# "Let's Roll" -- symbol of American resolve being cheapened? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 4, 2002, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-roll-symbol-of-american-resolve-being-cheapened/127045 "2002-09-04T23:27:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2002, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-roll-symbol-of-american-resolve-being-cheapened/127045/1 "2002-09-04T23:27:30Z")
CBS carried this story tonight. One of the 9/11 passengers used the phrase “Let’s Roll” moments before the attempted to retake the plane from the hijackers. Now, according to CBS, the phrase is being cheapened into just another commercialized catch-phrase. Ownership of the phrase is being contested in the courts. I’m afraid I just don’t buy it. This is a case of life imitating art. Half the cop shows in history have used this phrase. If anything, it’s an example of a cheap catch-phrase being elevated into a national sysbol, not the other way around. ---
**Author:** ![Ringo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/779978/32.png) [@Ringo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ringo)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2002, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-roll-symbol-of-american-resolve-being-cheapened/127045/2 "2002-09-04T23:34:30Z")
Somebody’s mounting a legal battle for ownership? I hope that’s unsuccessful. If they win, I’ve got dibs on “Good night.” ---
**Author:** ![pldennison](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/9fc29f/32.png) [@pldennison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pldennison)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2002, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-roll-symbol-of-american-resolve-being-cheapened/127045/3 "2002-09-05T00:22:24Z")
I hate to be seen as belittling the very real courage displayed by Todd Beamer and his co-passengers on Flight 93, but the whole “Let’s Roll” thing after 9/11 has really turned me off. Unfortunately, people (not just Americans) have a prediliction in general for catchy phrases; I’ve never gotten into it. I almost wish that Beamer had realized that his last recorded words might be used in the way they are, and said something really clever or absurd, like “Bum rush the show!” or “Fahrvergnugen!” ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2002, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-roll-symbol-of-american-resolve-being-cheapened/127045/4 "2002-09-05T00:29:39Z")
Yes, here’s the [CBS online story.](http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2002/09/04/september11/main520846.shtml) Todd Beamer’s wife is claiming it for use by her foundation, for whatever charitable purposes it pursues. I got dibs on “Book him!” and also “Let’s go!” ---
**Author:** ![elshatan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/41988e/32.png) [@elshatan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elshatan)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2002, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-roll-symbol-of-american-resolve-being-cheapened/127045/5 "2002-09-05T00:31:38Z")
How bout “Let’s do…the voodoo…that WE do!”? ---
**Author:** ![elshatan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/41988e/32.png) [@elshatan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elshatan)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2002, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-roll-symbol-of-american-resolve-being-cheapened/127045/6 "2002-09-05T00:39:09Z")
How bout “Let’s do…the voodoo…that WE do!”? ---
**Author:** ![elshatan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/41988e/32.png) [@elshatan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elshatan)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2002, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-roll-symbol-of-american-resolve-being-cheapened/127045/7 "2002-09-05T00:39:41Z")
How bout “Let’s do…the voodoo…that WE do…so well!”? ---
**Author:** ![sleestak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/919ad9/32.png) [@sleestak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sleestak)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2002, 4:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-roll-symbol-of-american-resolve-being-cheapened/127045/8 "2002-09-05T04:27:20Z")
I don’t know about the court battle about the phrase but I understand the power that simple statement has. Beamer and others on the flight knew what happened to the other planes. They used cell phones to contact their families and others who told them what was happening. The people on the plane came up with a plan to storm the cockpit. As far as I can tell they tried and succeeded to bring the plane down. Beamer’s last words to the operator were supposedly “Ok, let’s roll.” I have no reason to doubt the operartor. At the same time the facts seem to point to the passangers trying to take over the plane when it crashed. Is there any reason the operator would lie about Beamers last words? I don’t think so. I believe that Beamers last words on the phone were “OK, let’s roll”. I also believe that Beamer and the rest of the passangers on flight 93 knew they were going to die retaking the cockpit. Yet they did it anyway so that they would save other lives. Beamer saying “Let’s Roll” is a call to selfless action. Slee ---
**Author:** ![reprise](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ea666f/32.png) [@reprise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/reprise)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2002, 4:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-roll-symbol-of-american-resolve-being-cheapened/127045/9 "2002-09-05T04:59:26Z")
I’m beginning to find the blatant, opportunistic exploitation of the anniversary of the events of September 11 last year almost as reprehensible as I found the events themselves. Of course people can register a common phrase IN A SPECIFIC form, and doing so in this case would not be a bad idea. I “let’s roll” pin with a specific image might offset some of the commercial excesses which will surround September 11 for years to come. It’s simple: a registered image would allow people to both show rememberance or solidarity and also know where their money is going. You can’t trademark “lest we forget” either, but those who want to commemorate or acknowledge the fallen Australians in previous wars do tend to buy the badges produced by official organisations which have registered the use of the phrase in conjunction with an identifiable logo. The “until there’s a cure” bracelets which have been sold worldwide to raise money for AIDS research are another example of a common phrase being validly registered with an identifiable product or format. So yes, let the registration of this phrase IN A PARTICULAR FORM go ahead and grant some organisation exclusive rights to use it in that form. But it’s as absurd to think that the phrase itself should be given some kind of exclusivity as it is to think that people should be given exclusive rights to use the words “World Trade Centre”. It’s perfectly possibly to accommodate the request by one party to use protect the use of the phrase in a particular manner without either denying the right of others to use the phrase at all or opening the use of the phrase up to total opportunism. I suspect the courts will probably make the right call in this one. ---
