Sept. 11 is not a commercial ploy
by Naomi Spector
Staff writer
Op-Ed | 9/23/08
Posted online at 12:29 AM EST on 9/23/08
/ Last updated at 3:25 AM EST on 9/23/08
In 1865, black and white people were able to come together to honor the dead who had fallen in the fight for equality. In 2001, firemen, policemen and civilians from every background completely forgot their differences and struggled together to save the victims of the terrorist attacks.
These events were both tests of our nation. We must not forget that at these most difficult of times the people worked together as equals, with shovels to rebury the dead, with buckets to scrape at the debris of the fallen towers.
A frank, open discussion of landmarks in our nation's history is important, not only out of respect for the dead, but to help us understand and draw lessons from the past.
Had we not forgotten the lessons of Memorial Day so readily, we might not have needed a Civil Rights Movement in the 1950s.
It is likewise important to come to an understanding of what took place on Sept. 11. It was a traumatic moment in American history; we need to discuss its meaning and how we ought to react to it.
The forum attended by eight Brandeis students on Sept. 11 to discuss what happened seven years ago was a noble effort; as a nation, we need to do the same on a much greater scale if we are to properly commemorate those who died.
These events were both tests of our nation. We must not forget that at these most difficult of times the people worked together as equals, with shovels to rebury the dead, with buckets to scrape at the debris of the fallen towers.
A frank, open discussion of landmarks in our nation's history is important, not only out of respect for the dead, but to help us understand and draw lessons from the past.
Had we not forgotten the lessons of Memorial Day so readily, we might not have needed a Civil Rights Movement in the 1950s.
It is likewise important to come to an understanding of what took place on Sept. 11. It was a traumatic moment in American history; we need to discuss its meaning and how we ought to react to it.
The forum attended by eight Brandeis students on Sept. 11 to discuss what happened seven years ago was a noble effort; as a nation, we need to do the same on a much greater scale if we are to properly commemorate those who died.
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