This is Our
It feels, in some ways, like history got reset in the American mind on 11 September 2001. I guess, partially, it had to be: They were the aggressors, and anything our country did, afterward, was a response to that act. It became the eternally valid justification. Bush tries to use it even now. But it also became the grand metaphor. Madrid and London both had their 9/11s. ‘This is our 9/11…’ How many times have you heard that? (And, suddenly, I remember people of my and my parents’ generation saying ‘This is our Pearl Harbor’ in 2001…’ You don’t really hear that anymore.)
Today, I’ve heard numerous times a different twist on the This-is-Our: Katrina is our tsunami.I can’t quite put my finger on what it is that bothers me about all of this, but I know it starts with the claiming of an event — It’s not our tsunami; it’s their Katrina. (I imagine that the reason that the tsunami was chosen over the events of 11 September 2001 is twofold: first, water; second, the tsunami affected nations, rather than cities, in popular media coverage, so this tragedy can suddenly belong to the entire US, rather than just to New Orleans.) But beyond my judgmental confusion (which is of little consequence), I’m culturally confused: Why do we do this? Why do tragedies have to harken back to prior tragedies? This doesn’t really put things in historical context. Or does it? Does it help us to empathise? Or is it something more self-serving? Are we trying to connect, or are we trying to acquire?
This is related, and far more poignant: Annariitta Grzonka’s sblog links to Eye Of The Storm: two journalists ‘too dumb to get out of the way of what is turning into one of the most destructive natural forces to hit the mainland U.S. ever.’ One selection that Annariitaa highlighted really stood out to me:
I only catch occasional glimpses out of what is coming out of New Orleans. This afternoon is the first time I’ve stopped and taken a breath.
All is bad.
I hope that the relative comparisons don’t begin anytime soon. You know, “This place got it worse than that place.”
F*** that.
Is it really possible to quantify it like that in the middle of this kind of tragedy?
Did Indonesia get it worse than Sri Lanka in the Tsunami?
France than England in WWII?
Who has the moral authority to make those kinds of proclamations?
And I’m done ranting.
A lot of blogs out there are giving advice on how to help. I have no idea how, but you know where to look. If you ever pray — even foxhole style — now’s a good time for that. And if you have the opportunity to punch George Bush, a rapist, or a survivalist-shooting Nationalguardsman in the nose, I would encourage that, as well.