I DO have something to say today
Sep. 11th, 2002 04:56 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
bronwynrhYou know what? Dave and I discussed this matter a little further this afternoon and I think we figured it out. . .
First. . . we don't need "Remember 9/11" ceremonies, flags and signs to remind us what happened a year ago today. It is burned into our minds and we'll never forget it.
Second. . . all the media coverage and ceremonies and tributes throughout the country are an ingenuous attempt by their sponsors and celebrants to say to the victims and their families, "we all feel your pain".
The truth is, we don't.
The truth is, we can't.
We saw it happen on TV, our favorite medium for the suspension of disbelief - only this time, we were (and perhaps still are) struggling to force our brains to understand that this time, it was real. But because we were not there, because we did not lose a spouse, parent, sibling or friend, we don't have that pit of emptiness that characterizes true grief, at least not in connection with 9/11.
Most of us did not know any of the victims personally, nor are we victims' relatives. At most, we know of friends of friends or parents of acquaintances.
We simply can not understand nor even conceive the depth of grief experienced by our countrymen who were more directly affected than ourselves. And I feel it is disingenuous of me to proclaim otherwise.
I hope that makes sense. I don't know why, but I want my New York friends to understand why I will not be participating in the commemorative events to mark the 9/11 anniversary.
---I also posted this at UE, but thought I would share it with my non-UE crowd, as well.
XXOO
First. . . we don't need "Remember 9/11" ceremonies, flags and signs to remind us what happened a year ago today. It is burned into our minds and we'll never forget it.
Second. . . all the media coverage and ceremonies and tributes throughout the country are an ingenuous attempt by their sponsors and celebrants to say to the victims and their families, "we all feel your pain".
The truth is, we don't.
The truth is, we can't.
We saw it happen on TV, our favorite medium for the suspension of disbelief - only this time, we were (and perhaps still are) struggling to force our brains to understand that this time, it was real. But because we were not there, because we did not lose a spouse, parent, sibling or friend, we don't have that pit of emptiness that characterizes true grief, at least not in connection with 9/11.
Most of us did not know any of the victims personally, nor are we victims' relatives. At most, we know of friends of friends or parents of acquaintances.
We simply can not understand nor even conceive the depth of grief experienced by our countrymen who were more directly affected than ourselves. And I feel it is disingenuous of me to proclaim otherwise.
I hope that makes sense. I don't know why, but I want my New York friends to understand why I will not be participating in the commemorative events to mark the 9/11 anniversary.
---I also posted this at UE, but thought I would share it with my non-UE crowd, as well.
XXOO
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(no subject)
Date: September 11th, 2002 05:36 pm (UTC)Right...
Whatever.
Re: Right...
Date: September 12th, 2002 05:54 am (UTC)No, you'd rather resort to namecalling and the ever-adolescent "Whatever".
Good job.
I ask that you please refrain from such comments here, or I will choose to block you completely.
Re: Right...
Date: September 12th, 2002 09:14 am (UTC)Maybe some people don't want to deal with this. Maybe some of them can't. Maybe some won't.
That ain't for you to decide or judge.
People use blogs (and journals like this especially) to convey their thoughts and feelings to their on-line friends as a way of getting to know them.
From B's comments, she doesn't even know you. Why not stick to spewing your rhetoric on your own site?
Wrong (Re: Right...)
Date: September 12th, 2002 11:26 am (UTC)I'm taking it on faith you aren't a troll, and addressing you politely and seriously. Please respond in kind.
(My name is Michelle, but I feel no need to register for livejournal just to comment.)
Hmm...
Date: September 13th, 2002 12:53 am (UTC)I never namecalled. My opinion was that your post "sounds like a shallow and haughty way of saying ." I never said you were. I don't know you and I obviously can't make a personal judgement call of that nature about you without some more information.
Well said! Let's not forget that Bronwyn's post was also public and open for public commentary, friend or not.
I merely expressed mine.
That being said...
Bronwyn, if you feel the need to block me from posting in your LiveJournal...though I assure you I most likely will not post again in this thread unless directly addressed, then I offer no protest. However, you may want to be aware of a few alternative options of the LiveJournal Authoring Client that are offered when publishing to your LiveJournal:
a.) You can restrict the viewing of your posts to "Friends" - this means that only the people you have entered under "Friends" in your User Profile can see the entry. This option can be found when you click the button "Post Options" in the LJ Client. Look for "Security Level."
b.) You can restrict who can comment on your entries to "Friends" - this means only the people you have entered under "Friends" in your User Profile. This option can be found in the top toolbar menu of the LJ Client under "Web -> Change Settings -> Personal Info." When the page loads, scroll down and look for "Who can reply to your entries?" and you can change it to "Friends only."
c.) You can disallow commentary altogether - this means that nobody can comment on the entry. This can also be found when you click the button "Post Options" in the LJ Client. Look for "Remove Comment Feature From Post."
I'm sure you can also utilize these options while posting via the LiveJournal website itself, but I'm not as familiar with that method.
Of course, blocking me works just as well, but I figure in the event you didn't know, these suggestions may be helpful in preventing future unsolicited commentary that you or your friends may not agree with nor welcome.
Re: Hmm...
Date: September 13th, 2002 06:32 am (UTC)I shouldn't have used "name-calling" because, no, you did not particularly call me a name. But you called my opinion a lame-duck excuse and then failed to describe why you felt that way. That was my objection. I have since seen your objections detailed at kendoka's site and it seems we must just agree to disagree. Fair enough. I'm not here to convince anybody of anything, and I don't particularly care to start trying now.
As for blocking people, I have a number of friends and family who are not a part of livejournal - therefore, if I want to share this site with them, I must keep it public. I was already aware of the options I have for limiting discussion on my page, but thanks for offering the information anyway.
My caution or request to you was simply this: if you do choose to return and comment on anything I say here, please try to keep your comments constructive. I'm not looking for sycophants, but I will not tolerate the sort of comment you left here.
If you or anyone else care to, you can read my first few posts and you will find the purpose for my having this journal at all. I'm not looking for big forums and political discussions with a wide audience. This is simply my vehicle for maintaining ties with my widely scattered friends and family.
Again, thank you for returning to address my concerns. I appreciate it.
911 overkill
Date: September 13th, 2002 09:54 pm (UTC)