**Author:** ![Avalonian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ee7513/32.png) [@Avalonian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Avalonian)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2002, 5:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-roll-symbol-of-american-resolve-being-cheapened/127045/10 "2002-09-05T05:12:49Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by reprise \* > **I’m beginning to find the blatant, opportunistic exploitation of the anniversary of the events of September 11 last year almost as reprehensible as I found the events themselves.** I agree completely… and I think it’s getting worse and worse. The OP is one example of a growing trend of commercializing the 9/11 tragedy. > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by reprise \* > \*\*It’s perfectly possibly to accommodate the request by one party to use protect the use of the phrase in a particular manner without either denying the right of others to use the phrase at all or opening the use of the phrase up to total opportunism. > > I suspect the courts will probably make the right call in this one. \*\* I hope you’re right… if not, I find it all too easy to imagine Wal-Mart adopting a new slogan: “ **Let’s Rollback**.” _shudder_ ---
**Author:** ![ElwoodCuse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/edb3f5/32.png) [@ElwoodCuse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElwoodCuse)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2002, 5:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-roll-symbol-of-american-resolve-being-cheapened/127045/11 "2002-09-05T05:27:14Z")
Dude, Optimus Prime used to say that like, 15 years ago. ---
**Author:** ![Karellen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/779978/32.png) [@Karellen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Karellen)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2002, 5:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-roll-symbol-of-american-resolve-being-cheapened/127045/12 "2002-09-05T05:46:14Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by ElwoodCuse \* > \*\*Dude, Optimus Prime used to say that like, 15 years ago. \*\* Optimus Prime. Heh. They should inter-edit footage of Optimus Prime with the mobile-phone tape from flight 93. Or better yet, someone should collect all the media examples of “Let’s roll” which existed before 9/11 and create a montage. That might do some good in showing people how silly this all is. Next they’ll be trying to patent the word “hero.” ---
**Author:** ![Avalonian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ee7513/32.png) [@Avalonian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Avalonian)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2002, 6:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-roll-symbol-of-american-resolve-being-cheapened/127045/13 "2002-09-05T06:28:58Z")
Actually, if my geek-boy memories of days of yore remain true, Optimus’ catchphrase was, “Autobots, **roll out!** ” Jeez… I am _such_ a geek. ---
**Author:** ![elshatan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/41988e/32.png) [@elshatan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elshatan)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2002, 10:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-roll-symbol-of-american-resolve-being-cheapened/127045/14 "2002-09-05T10:52:12Z")
No, “roll out” is a song by Ludacris. Maybe Luadacris should be a national hero? ---
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2002, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-roll-symbol-of-american-resolve-being-cheapened/127045/15 "2002-09-05T16:09:28Z")
I also hear they’re trying to posthumously rename every person on that plane “Todd Beamer” . . . ---
**Author:** ![UrbanChic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/9dc877/32.png) [@UrbanChic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UrbanChic)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2002, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-roll-symbol-of-american-resolve-being-cheapened/127045/16 "2002-09-05T16:30:27Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by elshatan \* > \*\*No, “roll out” is a song by Ludacris. Maybe Luadacris should be a national hero? \*\* Whatever you do, don’t let Bill O’Reilly get wind of this. ---
**Author:** ![crypto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b3f665/32.png) [@crypto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crypto)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2002, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-roll-symbol-of-american-resolve-being-cheapened/127045/17 "2002-09-06T01:07:00Z")
Has anyone out there actually heard the cockpit recording of Flight 93, or has this been something that has been heard only by the FAA and the families? (Not that I want to hear it, I’m just curious.) Also, I have to agree with the complaint of commercialization of 9/11. It should be remembered, not exploited. ---
**Author:** ![crypto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b3f665/32.png) [@crypto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crypto)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2002, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-roll-symbol-of-american-resolve-being-cheapened/127045/18 "2002-09-06T01:14:15Z")
Has anyone out there actually heard the cockpit recording of Flight 93, or has this been something that has been heard only by the FAA and the families? (Not that I want to hear it, I’m just curious.) Also, I have to agree with the complaint of commercialization of 9/11. It should be remembered, not exploited. ---
**Author:** ![BoBettie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4af34b/32.png) [@BoBettie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BoBettie)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2002, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-roll-symbol-of-american-resolve-being-cheapened/127045/19 "2002-09-06T01:47:11Z")
I fully expect in years to come that we’ll have “Remember Sept 11” junk coming out in late July- banners, flags, candles, shirts, hats, jackets, bite sized candybars, Sept 11 peeps- red white and blue M&M’s. ---
**Author:** ![ElwoodCuse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/edb3f5/32.png) [@ElwoodCuse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElwoodCuse)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2002, 6:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-roll-symbol-of-american-resolve-being-cheapened/127045/20 "2002-09-06T06:09:48Z")
**Avalonian** : Optimus said lots of things, including “Let’s roll!” It’s on the season 1 DVD from Rhino. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-roll-symbol-of-american-resolve-being-cheapened/127045.md?page=2)