Let's Stop Calling It 9/11
A date is a terrible way to remember the worst morning in modern American life. “9/11” tells you only when. It does not tell you who we were, who we are, or who we are meant to be.I lived through that day. A generation that did not can mark the anniversary, post a flag emoji, and move on. I did not feel, this year, or for the past several, the same widespread public mourning that once bound the country. Worse, some people now treat the attack as someone else’s tragedy, or as a punchline in an ideological war against the America that was struck. Dates fade. Names do not.That is why I call on President Donald Trump to give 9/11 a name and make it a federal holiday: Todd Beamer Day.
TL;DR
- The date '9/11' is insufficient to convey the full significance of the attacks and the identity of America.
- The author proposes renaming the federal holiday 'Todd Beamer Day' to honor the sacrifice of Todd Beamer and other passengers on Flight 93.
- The article highlights the ongoing impact of 9/11, noting the thousands of deaths from related illnesses among responders and survivors.
- It criticizes the trivialization of the event by some and the celebration of the attacks by others.
- A named holiday would better serve to teach future generations about courage, resilience, and American values.