Our Voice

Eight years following the Sept. 11 attacks the student perspective of how this day should be remembered is split – even in our newsroom. At what point do the events of Sept. 11 become history and no longer front-page news stories? Should ceremonies continue each year to honor the victims, or is it the consensus to just quietly remember the day? These questions have created much debate in which The Colonnade thoroughly encourages everyone to participate and come to their own conclusion of how the day should be memorialized, if at all.

An estimated 2,819 people were killed in the attacks that day, according to New York Magazine. Many of these people had parents, children, family and friends who will never be able to forget them. The least we can do is remember them one day of the year. Not only were lives completely changed by the events, but the economy and procedures of our government were changed as well. If events such as Pearl Harbor are still getting coverage after so many years, Sept. 11 should be treated in the same way. Thousands of people were lost. If their families have to live it everyday and can’t let it become history, why should anyone else?

On the other side of the spectrum are students in favor of not rehashing the events of Sept. 11 each year. It has been eight years since the incident and some people just want to move on. Is the media resurfacing the topic again every year and making it harder for people to continue with their lives? New information ceased years ago; we are just repeating ourselves by saying the same things again and again. Even though the country pulled together and had more unity after the attacks, Sept. 11 is still a low point in American history and that should not be celebrated.

Debate is happening across campus on how this day should be remembered and we want to hear your opinions.

Please send responses to ColonnadeLetters@gcsu.edu.

Posted by Colonnade Archives on Sep 11 2009. Filed under Our Voice. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry