#NeverForget is something I often use on Twitter (must be the years training to become an archivist and the BA in History... plus the fact that I care - too much).
It's got me into trouble a few times (denialists happen).
Of course, I don't know everything about History. I wasn't made aware of all the wars and tragedies since the beginning of time.
I remember that one of my teachers in college spent an afternoon explaining, in great details, the battle of Agincourt. He focussed on the mediaeval aspects, but I spotted links with other, more recent battles (soldiers will always be on the side of anything that can make them win - even if it means that more people will die than in the preceding conflicts; after all, they're soldiers, and that's what they do).
I had another History teacher who was rather fond of military history, and he taught my class everything important in the military from Julius Caesar to Napoleon.
WWI? My family taught me about that one (it was the beginning of the end for us).
WWII? My family again (that was why some of them ended up in London, which is a silver lining in my book), and German classes (nine years of German, nine years of WWII), and other History classes... and my own work.
Why this post? Because I know that I remember too many sad things and events, and I'd probably be less stressed if I forgot a few things (I envy the people who delete things from their brains in order to protect themselves). Because I read too many newspapers that keep me informed of what's going on in the world, and I spot the connections with the past and it makes me sad and angry. History should not be repeating itself (but that's because most people forget).
Why today? Because I'm sad and angry.
Let's deal with the angry part first because it mostly applies to things being remembered today. It's because I remember how, on Internet forums in 2002 and 2003, people were insulted if they didn't all massively kept forwarding messages about the 9/11 events. When I say "insulted", I don't mean 'Oh, you heartless plonker!', I mean 'If you don't forward this remembrance message, you're just a filthy cunt who should be handed over to the animals who murdered our brothers!!!! You pathetic twat! Forward it now, I say!'. It was that level of civility.
In 2004? There were just a few messages to remember September 11th, and the tone was much more civil; the two prior years you were really made to feel as bad as the culprits if you didn't comply and did as you were told (and don't get me started on that one because, even today, anyone daring to question what really happened is ridiculed and silenced - well, sorry, but let's make a comparison and have a look at the declassified archives about Pearl Harbor; first, make up your mind, and then see how people daring to ask questions about that attack are still being treated. Next, remember that politicos are professional manipulators with means none of us have).
What did I catch today on the portion of net that I browsed? One newspaper article. One! And seven tweets (three from US citizens).
Of course, it hurts to remember, and scars do heal (otherwise we'd all be depressed all the time), but since I haven't forgotten the rabid reactions of '02 and '03 (the fake example I gave is nothing compared with the actual posts that were sent back then), this adds to my sadness.
So, this slow healing somehow makes me sad, and I'm also sad because I remember how I learnt about it. I was on the phone with my mother, who'd called to warn me about the first tower, when the second one was hit.
I was on the other side of the world and I started crying for fellow humans who were hurt, because they're all sisters and brothers. Sometimes, I still get misty-eyed.
The one story I want to keep with me is the one of the elderly couple who got separated during the chaos, but who was reunited a few days later; they're (strangely perhaps) my symbol of hope when I think about this particular tragedy.
Do I wish that more people remembered more? Yes and no. We'd get less History repeating itself within just a generation if more people did remember, saw the warning signs and acted - but that's tough, and I understand the wish to preserve oneself. I understand that forgetfulness can be bliss in some cases, and we all react differently to loss and tragedies.
Bottom line: it's hard to be a human.
P.S.: that skyline is forever in my heart ->
2 comments:
Channel 4 did a series of non political documentaries which my children spotted and really opened their eyes! It was very interesting for me and them and made the true happenings not all the hassle since seem irrelevant! so much better than rabid, I did like one thing which was a bud ad only shown once as a memorial in the US but was very touching. I laugh at those foul email etc that say forward or else, they make me laugh at their narrow sad lives.
Aaah! I'll have to go look for these documentaries.
Just remembering the bile in those old e-mails makes me sad and sick. It was so weird and negative and awful; these particular bullies would have questioned nothing and were ready to kill the "culprits".
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