Yesterday, I intentionally missed all of the ceremonies on TV

[MrScorpio]

Didn't watch a damned minute of it on the cable news shows.

I even made sure that I was doing something durning most of the National Anthem before the football games.

The last thing that I needed was to be reminded of what happened to places that I've been to on that day (7 1/2 years working in the Pentagon and multiple trips to the WTC during NYC day tours).

All the subsequent war and strife that came afterwards can't be washed away by selfishly sentimentalizing it.

Considering the fact that our broken press had to sensationalize a simple overheating episode, I'm glad that I did miss it.

[wncHillsupport]

1. I did not watch it either.

I was working at NIH in Bethesda, outside DC, on 'the day' and saw the Pentagon smoke as I drove home on the beltway.

I don't watch annual or periodic replays of tragic events. We have so many since just 2001 that there could be an all-day commemoration a few times a month. I also saw the awful things happening, on TV, in LA during Katrina and I still have those pictures in my mind too. Along with the 9/11 events. Oklahoma, all the multiple murders, and so on and on.

I probably sound insensitive and don't mean to, but reviewing the actual videos of these tragedies is just not something I can do.

Just sayin'.

[NightWatcher]

2. I remember what happened when it happened. I don't need to be told how to remember.

I, like you, purposefully avoid the jingoistic rah rah rah.

[GoCubsGo]

6. My sentiments, exactly.

I'm also sick of hearing, "Never forget!" How the fuck does any decent human being forget something like that?

[llmart]

16. I think we should "Never Forget".......

who was in office when the attacks occurred.

That's what I think we should never forget.

[Different Drummer]

24. This. n/t

[cagefreesoylentgreen]

3. You're not the only one

I intentionally schedule my annual vacation time during the week of 9/11. I go to ground, and stay (mostly) unplugged.

Because I work in an airport, people always ask if I do that because I'm scared of something happening. No, it's because I'm tired of the ceremony, I'm tired of hearing Lee Greenwood's "Proud to Be an American" blasted over the airport PA and everywhere else, setting off anxiety and panic attacks from childhood that have nothing to do with 9/11. And most of all, I'm tired of remembering all the shit that came after. I lived through that day and everything after, I don't need a reminder.

[awoke_in_2003]

21. Welcome to DU

I work at a flight training center on DFW Airport property. I always take the day off, too.

[redstatebluegirl]

4. I am going on a news diet except for my New York Times.

I can't watch this drivel any more. Nothing of substance, no "reporting", no "journalism", just sensational stories that are not even investigated. No investigative reporting at all. The masses want drive up journalism, get it quick, easy and cheap. I can't participate and sleep at night.

[onecaliberal]

5. Same here

[alarimer]

7. Same here

It makes me ill to see it being used as yet another for cheap sentimentality and chest-thumping patriotism.

No one ever says that the Middle East is now permanently screwed up because we decided war was the way to end terrorism. Clearly that hasn't worked so well, yet we continue to believe it's true. There is nothing worse than righteousness in a course of action that is clearly wrong.

[TwilightZone]

8. I hear ya. I jokingly call 9/11 "avoid Facebook day"

for many of the same reasons.

(Yes, I know I should avoid Facebook the other 364+ days, too....)

[Different Drummer]

25. By far the best day to avoid it. Although...

there's never really a bad day to avoid it.

[progressoid]

9. We visited our kids at college.

Much better way to spend the day.

[Aristus]

10. I can't watch any of that stuff.

The entire world rose as one in sorrow and solidarity with the US on that horrible day.

There were candle-light vigils in Tehran for the victims, for Pete's sake.

And how did we respond to all this kindness?

We became the Nazis.

We attempted to assuage our anger and humiliation with violence and open, naked greed.

9/11 was the beginning of the end for this country...

[Blue_Tires]

11. It was my birthday anyways, so I was out most of the day

[LakeArenal]

14. Happy belated Birthday...

[SHRED]

12. I hear ya

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10028159147

[Fast Walker 52]

13. I avoid that stuff like the plague

I hate the sentimentality, patriotism and untold truths about 9/11 and the Bush administration. It's sickening. I'm really sorry for those who died and their family, and maybe it's comforting for them. But it tends to annoy me more than move me.

[DRoseDARs]

15. "Grief porn" is all it is. No thanks. nt

.

[YOHABLO]

17. A very sad event in U.S. history that could have been thwarted.

3000+ people died that day and many injured for life. Not to mention the millions lost to a needless war which has never ended. No I'd rather see the the Bush / Blair administrations held accountable.

[rurallib]

18. I avoid it because thinking about the irresponsibility that led up to it,

the piss poor response by our leadership and the subsequent wars of choice that have served to bankrupt the country really get the blood boiling.

And now the repubs are running one much worse than Shrub.

[colsohlibgal]

19. I Skipped It Too

Big parts of the official narrative just don't add up. The Commission looking into it, which only happened after heavy pressure from widows and others who lost love ones, was a joke.

We do know who it really, really benefited and who it enriched.

[awoke_in_2003]

20. I watched two games yesterday...

I let the DVR record for at least an hour on each to skip it.

[geek tragedy]

22. I also refuse to watch it, or comment about it on my FB page as if there's something

profound to say about it that hasn't been said 100 times.

At least people have stopped asking what it was like to be here when it happened.

[Different Drummer]

26. "I also refuse to watch it, or comment about it on my FB page."

Same here.

[Wounded Bear]

23. Me, too...nt

[Lint Head]

27. I am with you. I've had plenty of death around me during my

lifetime. I don't understand why people celebrate the date of a death. Celebrate is not the right word. Maybe remembrance? I have a sister in law who does that with a son who committed suicide. I prefer to remember when a person was born. When a person came into my life. My Mother, Father ans Sister are dead but I sometimes forget the date. I do remember thier birthdays and celebrate the day they came into my life.
We need more happiness and joy I our lives. Everyone does. Even people in sad situations of poverty among other problems need joy. Sometimes even death can bring relief to a person who is suffering and near death.
My Sister was in a hospice and all she wanted was to remember the good thIngs. She confessed to me that she wished we could have been closer in age so she could have related to me better. I told her that it doesn't matter. All that mattered was the good times and the fact that she was my Sister and I loved her.

Peace to all my DU friends.

[kentuck]

28. I watched more football than I have watched in a long time...

After a while, it's time to gear it down a little bit. Just my opinion.

[Ilsa]

29. I don't like being re-traumatized.

It doesn't mean I don't respect the day or the sacrifices people made.

[AgadorSparticus]

30. I didnt watch any of it, too. I don't know why, either. Just couldn't do it