OPINIONS
Legend's View:
Sept. 11: another commercialized tragedy
A belated “Happy Patriot Day” to all. Sadly, September 11th has officially gone commercial.
This day was designated and named by Congress to remember the victims of the World Trade Center attacks, and to bring camaraderie to the American people.
Instead it has followed the lead of holidays like Christmas or Valentine’s Day.
There is a media push weeks in advance, like children counting down the days until Santa Clause comes on their advent calendars.
This is evident in the recent slew of movies and television programs that have been running non-stop like the 24 hour “A Christmas Story” marathon that only takes commercial breaks to advertise “Frosty the Snowman”, and “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.”
Sept. 11 has become a genre of its own. With movies like World Trade Center, Flight 93, Flight Plan, Red Eye, and even Snakes on a Plane being advertised during commercial breaks from live war coverage. Even the FX series “Over There” or “Footsteps of Bin Laden”, watching Rudolph, Frosty, and 24 hours of “A Christmas Story” pales in comparison.
Aside from television and movies, “Support our Troops” gear has become a merchandising success.
There are magnets, bumper stickers, bracelets, t-shirts, hats, all sold at prices so low it would be un-patriotic not to buy them. There has to be more stock invested in “Support our Troops” gear, than in oil in Iraq.
It is reminiscent of Bush’s father’s era when all the young boys collected Topp’s Gulf War Trading Cards that came with a stick of gum inside.
This commercialism of tragedy is a tragedy within itself. Americans have sunk down to the mindset of those boys at the schoolyard collecting war cards; “If you don’t have them you can’t play with me.”
A schism is being formed, and can it can be seen clearly. If someone is not driving an SUV with a magnetic “support our troops” ribbon stuck to the bumper, while getting the most recent war update on their cell phone, they seem to be automatically deemed unpatriotic.
Where will it end? People are dying regardless of race, creed, or gender, and little has been done to serve their memory without the incentive of money.
The end certainly will not begin by capitalizing off of the loss. When has that ever worked anyway? Becoming patriotic should come naturally, not by spending hundreds of dollars for a logo to wear on your chest.