I have no problem with the 9/11 memorials.

[Lyric]

Perhaps some find them to be overkill, or "not genuine", but for others the grief is still quite real and near. I happen to appreciate the public display of empathy, compassion, mourning, and remembrance. I feel that it's inappropriate to dismiss it all as "wallowing in fake grief". The word "wallowing" implies that it's all just a bunch of self-indulgent melodrama, and that seems like a cruel assumption to make about people whose grief and pain could be very, very real.

No one can feel someone else's heartache. Who are we to pontificate about whether someone else's grief and pain are legitimate or not? Why not practice a little liberal compassion and give people the benefit of the doubt, instead of assuming the worst about everyone and everything? What a world we could have if all of us suspected each other a little less and practiced kindness a little more.

If you don't like the memorial events, then turn them off--a few days without TV isn't going to kill you. In the meantime, please let the people around you mourn in peace.

[mfcorey1]

1. * infinity

[liberal N proud]

2. What is not genuine about today is the media

They have made a circus of this. And they will continue to.

[MineralMan]

3. And yet nobody is required to attend or watch any of it.

The media have on/off switches. The media make a circus of everything.

[rustydog]

4. Why not honor the memory with simplicity rather than overblown

patriotic rhetoric?

I was moved to tears at my brother-in-law's military funeral in Denver several years ago.
White crosses in perfect symmetry, blue sky, slight breeze...families visiting other graves. The honor guard at attention, and the buglet plays taps.

Honor, respect, and thanks for serving our country.

we could do the same for the thousands of victims of 9-11 without throwing in the Flag, commeercialized patriotism and orchestrated grief.

[bettyellen]

the event at WTC is as low key and emotional as is possible.

it seems like everyone watched too much TV the past few weeks, but have skipped the actual ceremony at ground zero.

[rustydog]

10. I'm talking about the 24-7 run up on every freakin' tv channel in America..

this is not a partiorism, gawd bless america thing..it is a memorial observance for the victims of a horrible crime and honoring the brave souls who rushed in to save as many as they could. that occured 10 years ago. Not a propaganda tool.

[liberal N proud]

12. You can bet tomorrow they will all be touting ratings for today

[bettyellen]

6. the event at WTC is as low key and emotional as is possible.

it seems like everyone watched too much TV the past few weeks, but have skipped the actual ceremony at ground zero.

[Lucian]

9. The media has gone way beyond exploiting and now are sadistic.

[bettyellen]

5. thank you. DU has very little empathy for the people left behind today.

I'm not sure why they are so proud of it.

[Pirate Smile]

11. It is odd. I don't get it.

[Autumn]

7. Whatever it takes to get through the pain

there is no set time that the pain ends.

[JohnnyRingo]

8. Now there's some common sense advice.

That means an afternoon of "How It's Made", but in this cable ready age, it's a small price for the tolerance to allow others to commemorate.

Personally, I'm watching "Secret Passages", and It never occured to me that anyone would want to hear me complain.