Wednesday, September 8, 2010

No government rememberance of 9/11...

Every year, on September 11, the country remembers 9/11.  3,000 people died in the attack and is the worst disaster on American soil.

Before 9/11, we had the Oklahoma City Bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building where 168 people died.

Currently, while it isn't an official holiday, the U.S. government remembers 9/11 with ceremonies.  Every year, the president, and other officials, talk about 9/11.

Official holidays are numerous in the United States.  Most, however, are for 'positive events' or people, such as July 4th, Independence Day (Wikipedia), and Thanksgiving (Wikipedia).  Two Federal holidays are for 'negative events':  Memorial Day (Wikipedia) and Labor Day (Wikipedia).

Why doesn't the government have a ceremony for the Oklahoma City Bombing on April 19th every year?  This wasn't done even before 9/11.  Why were 168 people not enough for the government to commemorate but 3,000 is? 

While 9/11 was a tragedy, the government should be directing its efforts to other items.  Let ceremonies for these tragedies be commemorated by individuals and private groups.

What happens when another, more terrible, tragedy occurs?  One where 10,000 people lose their lives on U.S. soil?  Will we stop commemorating 9/11 and start remembering the new event?  And if this tragedy is large enough or horrifying enough, will we someday make it a national holidy, as was done with Labor day when two men were killed by the U.S. government during labor strikes.

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