Hallowed Ground

Never Forget. 9/11. Always Remember.

Common phrases we see every year, on this day.

We are all connected to the events of September 11, 2001 somehow. We either knew someone who was a first responder, someone who was on a plane, someone who lost someone close to them.. the list goes on.

And while it’s absolutely 100% a very sobering, sad reminder, the flooding of social media with the video footage of the planes hitting the towers, the towers crumbling, people running for their lives – it’s a whole lot to take in every year, all day long. There is no reason we can’t honor those lost by posting about it other than on the anniversary. And no, none of us will ever forget what happened or where we were. But taking away from those who were directly effected is unfair. SO unfair. 

I will spare all the details, but 18 years ago I witnessed a childhood friend find out his dad was on one of the planes. We didn’t talk about it much until high school (I was in 7^th grade in 2001, him in 8^th), when we both landed in freshman Spanish together. We got to talking one day after class, right around the 2^nd anniversary of the attacks, and I asked him what he was feeling. He told me that he hoped his dad was proud of him, that he missed him, and that everyone needs to realize how quickly a life can perish.

Like I mentioned at the beginning of this post, we are all connected to the events in one way or another. And I am not negating the fact that the day was horrific, terrifying, heartbreaking, and traumatizing. The desire for every social media outlet to be flooded with the images and videos is unreal, but only on the anniversary.

What about the families that live with this tragedy every single day? What about the first responders who are struggling to get through PTSD from the days after? What about the airlines who lost employees in senseless acts? What about the first responders who are suffering from illness and injuries due to their desire to act and help right away? They relive the day over and over, every single day. There’s no need to reshare every single post every time you see it, y’all. Making a simple statement of where you were, or a picture honoring those we lost/first responders lifting the flag – have at it. Everyone is so quick to jump on the bandwagon that includes them in the conversation. There’s no need for that. Respect the families of those who lost people, the families of the first responders, the first responders themselves, as well as the victims. Don’t try and take the limelight and make it about you.

Yes, we as a nation suffered an insurmountable loss. There is absolutely no question there, nor am I saying that the grief we felt as a nation doesn’t matter. But be respectful when it comes to “remembering” – and be sure it’s tasteful. You don’t see people posting the footage of other terrible world events on the anniversary just to post something. Sure, this generation is (unfortunately) tied to social media for every single breath they take. But respect those who are struggling every single day with what they lost – and don’t use the day for personal gain. Feel how you feel, share whatever you want – but keep in mind how the families feel and allow them the respect they deserve.

I was having a conversation with my roommate last night about the events 18 years ago, and she brought up an incredible point – there is an entire generation that wasn’t alive/old enough to remember the events. They only knowledge they have surrounding the day is whatever they read in a text book. Sure, their parents can share their experience, but they didn’t live through it. And I mentioned to her that I don’t remember Desert Storm – but a lot of people a few years older than us do. There are events in this world that happened before us, so we don’t remember them. We just know what we learned in history class. There’s nothing wrong with this -  we just need to do our parts to educate those who are unaware of the day, what exactly happened, and how, for a few days/weeks/months, the nation banded together and took care of each other. There was no hate – only love. Support. So many selfless acts. Community. And then we went back to the nation that only cares about ourselves.

What if we lived every day like it was September 12, 2001, minus the complete devastation we were all trying to navigate? What if, instead of spreading hate and negativity, we loved each other and had an understanding that we’re all individuals who want the world to be a better place? What if we stopped passing judgement on others because their life is different than ours? What if we helped someone in need, rather than walk right by them? What if we respected each other, loved each other where we’re at in that moment, and built a community around that? What if we got outside our unnecessary need to be a part of conversations on social media, and actually communicated with people in real time? What if we let go of wanting to feel like we’re missing out because we didn’t post about something on social media, and instead did something to honor those some are so quick to post about?

This isn’t a post to deter you from grieving or feeling some sort of emotion on a day like today. It’s more shifting the mindset – thinking differently and respecting the victims and their families. Rather than a social media explosion looking for likes. That topic will come, down the road, for sure. The day is fondly remembered as Patriot Day – and rightfully so. The nation came together, was very proud of the flag and what this country stood for, and for a while was more patriotic than it had been in a long time. The day honors those who died, whether in the attacks or in the aftermath. Think about what you’re posting before you post it. There are plenty of ways to show support and remembrance that do not circle around just you. We, as a nation, felt the pain that day, and continue to every year on this day.

We will never forget the events of 9/11, the people we lost, nor the feeling of insurmountable loss as a nation. We will continue to honor those we lost by paying our respects anyway we can.