let's remember: olbermann (and matthews) lost their anchor spots over their biased commentary, so their attitudes did have consequences.
The American news media seem to think it's verboten to show images of the Twin Towers getting hit and collapsing seven years ago today.
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Think about it. When was the last time you really saw it? They seemed to stop showing it in 2002 or so.
If you had, say, a 5-year-old at the time of the 9-11 attacks, he'd be 12 now. And he may not have any vivid visual memory of the event.
What gives? Is it just old news? Is it too "insensitive" to Muslims? Is it politically incorrect?
Are the media afraid of inflaming our sensibilities? Afraid we're a bunch of children who can't handle it?
This was hardly the view after Pearl Harbor. The rallying cry for decades afterward was "Remember Pearl Harbor!" (Yet, we were able to become the best of friends with the Japanese.) The cry today seems to be "Don't remind me!" Or, at least that's what the media seem to think of us.
MSNBC anchor Keith Olbermann recently apologized sarcastically to his audience after a video tribute to the victims of 9-11 was aired during the Republican National Convention. Olbermann has made no secret of his preference for Democrats over Republicans. But his other point, other than to disparage Republicans, was that footage of Sept. 11, 2001, shouldn't be aired on American television.
Why the heck not?
On one level, that patronizing, condescending attitude is just inane. If we can handle Britney Spears kissing Madonna on MTV, we can handle anything.
But on another level, that attitude is dangerous.
If American news media are determined to protect our sensibilities, then they'll end up doing a pretty poor job of informing us. How will we know where to expect the next threat if our news media are too timid or too politically correct to reveal our enemies or remind us of what they've already done to us? How can we deal intelligently with a world we're not allowed to see?
Exactly how soft have we gotten since 1941?
Talk show host Glenn Beck recently suggested, not even half jokingly, that video of the World Trade Center attacks should be aired every day at noon, or maybe every hour. He's exaggerating, but his point is that we need to keep that image fresh in our minds, or we'll never truly be living in the real world and we'll lose sight of our enemies and the fact that they're still out there plotting.
And, as we've seen, the real world has a way of sneaking up on you and biting your backside.
Comments
let's remember: olbermann (and matthews) lost their anchor spots over their biased commentary, so their attitudes did have consequences.
The far left controls the vast majority of the news media. Since October of '01 their party has been running against the war on terror and reminding the public why we're fighting only helps those interested in national defense. Why help your enemy?
9-11... Should not now or ever be forgotten by anyone who has love of this nation...As Americans, we should be stand tall and be proud to be called Americans. Don't hide behind politically correct media driven treasonous behaviors...Honor those who have fought and died for the right to wake up in this country, the right to say what we please when we please but with dignity and honor that is a blessing not a prize of sorts to be bandied about with crude jokes...Soldiers have not only paid the ultimate sacrifice but the thousands of innocents have also paid the price of our freedom...Don't let it be tainted by those who would seek to tear it all down...I bow my head and pray for all those who have suffered the loss of a family, friend, child, brother, sister, co-worker to the mad-men of terrorism...We are not Muslims we are Americans...
Republicans are strong on National Defense. Democrats are big on telling our attackers how they feel about these things and apologizing for having offended other nations. Had Bush not sought a 2nd term, history would have called him one of the best presidents ever. His support was enormous among both parties after his initial handling of 9-11. Showing the tapes of this attack on American soil by our enemies, reminds people of how they felt and especially how they felt about pursuing these attackers. This is interpreted by the left as rallying the masses to support Republican causes.
These leftist causes are but a small part of the PC malaise that has invaded and infected America. Sadly our enemies are counting on it and are being successful. By all means show the tragedy of 9/11 as often as is reasonable. It's a good disinfectant and a healthy reminder of what may be in store for us if the enemy has its way.
You conservative know-nothings went from September 11, 2001 to an invasion of Iraq, which had nothing to do with the attacks of September 11. All your flag-waving and loud beating of chests can't change the fact that the Republican party completely mismanaged the wars in iraq and Afghanistan and the so-called War on Terror has done little to stop the growth of terrorism because conservative ideology precludes rational understanding.
Republicans trot out images of the World Trade Center to whip up their loyal followers because it worked in 2004 and they think it will work in 2008.
bsanders, that's what intelligent people do. If it works, don't fix it. If we are doing so poorly and have mismanaged the war so badly, why haven't we been attacked here again? Is it their fear that we will send a community organizer there to scold them first, then apologize for offending them?
The worst scam run by the left is the one that claims the international war against Islamic terrorism doesn't exist. Their claim that Osama acted alone still rings true to the great mass of misinformed. America has to fight this lie while defending our country.
What Keith Olberman disliked was the fact that the footage was shown to further the agenda of a political party. It hand nothing to do with not showing the footage but in what context. The media as well as other Americans commemorate the event each year as well they should. This has nothing to do with a leftist agenda it's about having respect for the dead and those they left behind.
To paraphrase George Santayana; " Those who do no learn from history are doomed to repeat it" . Regardless of a person's political and philisophical persuasion, we must remember those innocent ones who died so that hopefully we have the intelligence and resolve to prevent such an tragedy from ever happening again.
bsanders if that is the way you feel then my friend run to a country in the Middle East and declare you alliance with them...There you can sit on your "bum" until they decide your American side needs to be "beheaded"...
Sept. 11, 2001, is a date I will vividly recall for the remainder of my life. I have not forgotten the feelings I had that day nor have I forgotten the reasons it happened.
That said, I recently tried to watch looked to be a well produced documentary on the subject with my son. He was a baby at the time of the event, and I thought he might benefit from viewing it. Not five minutes in, and I realized some wounds are not healed, so I turned the channel.
