How long is our memory?
10-04-2001, 12:33 PM
#1
Banned
Thread Starter
How long is our memory?
Now that it's almost a month after the Sept 11 attack, we Americans have had a little time to internalize somewhat the profound nature of what happened to what we have always perceived as a geographically safe country protected by a strong and capable military. Now that we know we are vulnerable, steps are being taken to protect us from similar attacks..airline security is being stepped up, talks about other types of transportation-security...lots of things will be changing. But I wonder...
Even those of us who had personal friends (myself included) who were lost in the WTC attack, how long will it take until life gets back in the way of things and we are back to the same old ways...?
The term "last month" to me, as I hear on the news now, makes it seems like it's getting more and more distant. I realize that we have to get on with things and that we are very resilient as a nation, yet I wonder how long our memories will truly be. I know there are moments that I will never forget, but I wonder how a nation as a whole will really remember this horrific trauma.
Does this REALLY represent a sea change in the way we will move forward? Is it more talk than anything? Sure lots of money is now set aside for this and that will help and now the Cabinet position of Homeland Security has been created - but how long until things become more and more distant. Speaking personally, it will be forever etched in my mind...I wonder what the true long term effects of this will really be for the rest of the country, and even the world, will be...
This does represent the greatest death toll in an attack on American soil. But The WTC was attacked before and surely, far fewer people were lost...but how many of you remember what you were doing when you heard the news? I don't recall. OK, how many of you remember what you were doing when Elvis died?
I hope our memories last a lifetime from this...
Anyone care to speculate?
Even those of us who had personal friends (myself included) who were lost in the WTC attack, how long will it take until life gets back in the way of things and we are back to the same old ways...?
The term "last month" to me, as I hear on the news now, makes it seems like it's getting more and more distant. I realize that we have to get on with things and that we are very resilient as a nation, yet I wonder how long our memories will truly be. I know there are moments that I will never forget, but I wonder how a nation as a whole will really remember this horrific trauma.
Does this REALLY represent a sea change in the way we will move forward? Is it more talk than anything? Sure lots of money is now set aside for this and that will help and now the Cabinet position of Homeland Security has been created - but how long until things become more and more distant. Speaking personally, it will be forever etched in my mind...I wonder what the true long term effects of this will really be for the rest of the country, and even the world, will be...
This does represent the greatest death toll in an attack on American soil. But The WTC was attacked before and surely, far fewer people were lost...but how many of you remember what you were doing when you heard the news? I don't recall. OK, how many of you remember what you were doing when Elvis died?
I hope our memories last a lifetime from this...
Anyone care to speculate?
10-04-2001, 01:20 PM
#2
Memories will fade -- until the next attack. Think small nuke in a laundry truck, sarin in detergent boxes, cryptosporidium in a municipal water supply. These guys stick with a target. They've alreeady tried LAX once -- expect a repeat. I think our lives have changed forever. God help us.
10-04-2001, 01:27 PM
#3
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If anything, this event has restored a patriotic fever not seen in this country since the attack on Pearl Harbor (Info gathered from retired neighbors . . . I wasn't here yet
)
Flags flying from buildings, cars, motorcycles, fences, bridges, you name it will always keep what happened fresh. If (WHEN) retaliation occurs maybe then we can call it even and get on with our lives, but the events have changed our country forever. Maybe for the best because we are actually talking amongst ourselves and helping each other. What follows came from a local radio station and I think it sum's it up very nicely:
What a Difference a Day Makes
On Monday we e-mailed jokes.
On Tuesday we did not.
On Monday we thought we were secure.
On Tuesday we learned better.
On Monday we were talking about heroes as being athletes.
On Tuesday we relearned who our heroes are.
On Monday we were irritated that our rebate checks had not arrived.
On Tuesday we gave money away to people we had never met.
On Monday there were people fighting against praying in schools.
On Tuesday you would have been hard pressed to find a school where
someone was not praying.
On Monday people argued with their kids about picking up their room.
On Tuesday the same people could not get home fast enough to hug
their kids.
On Monday people wre upset that they had to wait 6 minutes in a fast
food drive through line.
On Tuesday people didn't care about waiting up to 6 hours to give blood
for the dying.
On Monday we waved our flags signifying our cultural diversity.
On Tuesday we waved only the American flag.
On Monday there were people trying to separate each other by race,
sex, color and creed.
On Tuesday they were all holding hands.
On Monday we were men or women, black or white, old or young, rich
or poor, gay or straight, Christian or non-Christian.
On Tuesday we were Americans.
On Monday politicians argued about budget surpluses.
On Tuesday, grief stricken, they sang, "God Bless America".
On Monday the President was going to Florida to read to children.
On Tuesday, he returned to Washington to protect our children.
On Monday we had families.
On Tuesday we had orphans
On Monday people went to work as usual.
On Tuesday they died.
On Monday people were fighting the 10 commandments on government
property.
On Tuesday the same people all said, "God help us all," while thinking
'Thou shall not kill'.
It is sadly ironic how it takes horrific events to place things into
perspective, but it has. The lessons learned this week, the things we
have taken for granted, the things that have been forgotten or
overlooked, hopefully will never be forgotten again. Take good care.
So now we take it one day at a time. I view things differently than a month ago and probably always will.
)Flags flying from buildings, cars, motorcycles, fences, bridges, you name it will always keep what happened fresh. If (WHEN) retaliation occurs maybe then we can call it even and get on with our lives, but the events have changed our country forever. Maybe for the best because we are actually talking amongst ourselves and helping each other. What follows came from a local radio station and I think it sum's it up very nicely:
What a Difference a Day Makes
On Monday we e-mailed jokes.
On Tuesday we did not.
On Monday we thought we were secure.
On Tuesday we learned better.
On Monday we were talking about heroes as being athletes.
On Tuesday we relearned who our heroes are.
On Monday we were irritated that our rebate checks had not arrived.
On Tuesday we gave money away to people we had never met.
On Monday there were people fighting against praying in schools.
On Tuesday you would have been hard pressed to find a school where
someone was not praying.
On Monday people argued with their kids about picking up their room.
On Tuesday the same people could not get home fast enough to hug
their kids.
On Monday people wre upset that they had to wait 6 minutes in a fast
food drive through line.
On Tuesday people didn't care about waiting up to 6 hours to give blood
for the dying.
On Monday we waved our flags signifying our cultural diversity.
On Tuesday we waved only the American flag.
On Monday there were people trying to separate each other by race,
sex, color and creed.
On Tuesday they were all holding hands.
On Monday we were men or women, black or white, old or young, rich
or poor, gay or straight, Christian or non-Christian.
On Tuesday we were Americans.
On Monday politicians argued about budget surpluses.
On Tuesday, grief stricken, they sang, "God Bless America".
On Monday the President was going to Florida to read to children.
On Tuesday, he returned to Washington to protect our children.
On Monday we had families.
On Tuesday we had orphans
On Monday people went to work as usual.
On Tuesday they died.
On Monday people were fighting the 10 commandments on government
property.
On Tuesday the same people all said, "God help us all," while thinking
'Thou shall not kill'.
It is sadly ironic how it takes horrific events to place things into
perspective, but it has. The lessons learned this week, the things we
have taken for granted, the things that have been forgotten or
overlooked, hopefully will never be forgotten again. Take good care.
So now we take it one day at a time. I view things differently than a month ago and probably always will.
10-04-2001, 02:49 PM
#7
Banned
Thread Starter
Stookins, that was excellent...thanks. I read it, got a tear in my eye after I read it here at my client...they looked at a little funny as I wiped my eyes... 
Very nicely said stuff...
Very nicely said stuff...
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