almost constantly for years during WWII. You don’t see them as “wound up” over that as we are about ONE incident. Have you ever \*been \*to London? I was surprised by all of the reminders of the Blitz that are pretty much all over the city. I’d just be wandering around (probably lost, knowing me) and come across a plaque commemorating the building that had been destroyed during WWII. It was a long time ago now, but the Battle of Britain was a pretty traumatic event. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2010, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-feel-about-this-9-11-memorial/553412/16 "2010-09-12T01:21:17Z")
On its face it sounds like they were acting in good faith, although poorly executed. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2010, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-feel-about-this-9-11-memorial/553412/17 "2010-09-12T02:32:04Z")
> [@Kyla](#): > > > [@Mozart1220](#): > > > > England was bombed almost constantly for years during WWII. You don’t see them as “wound up” over that as we are about ONE incident. > > Have you ever \*been \*to London? I was surprised by all of the reminders of the Blitz that are pretty much all over the city. I’d just be wandering around (probably lost, knowing me) and come across a plaque commemorating the building that had been destroyed during WWII. It was a long time ago now, but the Battle of Britain was a pretty traumatic event. There’s lots of England that isn’t London, and I can guarantee you that almost nobody who wasn’t alive during the Blitz ever notices those plaques. Well, except tourists. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Kyla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/eada6e/32.png) [@Kyla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kyla)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2010, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-feel-about-this-9-11-memorial/553412/18 "2010-09-12T02:49:36Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > > [@Kyla](#): > > > > Have you ever \*been \*to London? I was surprised by all of the reminders of the Blitz that are pretty much all over the city. I’d just be wandering around (probably lost, knowing me) and come across a plaque commemorating the building that had been destroyed during WWII. It was a long time ago now, but the Battle of Britain was a pretty traumatic event. > > There’s lots of England that isn’t London, and I can guarantee you that almost nobody who wasn’t alive during the Blitz ever notices those plaques. Well, except tourists. 😃 People bother to put them up. _shrug_ If no one really cared, they wouldn’t do it at all.