9/11: Eighth Anniversary
As I begin to write this it is just before 9:00 am, at this moment it is six minutes before the second tower was hit. Outside rain is pouring down with lightening and thunder coming occasionally, a dark and dreary day. It seems appropriate in some ways, the weather echoing the mood. The TV is, of course, tuned to a memorial service. I began typing after observing the moment of silence at 8:46.
It took several channel changes to find something I consider appropriate. And during the moment of silence I rapidly went through most of the news channels. Absolutely stunning was that CBS and ABC morning shows, both broadcast from NYC, didn't even pause. Fox was running a commercial. NBC was the only channel to observe, and then went back to the usual perky morning programming. This is, to me, the height of disrespect.
MSNBC is running that morning's broadcast on NBC's morning show with Katie Couric. The initial bewilderment and speculation, many people babbling and conjecturing on multiple scenarios, which seem so naive in hindsight. CNN had broadcast from the first moment of silence through a few minutes after the second tower was hit, but is now back to regular programming. The ONLY channel which has continuing stream of the ceremony at WTC is BBC World News. What's wrong with this picture?
Yes, life must move on. Yes, there are other things which have required our country's focus to shift. But, to me, there is something inherently wrong that, with the exception of MSNBC re-running tape, that the only live news continuing is from another country. How shallow is our country that there can't be a few hours of respectful remembrance and memorial across the board from our news agencies? How can it be appropriate to be discussing diet tips, new record releases, Dr. Phil? Shouldn't there be a few hours of observing the tragedy of this day before returning to rampant self-absorption and commercialism?
In continuing to bounce around the various news channels, CNN does flick back to current memorials, NBC Today has some family members being interviewed--for a few minutes. Wall Street had a moment of silence before returning to the frenetic activity of making money. CNN International is talking about changes resulting from the attacks, with the memorial from WTC on a split screen. But BCC seems to have the best continuing coverage.
The events in our country on 9/11/01 changed not just the United States, but the entire world. It changed all our lives in some way: personally, professionally, our feeling of safety. The changes in security, the recognition that we are not impervious to the hatred of others, an ending of our naivete that we could be attacked in the very heart of our nation. It started wars which we are still fighting, that our military men and women are still dying for. It is not an exaggeration to say that our country changed forever in the fateful moments of this morning. Shouldn't that warrant a few hours out of our busy lives to commemorate, to recognize the sacrifices, to pray for the recovery of the people personally affected as well as our Country?
My day will be spent quietly, the car had to go in for servicing, things need to be done around the house, regular life needs to continue. I'm going out to lunch with a friend from Fellowship to discuss spirituality, and tonight (if the car is done) I'll go to Fellowship for Small Group Ministries, where we discuss different topics and seek a deeper spiritual understanding. Tonight's topic is caring, which other small groups have discussed and was not specific to this day, but works well. But I remember, send out prayers, personally acknowledging the changes it has wrought in my life as well as my country's. I hope many others will join me, individually, in their own way.
The many victims of the WTC Towers, NYC and the Pentagon
The Courageous passengers of Flight 93
and those who knowingly made the ultimate sacrifice
FDNY, NYPD and PAPD
NEVER FORGET
In Peace, Laurie
It took several channel changes to find something I consider appropriate. And during the moment of silence I rapidly went through most of the news channels. Absolutely stunning was that CBS and ABC morning shows, both broadcast from NYC, didn't even pause. Fox was running a commercial. NBC was the only channel to observe, and then went back to the usual perky morning programming. This is, to me, the height of disrespect.
MSNBC is running that morning's broadcast on NBC's morning show with Katie Couric. The initial bewilderment and speculation, many people babbling and conjecturing on multiple scenarios, which seem so naive in hindsight. CNN had broadcast from the first moment of silence through a few minutes after the second tower was hit, but is now back to regular programming. The ONLY channel which has continuing stream of the ceremony at WTC is BBC World News. What's wrong with this picture?
Yes, life must move on. Yes, there are other things which have required our country's focus to shift. But, to me, there is something inherently wrong that, with the exception of MSNBC re-running tape, that the only live news continuing is from another country. How shallow is our country that there can't be a few hours of respectful remembrance and memorial across the board from our news agencies? How can it be appropriate to be discussing diet tips, new record releases, Dr. Phil? Shouldn't there be a few hours of observing the tragedy of this day before returning to rampant self-absorption and commercialism?
In continuing to bounce around the various news channels, CNN does flick back to current memorials, NBC Today has some family members being interviewed--for a few minutes. Wall Street had a moment of silence before returning to the frenetic activity of making money. CNN International is talking about changes resulting from the attacks, with the memorial from WTC on a split screen. But BCC seems to have the best continuing coverage.
The events in our country on 9/11/01 changed not just the United States, but the entire world. It changed all our lives in some way: personally, professionally, our feeling of safety. The changes in security, the recognition that we are not impervious to the hatred of others, an ending of our naivete that we could be attacked in the very heart of our nation. It started wars which we are still fighting, that our military men and women are still dying for. It is not an exaggeration to say that our country changed forever in the fateful moments of this morning. Shouldn't that warrant a few hours out of our busy lives to commemorate, to recognize the sacrifices, to pray for the recovery of the people personally affected as well as our Country?
My day will be spent quietly, the car had to go in for servicing, things need to be done around the house, regular life needs to continue. I'm going out to lunch with a friend from Fellowship to discuss spirituality, and tonight (if the car is done) I'll go to Fellowship for Small Group Ministries, where we discuss different topics and seek a deeper spiritual understanding. Tonight's topic is caring, which other small groups have discussed and was not specific to this day, but works well. But I remember, send out prayers, personally acknowledging the changes it has wrought in my life as well as my country's. I hope many others will join me, individually, in their own way.
In Memoriam
The many victims of the WTC Towers, NYC and the Pentagon
The Courageous passengers of Flight 93
and those who knowingly made the ultimate sacrifice
FDNY, NYPD and PAPD
NEVER FORGET
In Peace, Laurie
posted by Laurie @ 8:55 AM
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