9/11: Finding the best way to remember

Mary Hoffman

September 11, 2001 is a day that will live in infamy. Fear and patriotism united America against terrorism. The country took a vow: 9/11- We will never forget. To honor that promise, some believe 9/11 should be made an official national holiday. Americans would have the day off of school and work to remember the attacks.

“I do think 9/11 should be a national day of remembrance,” said senior Mia Fidanze. “It changed the entire course of American foreign relations, domestic security measures, racial/religious attitudes, etc…not to mention the countless American lives lost or the incredible stories of bravery.”

Undoubtedly, the lives lost should be remembered. The heroes and the victims should be honored for generations to come, but is a day off of school really the best way to do that?

“While I think in theory the idea is good, I’m not sure that a day off of school or work would commemorate the day largely because I think that people would look at it just as a day off of school,” said U.S. history teacher Adrijana Bisevac.

This year, Bisevac showed a documentary and facilitated a discussion about the impact of 9/11. Schools can be a useful tool to help American students honor the attacks better than at home.

“If we had the day off…I would spend it relaxing or doing something fun, just like I usually do with Columbus Day…I probably wouldn’t do anything to remember the holiday,” said junior Madeline Cusick. She is able to remember the victims through videos and discussions at school. Like Cusick, most students would view the day as just a vacation.

“Honestly, the amount of videos we were forced to watch in GMS scarred me, and whenever I think about 9/11 that’s all that I can see,” said Fidanze.

Not everyone is helped by spending the day in school, but many students, like Cusick, appreciate the videos and discussions.

“I also think when you’re an adult and you’re at work on 9/11 people naturally talk about 9/11 and experiences,” said Bisevac. “That’s more meaningful than when you’re at home.”

Discussions about the attacks are more meaningful than treating the day like a vacation from everyday life. Without a place to have a discussion, it’s possible that the day would actually be honored more in schools and workplaces than at home.