Author |
|
Brandon Frye Byrne Robotics Member
Joined: 17 November 2004 Posts: 1317
|
Posted: 11 September 2017 at 5:27pm | IP Logged | 1
|
post reply
|
|
Now that there is 16 years between us and that horrible day, it's natural that the impact of the date itself would diminish over time. There are still beautiful tributes and sad remembrances each anniversary, but there is still one little phrase that makes my jaw clench a bit..
"Never Forget"
I won't forget that day as long as I live and I would imagine most Americans over the age of 30 aren't likely to either. Being told to "never forget" comes across as patronizing, and even a little insulting.
I do understand that is not likely the intent in most cases. So, am I being overly sensitive?
|
Back to Top |
profile
| search
|
|
Joe Zhang Byrne Robotics Member
Joined: 16 April 2004 Location: United States Posts: 12857
|
Posted: 11 September 2017 at 6:25pm | IP Logged | 2
|
post reply
|
|
I think you're being sensitive.
|
Back to Top |
profile
| search
e-mail
|
|
Brian O'Neill Byrne Robotics Member
Joined: 13 November 2013 Location: United States Posts: 1964
|
Posted: 11 September 2017 at 6:49pm | IP Logged | 3
|
post reply
|
|
Remember Pearl Harbor...same deal back then. Nobody felt the slogan was unnecessary.
|
Back to Top |
profile
| search
|
|
Christopher Frost Byrne Robotics Member
Joined: 24 October 2016 Location: Canada Posts: 484
|
Posted: 11 September 2017 at 7:51pm | IP Logged | 4
|
post reply
|
|
I don't think you're being overly sensitive. It was a tragedy, to be certain, but some people give it more gravity than larger scale tragedies like the Holocaust.
And no, this isn't some slight against what happened or how it affected people, just a note that perspective is important.
|
Back to Top |
profile
| search
|
|
Joe Zhang Byrne Robotics Member
Joined: 16 April 2004 Location: United States Posts: 12857
|
Posted: 11 September 2017 at 9:10pm | IP Logged | 5
|
post reply
|
|
Yes, "Never Forget" for 9/11 may be a bit heavy.
Maybe:
"Don't Forget"
"Do You Remember?"
Or if you are really afraid of offending people:
"By the Way ..."
|
Back to Top |
profile
| search
e-mail
|
|
Karl Wiebe Byrne Robotics Member
Joined: 06 December 2015 Location: Canada Posts: 172
|
Posted: 11 September 2017 at 9:30pm | IP Logged | 6
|
post reply
|
|
I think the phrase might carry more than one meaning. "Never forget" meaning not just the day, but feelings and values on that day (and the period afterwards).
A bit off topic, hopefully not too much: I was in the 9/11 Memorial Museum in NYC 2 years ago right before September 11 (I think it was the 9th) and there were school kids wandering around, goofing off and playing on their phones. Meanwhile I was overcome with grief and had to sit down more than once. There were tourists from Germany (and other countries I am sure) that showed zero emotion while walking around. I asked one of the ladies working if she found the kids' behavor offensive, or the tourists' behavior odd. She lived in NYC and 5 friends' names were on the wall. She said that these kids weren't even alive in 2001, so to them it was "just history". The tourists from Europe didn't share the same depth of tragedy that people in North America did (and yes that is a generalization, I am sure it is not true for everyone, it had been what she observed).
So on the one hand, it's just history to some, but on the other hand, the students and tourists were at the museum, so at least some attempt was being made to learn (which is at least part of why a museum exists). Maybe the "never forget" is more like "hey society, even people who remember, let's all work together to not let SOCIETY forget". Just one possible interpretation.
|
Back to Top |
profile
| search
|
|
Bill Collins Byrne Robotics Member
Joined: 26 May 2005 Location: England Posts: 11245
|
Posted: 12 September 2017 at 8:12am | IP Logged | 7
|
post reply
|
|
I always remember,even being a Brit.I have noticed that the media coverage each year has gotten less and less,but i expect that as with the death of Princess Diana it will be 20,25,30 year anniversaries that will attract attention in future.
|
Back to Top |
profile
| search
e-mail
|
|
Philippe Negrin Byrne Robotics Member
Joined: 01 August 2007 Location: France Posts: 2644
|
Posted: 12 September 2017 at 9:19am | IP Logged | 8
|
post reply
|
|
I teach at junior high school and nowadays, none of my students were born then. Few know the date and what happened on that day.
added one missing word
Edited by Philippe Negrin on 12 September 2017 at 9:19am
|
Back to Top |
profile
| search
|
|
Byron Graham Byrne Robotics Member
Joined: 19 September 2004 Location: United States Posts: 927
|
Posted: 12 September 2017 at 9:55am | IP Logged | 9
|
post reply
|
|
Unfortunately, "Never Forget" is the motto of the Clan Graham, so I must remember EVERYTHING!
|
Back to Top |
profile
| search
|
|
Brian Miller Byrne Robotics Member
Joined: 28 July 2004 Location: United States Posts: 30833
|
Posted: 12 September 2017 at 8:19pm | IP Logged | 10
|
post reply
|
|
Our current president's immediate reaction to the World Trade Center attacks.
|
Back to Top |
profile
| search
|
|