I would never ask or demand that images from that dreadful day not be shown. I don't know that I will ever understand why people would want to view them. though.
bsandersga, bush took the damn war to them, and there has not been another attack on us soil since.
you are a fool,plain and simple. i suppose your answer would be to negotiate with idiots who have been fighting someone over something for the last 2000 years.
bush should have turned iraq into a golf resort at the start .
An excellent editorial! A hearty AMEN to comments by PAT and others of similar flavor.
You can bet that as the election draws near, there will be a push to get bin Laden. Show the video every hour? What kind of fear-mongering is that?
PMSNBC finally demoted Olberman and the other totally biased anchor Mathews because their ratings are at the bottom. The MSM doesn't want to run the attacks because they know it will remind us that President Bush, with all his other shortcomings as President, has done an outstanding job of protecting this nation/us against more of these attacks. That is the first priority of EVERY President.
Each time I see it, I think that but for the grace of God go I, as I just happened not to be at the pentagon that day. My kids called to see if I was as I spent a lot of time there in those days as a project officer for the Signal Center at Ft Gordon. I did see the second airplane hit the towers on TV while at work. I will never forget it and hope my kids don't either.
BSANDER, SIP SIP! The war on terror has worked and continues to be effective. Terror attacks around the world are at an all time low and there have been no further attacks in the US. If it were up to idiots like you, we would revert back to negotiating with these pigs who want to kill anyone who does not subscribe to their idealogy. It's very apparent that you are absolutely clueless about warfighting. In every war there are several fronts, Iraq is just one of many. Far better that it's fought on their soil than ours. But hey, it's ok, we will always be here to protect, fight and preserve the ideals and beliefs of America inspite of Libs like you. Enjoy your kool-aid!!
You guys talk like attacks on the US were common before 9/11. Attacks here have been rare, before and after. To claim Bush has had anything to do with there not being another attack is just plain childish thinking. It is being used as a political tool. Now the footage is being used as a potical tool. Its all about the sports teams..I mean favorite political parties again.
jack tell your kids the truth.one day they will ask you as i do now,where are the pictures of flight 77 hitting the building?the pentagon is surrounded by cameras,as are the motels and retail businesses.the fbi confiscated all those videos and film,yet won't show one picture.you mean to tell us that the defense establishment of america has no cameras around it?how can a plane fly ground level with a pilot who can't master a remote controlled plane,and go through a REINFORCED wall? the grass wasn't touched,and the most experienced pilots around say they couldn't have flown like that.there was no plane jack.if the fbi HAD pictures they would show them to keep us nonbelievers quiet.it was a hoax,tell your children the truth,planes don't go through reinforced walls and disappear.
Maybe imdstuf you just didn't pay enough attention to what was happening before 9-11...After 9-11 intelligence has obviously diverted many such planned attacks...Although the 9-11 did massacre thousands it also put this country on a collision course to recession and borderline depression...These people who seek to kill America are very real and what is more they have not love for anyone who claims they are American...This is their Holy War and we are the prize...
IMDSTUF: America Wake Up dumstuf! It's sad that some have short memories so let us review.
September 1983, US embassy in Beirut attacked 83 killed.
October 1983, 241 Marines killed in Beirut truck bomb.
December 1988, Pan Am flight 103 bombed over Scotland, 249 killed.
February 1993, 1st World Trade Center attack, 6 killed over a thousand injured.
May 1996, Khobar Towers bombing, Saudi Arabia kills 19 service members.
August 1998, US embassies in Kenya and Tanzania bombed killing more than 250 and injuring more than 4000.
October 2000, The USS Cole attacked killing 17 Sailors and injuring 39.
September 11th 2001, World Trade Center destroyed, Pentagon attacked, a plane intended for the White House crashes in a field in PA. Total= 2973 dead!
These people want nothing more than the total and absolute destruction of us as a Christian people and nation. There is no such thing as a moderate or a peace loving religion that is bent on the annihilation of everyone other than them selves. Get the picture?
And for any others that doubt the truth....please use this link! You might be surprised
http://ballyblog.wordpress.com/2007/07/03/terrorists-are-muslims-list-of...
imdstuf, You have claimed that Bush had something to do with 9/11 or at least knew it was coming. THAT is NOT childish thinking? Thank God for President Bush - against all odds, against both parties, he stood firm in his resolve to keep us safe for seven years! Thank you, President Bush.
I'll be darned if pauldrake now has an even newer name. Same senseless drivel, but a new name!
al davis used to say "just win,baby!" my slogan is just "refute" what i say don't attack me for a diversion,explain how these things happened in a country with a military second to none. i see jack snuck off as usual.don't attack me prove me wrong,clowns.
imdstuf, just another ignorant black man that follows blindly! You ever hear of the first attack on the trade center, The USS Stark, Barracks in Lebanon, bombing of our embassies--all muslim terrorist attacks. Haven't had any since the man was on the job. Go carry nobama's coattails, stuf, that appears about all you are good for!!
To the Chronical Staff writer: I have seen NUMEROUS showings of the Sept 11 attacks in NYC and in Washington; don't know what TV shows you watch, but there are plenty of documentaries regarding the event. So, it is untrue that the event 'has been buried' and 'not shown enough. Quite frankly, I can't say that a full two weeks goes by that someone isn't talking about the attacks. You give too little credit to the American public and seem to imply that we are ungrateful and don't give a hoot. Shame on you for not doing your homework.
multiman, proving a negative has always been difficult, especially to one whose main goal is to stir the pot. You know the truth and have heard most of the same lame conspiracies we all have over the years. Rehashing them is just weak left wing spin. Is that what you aspire to now?
The towers falling should be shown on the news every 10 minutes!
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