Two years ago today, the world trade centers fell in front of the eyes of millions, and my country was in mourning.
One year ago today, my roommate greeted me in the morning by saying “Happy ‘Bring Your Airplane To Work’ Day!”. I snorted milk out of my nose.
Today, I’m reading Salon.com‘s Forbidden thoughts about 9/11, and wondering why we as a country still have no answers to what truly happened that day.
I get rather disgusted at the mention of certain days of the year, because they bring with them what I like to call “Injected Patriotism”. A day that is supposed to have some sort of reverence attached to it rolls around, and everyone buys miniature American flags to slap on their homes or cars, red white and blue ribbons to wear on their shirts, shirts with Mickey Mouse holding an American flag…you get the idea. What bothers me so much about this, aside from the obvious capitalistic explotation of selling overpriced red, white, and blue items, is that a large majority of people who go out of their way to show off their patriotism on those days usually don’t give a shit about this country. These are, by and large, the same people who don’t vote, don’t pay attention to politics, don’t get involved in their communities, etc. However, when those couple of days each year roll around, they will be the most nationalistic, flag-waving people in sight. These are generally the same people who come up with terribly jingoistic ideas like “Freedom Fries”.
9/11 has now become one of those days. GW Bush didn’t help matters much when he renamed it to “Patriot Day”. It has now become yet another day like July 4th or Veterans day, where people attempt to sell me a red white and blue ribbon for $3.00, and suddenly everyone sports buttons that read “I love America” or “GO USA!”, etc. The next day, those buttons and ribbons are gone.
Just like hearts on valentines day, patriotism has become a commodity, to be bought and sold as necessary. I’m sure someone out there is loving the fact that they have yet another “holiday” which they can use to sell their wares in record numbers. 9/11 is the new Love Day. Today, I received over a dozen pieces of spam with titles like: “Buy your 9/11 Commemorative Flag TODAY!” I’m half expecting to get one entitled “The Freedom Kit – 12 different sized flags!” (David Cross fans will pick up the reference).
At my office on Wednesday, while in line for a grilled cheese sandwich in the cafeteria, a coworker asked me “Hey, where’s your ribbon!? Aren’t you going to show your patriotism?”. I replied “Out of curiosity, did you vote in the last presidential election?”. His answer? “No…”, followed by a blank stare. I turned my back and ignored him.
I’ll remember 9/11 in my own ways, by reflecting on my life, appreciating those I have in my life while they are still here, telling my family that I love them dearly. I’ll remember how scared everyone was two years ago, and how no one quite knew what was going on, but we all collectively knew everything was suddenly different. I’ll remember that quiet drive home in the early afternoon, with the sky completely emptied, and state troopers looking exceptionally frightened. I’ll remember seeing electronic road signs that read “All roads to New York closed.”
I won’t remember it by purchasing an American flag window cling.
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Two years ago today, the world trade centers fell in front of the eyes of millions, and my country was in mourning.
One year ago today, my roommate greeted me in the morning by saying “Happy ‘Bring Your Airplane To Work’ Day!”. I snorted milk out of my nose.
Today, I’m reading Salon.com‘s Forbidden thoughts about 9/11, and wondering why we as a country still have no answers to what truly happened that day.
I get rather disgusted at the mention of certain days of the year, because they bring with them what I like to call “Injected Patriotism”. A day that is supposed to have some sort of reverence attached to it rolls around, and everyone buys miniature American flags to slap on their homes or cars, red white and blue ribbons to wear on their shirts, shirts with Mickey Mouse holding an American flag…you get the idea. What bothers me so much about this, aside from the obvious capitalistic explotation of selling overpriced red, white, and blue items, is that a large majority of people who go out of their way to show off their patriotism on those days usually don’t give a shit about this country. These are, by and large, the same people who don’t vote, don’t pay attention to politics, don’t get involved in their communities, etc. However, when those couple of days each year roll around, they will be the most nationalistic, flag-waving people in sight. These are generally the same people who come up with terribly jingoistic ideas like “Freedom Fries”.
9/11 has now become one of those days. GW Bush didn’t help matters much when he renamed it to “Patriot Day”. It has now become yet another day like July 4th or Veterans day, where people attempt to sell me a red white and blue ribbon for $3.00, and suddenly everyone sports buttons that read “I love America” or “GO USA!”, etc. The next day, those buttons and ribbons are gone.
Just like hearts on valentines day, patriotism has become a commodity, to be bought and sold as necessary. I’m sure someone out there is loving the fact that they have yet another “holiday” which they can use to sell their wares in record numbers. 9/11 is the new Love Day. Today, I received over a dozen pieces of spam with titles like: “Buy your 9/11 Commemorative Flag TODAY!” I’m half expecting to get one entitled “The Freedom Kit – 12 different sized flags!” (David Cross fans will pick up the reference).
At my office on Wednesday, while in line for a grilled cheese sandwich in the cafeteria, a coworker asked me “Hey, where’s your ribbon!? Aren’t you going to show your patriotism?”. I replied “Out of curiosity, did you vote in the last presidential election?”. His answer? “No…”, followed by a blank stare. I turned my back and ignored him.
I’ll remember 9/11 in my own ways, by reflecting on my life, appreciating those I have in my life while they are still here, telling my family that I love them dearly. I’ll remember how scared everyone was two years ago, and how no one quite knew what was going on, but we all collectively knew everything was suddenly different. I’ll remember that quiet drive home in the early afternoon, with the sky completely emptied, and state troopers looking exceptionally frightened. I’ll remember seeing electronic road signs that read “All roads to New York closed.”
I won’t remember it by purchasing an American flag window cling.