BACKGROUNDER 2: Keeping the Memory Alive
America's memory is at best, short-lived. Turn on TV and surf channel after channel of breaking news stories that are reported every few minutes! Immediately after the events of 9/11, the world seemed to temporarily slow it's pace as people began to examine their lives and how they relate to their communities and world. Incite your viewing and listening audience to debate why it is important to keep the memory alive for future generations to come.
Ask any historian, patriot, collector of memorabilia…your grandparents. They will tell you the importance of keeping the memory alive of specific events no matter how traumatic. It's important to remember events because:
- No repeats: So we don't repeat the same mistakes
- Respect: We honor and respect those who perished in the World Trade Center, Pentagon attacks, and Pennsylvania plane crash.
- Humility: Stay in touch with the humble and sober feelings experienced by millions immediately after the attacks.
- Legacy: Passing on the memory, thoughts and feelings onto the next generation.
- Connection: This tragedy immediately made each person realize a connectedness that perhaps never existed before. A rise in community activities and awareness seemed to arise after all of us sharing the same shock and trauma.
- Awareness: Americans have now made it a point to learn more about the Muslim community, the religion of Islam, and the views and opinions shared by our neighbors in the Middle East.
Some specific sites of further note:
http://www.publicopiniononline.com
http://www.unityamerica.com
http://www.fema.gov
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