This is not a criticism–it’s a question. Do we care about commemorating 9/11 anymore?
Niether the New York Times nor the New York Post ran front page stories about the 11th anniversary of 9/11 on Tuesday. And it came as somewhat of a shock in the newspaper industry that two hometown newspapers ignored the event by leaving any mention of it off their front pages.
“Anniversary journalism” is the buzz phrase for the media coverage of events that are remembered year after year. Other New York newspapers didn’t leave the remembrances off the front page. Neither did New Jersey newspapers, where an overwhelming number of those affected by the events of 9/11 live. Connecticut newspapers didn’t either.
The Times editor cited readership as the main reason for the decision, saying that the newspaper has a much broader readership than just New York, and that includes a large percentage of international readers, especially online. It’s hardly the hometown newspaper. For the Post, the reason came to down newsworthiness, adding that while the pain of the event lingers, journalism must not. The event has lost its newsworthiness.
While I understand these reasons, I am not sure I agree with them. September 11th slipping off the front page and moving inside these hometown newspapers sends a powerful message. I agree with the assessment on the Poynter Institute website, a sort of think tank for the journalism industry. I think what’s really being said is: It’s time to move on.
Or is it?
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Never Forget
9/11 was an enormous tragedy with international implications. This was an act of war that was perpetrated on our own land by ideologues who hate America and its freedom. The recent attacks on our embassy in Cairo and the murder of our Libyan ambassador are also acts of war. I did watch a couple of news programs that featured a look back at that day and it struck me once again as quite insightful when the reporters (within hours of the towers being struck) mentioned Osama Bin Laden, an Islamic jihadist, as the first suspect that came to mind. The Islamic extremists planned this elaborate attack for years, and struck at the economic epicenter of what they consider the “evil empire”. They will not give up for they are very religiously dedicated to the destruction of America, however they have to focus elsewhere in the world because thankfully some in our government are still somewhat aware of the danger they pose. Nonetheless, I believe we are seeing the NY press simply bowing down and becoming well-behaved dhimmis in sync with the current administration.
Do we still Remember Pearl Harbor? This is another day in our history that must never be allowed to fade from memory.
THERE IS A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN REMEMBERING AND RELIVING.