Friday, September 12, 2008

Patriot Day

[Obviously wrote this yesterday. Pretend it is still 9/11]

I was going to write about the real advantage McCain gave up by choosing Palin as his running mate (commentators are focusing nearly exclusively on McCain surrendering the experience argument, but that's not the big advantage if you look at the campaigns as a whole). But that will have to wait. See, today is Patriot Day.

Patriot Day is apparently the official name for the rememberance of the 2001 World Trade Center attacks. Even though I remember the attacks every year I didn't know there was an actual official day of rememberance until just a few days ago.

There should be. But I absolutely hate the name. 'Patriot Day'. Not only will it be too easy to forget just what it is we're remembering, it really clashes with my experience of that day. On September 11/12 the heads of many nations expressed their condolances. Whatever goodwill was generated has been pissed away over most of the last 7 years. 'Patriot Day', the words, bring to mind 'Freedom Fries'-style 'rah rah' jingoism. September 11 deserves better.

------------------

Twenty

2 comments:

Jason said...

My vote is for "Todd Beamer Day"

That America squandered the world's good will after 9/11 has to be one of the greatest failures of leadership in American history.


Now return to your countdown.
And be happy, at least 1 person in the world noticed.

Jason

Dave in MPLS said...

I'd go with simply "September 11" Nice and to the point. If the 5th of May can be celebrated as "Cinco de Mayo" ....