I cringe every time I see a “Never Forget 9/11″ sign. Is it because I’m insensitive to the unimaginable loss of victims’ families? No. Is it because I’m unpatriotic? No.
It’s because I’m tired of the victim mentality that’s gripped our country since that fateful day, and am even more weary of the negative effects it’s had on our economy, our civil liberties, and our government.
The quotes that follow put better words to my feelings than I can myself. The first refers to Auschwitz, but is also very relevant to the 9/11 tragedy. The second is from an article in Wired. Both are well worth reading.
Maybe the answer isn’t just to ”never forget” But to SEE the wounds of our past actions, to ACKNOWLEDGE the suffering and brutality that happened to all the people, to FORGIVE and LEARN.
We can’t change history. But we can learn from it, and be thankful for its lessons. They were given for a reason, and it was to teach us something. Perhaps the only way through it, is with forgiveness.–Chloe, in response to “Can We Heal If We Never Forget? An Album From Auschwitz”
We can honor the 9/11 victims without being permanently haunted by them.
–Spencer Ackerman in “How to Beat Terrorism: Refuse to Be Terrorized”
