I suppose I'm a little late in reflecting on the passing of another 9/11, but I was just brought back to it in rediscovering Jon Stewart's first show after the attacks, September 20, 2001. There were some truly excellent tributes aired by members of the entertainment industry after normal television broadcasts resumed, but this one really affected me. It still does.
It can be easy to forget about the emotions that we all went through after the attacks. And given the current state of affairs, it can be entirely too easy to forget how the country came together in complete and total solidarity. Oh I know, we never really forget the memories of events and the memories of emotions; it seems, however, that over time memories begin to blur. We know those memories are there, we know what happened, and certainly we know what we felt. Oh we clearly see the scene depicted in the painting hanging on the respective walls of our minds -- but the minute details that once gave that painting a soul have slowly eroded away.
Seeing how quickly and fluidly people come together in the face of adversity, and then how easily they disintegrate in the name of avoiding adversity, what exactly is said about the nature of humanity? What is going on with this species of ours?
Well, I guess I got a little bluuue tonight. I promise: next post, guaranteed wackiness!!
