Opinion
American tragedy lives with us
Looking for a print version?
Simply use your browser’s ‘Print’ command and a printer-friendly document will be generated automatically.
Also by Sara Mikolajczak:
- A wake up call to UW conservatives (September 26, 2008)
- American tragedy lives with us (September 12, 2008)
- Resist liberal indoctrination on campus (August 6, 2008)
- Ruling ensures prevention of electoral fraud from illegal immigrants (May 1, 2008)
- Leave alcohol age to states (April 17, 2008)
Sharing tools:
E-mail this article:
When I first set out to write this column, I had every intent of writing a straight-up “today was a success” story about the 9/11: Never Forget Memorial on Bascom Hill yesterday. While the memorial was a great success and did its job helping students and community members remember the tragic events of seven years ago, I must say I was a little upset by the Herald’s so-called coverage of the event. Not only was the story stifled by the front page headline about UW football games, but I was also quite perturbed by some of the comments featured in the preview story yesterday.
When I talked to Kevin Bargnes, campus editor for the Herald, he asked the typical questions — Where is the memorial? Why are we doing it? When does the service start? Then he asked something that truly shocked even me. He asked if there is a time when the memorials are going to stop, citing that there are no longer memorials for “events like Pearl Harbor and the assassination of JFK.”
To think there will come a time when we are so far removed from one of the most important events of our lives as not to remember and memorialize the loved ones lost is a devastating thought. My response was the lack of remembrance for such events is a shame, and I stand by that. While it may be a little difficult to put flags out on Bascom Hill in the middle of winter in the state of Wisconsin, I can assure you that Dec. 7, 1941 sticks out in my mind just as Sept. 11 does and has not been forgotten. Certainly not by me and hopefully not by you. There are students and faculty and staff here at UW who lost friends and family in the attacks, and to assume there will come a day when they’ve forgotten is a huge misstep.
Tragedies like Sept. 11 and Pearl Harbor are not just attacks on Americans. They are attacks on our very way of life and our means of democracy. To forget them is to say they don’t matter. And to say an assault on our freedom doesn’t matter is flat-out disgusting. These events don’t simply affect those who were in New York or the Pentagon; they don’t even solely extend to U.S. citizens. These events have shaped the way the world operates and to say we should stop remembering only adds insult to injury.
We are the “9/11 Generation” whether we want to be or not. New York City may seem like a thousand miles away from Madison and, in reality, it is. But on Sept. 11, 2001, it was home. When those planes hit the Twin Towers, they struck the heart of every man, woman and child in this country. Something like that — something that fosters such community spirit and love of nation — cannot be forgotten just because seven years have passed.
Sara Mikolajczak (WisconsinCRs@gmail.com) is chair of the University of Wisconsin College Republicans.
12 Comments | Leave a comment
Leave a comment
Herald Blogs
The Beat Goes On
Muckrakers
President’s Visit Marked a Speech to One of the Last Groups Not Critical of Him
Extra Points
Top Classified Ads (view all)
HOUSES FOR Fall 2010. All houses are on W Dayton or N Bassett. 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, or 8 bedrooms. All have parking. madisoncampusrentals.com
In perspective of all the stuff that happens in the world and all the fucking people we kill by dropping bombs on countries I’d like to say that September 11th is getting to be a rather annoying date that serves ultimately as the glowing core behind republican ideology today. MAYBE if we stop listening to people who drone on this, like you, MAYBE then we won’t have to deal with presidents who behave like McCain. I’d also like to give you a CYBER MIDDLE FINGER for writing this column.
Ignoramus editor muttered: “there are no longer memorials for “events like Pearl Harbor”
This twit has obviously never been to the Arizona Memorial on December 7th.
What an abysmal lack of basic civic awareness.
/disgraceful.
It’s not that hard to put flags in the ground on December 7. If Pearl Harbor sticks out in your mind as much as 9-11, why not do a flag ceremony for that day too?
You won’t because nobody cares enough because it was so long ago. I suspect that 64 years after 9-11, in 2065, there won’t be any flag ceremonies either. Maybe that’s wrong, but it’s a reality.
It’s too bad that the only things we can memorialize are our shared tragedies. Too bad we can’t mark the day we became independent from petroleum, or the day we cured cancer, or the day terrorist no longer consume our thoughts.
Man Kevin is an idiot and hates America.
P.S. He is a Socialist-Communist
P.P.S. He is one of a few people who nefariously twist the Badger Herald from the right leaning views of most of our Campus to the insidious left liberal loving communist flower power probably free trade paper for their awful mind-twisting leaflets
P.P.P.S. He likes the BILLS…..nuff said
“…MAYBE then we won’t have to deal with presidents who behave like McCain.”
McCain is not the president yet, moron! What is it with liberals these days? They’re totally stupid, just like conservatives have always been.
To stop holding ceremonies is not the same as to forget, and yet she ties the two together. My question is whether it’s the role of an editor to address faulty reasoning. Or if he or she does so, and and asks the columnist to provide a sensible argument, will the paper be accused of censoring a political party?
“people we kill by dropping bombs on countries”
So were you paying attention when Clinton bombed the Serbians into submission? He did that to help the Muslims and protect the illegal immigrants in Kosovo. I’m under-whelmed by their gratitude.
And did you notice that Clinton bombed the Chinese in Serbia, by mistake they say, but that won’t bring back the dead.
REMEMBER THE MAINE!!!!!!!
Clinton probably would have bombed Osama Bin Laden, because he likely had the chance, but the Republicans and Rush Limbaugh would have cried that he was just trying to distract from his impeachment.
You reap what you sow.
P.S. Palin is an airhead.
Idiotarian @ 8:49am spat: “September 11th is getting to be a rather annoying date”
Do us all a favor. Go repeat that sentiment to one of the victims’ families— preferably, someone from the Bronx. See what that compassion earns you.
Better yet, if you’re so sick of solemn American remembrances, then go to Fwance. I hear they need committed terrorism appeasers to help extinguish thousands of Islamo-fascist carbeques.
You know what I’m sick of? Hate-America, Leftist-fascist gutter riots (masquerading as “peace” protests) in view of our Pentagon memorial.
On the other hand, it’s helpful for Americans to see (unvarnished) what Obama’s political base is really all about. Let’s give these folks control of our national security, by all means.
Idiotarian @ 3:14 muttered: “Too bad we can’t mark… the day terrorist no longer consume our thoughts.”
Imagine… apathy.