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Home Page > Blogs > News blogs > Periscope > 9/11 not worth remembering as victims set to suffer even more ---Nothing good came out of horrible catastrophe

Periscope by Niall O'Dowd

9/11 not worth remembering as victims set to suffer even more ---Nothing good came out of horrible catastrophe

Posted on Tuesday, August 30, 2011 at 04:56 PM

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I dread the upcoming September 11th tenth year anniversary.

I am not alone. I know several families of those killed on that day that feel the same way.

I wrote a book in 2002 about the families of Irish American cops, firemen and ordinary working folk who died that day entitled ‘Fire in the Morning’.

They impressed me back then with their incredible courage and fortitude in the face of losing loved ones.

They impress me now with their determination to move on and not let that horrific day dominate their lives.

Sure, we will have all the usual pomp and ceremony from the politicians and lots of remberances of that awful day.

But why should we remember it? Nothing good ever came of it. Do the Poles remember the day the Nazis took over?

We had Iraq and Afghanistan and missing WMD’s and an aftermath of death, destruction and billions of dollars spent that stretches right to this day.

The families I have spoken with feel as I do we are just going over old ground.

The dead should be left in peace, their sacrifice never forgotten. The living must be allowed to get on with their lives.

I have stayed close enough to some of the families to know how difficult and how awful September 11th every year is for them anyway.

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9/11 Memorial, the World Trade Attacks by numbers

Memories of New York on 9/11 - 'Ground Zero 360C°' exhibition - VIDEO

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The tenth anniversary promises to be the worst of all.

Every square inch of newspapers, every television screen will be dominated by the coverage.

Imagine if the death of your loved one was played endlessly on television on one day every year.

ABC news is trumpeting they have new footage of the first plane crashing into the towers.

How does that make the families of the victims who died horribly there feel?

We will have all the professional 9/11 hucksters back on our screen telling us what it all meant. We know what it meant—the worst day in America since Pearl Harbor.

We know that hundreds of thousands including thousands of Americans have died since in the aftermath of that awful day.

I say lets commemorate the day Bin Laden got wiped out instead.

Now that’s day to remember for anyone who wants peace in this world.

Listen to Niall O'Dowd speak on RTE's "Morning Ireland" radio show about Michele Bachman's views of Ireland

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49 comments

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brianmack | Aug 28, 2011, 05:52 AM EDT

Interesting and provocative article. Truly one of the saddest days I've ever witnessed. Peace, love and prayers to those who did lose loved ones or close friends.

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themurphia | Aug 27, 2011, 04:51 PM EDT

I know exactly where I was and what I was doing the day the planes flew into the twin towers...I had the tv on in the background with the sound off as I usually do wen I am working...I looked up and saw the footage and thought there was a Spielberg film showing..but it was lunchtime...I turned the sound on...the truth was stranger than fiction...I was due to fly to Ireland next day...It was my 'Kennedy' moment...but less glamorous...God! they were a family!

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kateorourke | Aug 27, 2011, 04:11 PM EDT

I disagree with you. We cannot forget the loss of those lives and we can never ever again be apathetic in regards to the security of our country. Doing this is a way of giving power to those who hate the US and saying "You win". We cannot forget this attack any more than we can forget Pearl Harbor. We need to remember so that this will not happen again. You write as if you are speaking on behalfof all who suffered in this catastrophe, but you are not. We need to remember all who lost their lives, as well as all who lost their lives in fighting for the freedoms of our country. GOD BLESS THE USA.

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specksmom | Aug 27, 2011, 11:18 AM EDT

I agree.

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bunkerisland | Aug 27, 2011, 06:32 AM EDT

We have had enough public prayer about a variety of things. Any effort to pray should be done in a private manner by those who see it as comforting them not imposed on all of us. Let us not mourn each 9/11 but initiate something positive, perhaps a nation-wide marathon, fundraising for firemen. No family members of those lost in this horror will ever forget what took place regardless of the activities in NY.

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bogsidebunny | Aug 27, 2011, 06:08 AM EDT

This article is a bad move on your part Mr O'Dowd. Maybe the Micks forget and forgive their transgressors (sancitity of life idiocy), but Americans will not forget or forgive untill every last terrorist and enemy of America is exterminated and pulverized into dogfood.

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RedBranch | Aug 27, 2011, 04:54 AM EDT

Perhaps you forget the aftermath, flags everywhere, a real sense of patriotism. United we stand! This article will come back to bite you in years to come.

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warlocks | Aug 27, 2011, 01:19 AM EDT

Its time to move on . We can bring back the Dead too many Hucksters will be hocking their 9/11 goods to make a fast buck. Coins , Pictures, and fake melted Steel made into Key Chains they say came from the Twin Towers .the list goes on . its become nothing but a money Racket for greedy people without reguards to people who lost loved ones on 9/11 Enough is Enough .

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JimMcGarity | Aug 27, 2011, 12:31 AM EDT

On that day everyone was looking to GOD and saying prayers. Now 10yrs later the mayor has taken GOD out of the rememberence. Boy the city has realy gone to the dogs.

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kaydog1 | Aug 27, 2011, 12:28 AM EDT

We will never forget, Niall, neither the VICTIMS nor the PERPETRATORS.

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Pittsburghkid | Aug 26, 2011, 11:35 PM EDT

Are you getting Muslim Petrodollars for this artical? If not you should.

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tempranillo | Aug 26, 2011, 11:26 PM EDT

apologies to Deidra47 for my omission. Thank you for your comment. Peace.

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tempranillo | Aug 26, 2011, 11:21 PM EDT

How dare you suggest 9/11 is not worth remembering. Your right to speak, of course. But, have you considered the hurt caused by the comment. If you look back at our Irish and/or American history, you find we are great at forgetting: Memorial Day...pssss start of summer; November 1--maybe that what that damned Waltzing Matilda is about. An Gorta Mor---hey buddy, I dont speak that garlic stuff.At least Canada recognizes all who perished in its defense. but, who cares. Not us...we don't remember-----but, my friend, we must. we must remember 9-11 and all the other days if we wish to survive. To TedinDenver, Peace. Thank you

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Deidra47 | Aug 26, 2011, 10:20 PM EDT

RedInDenver is correct. I have lost 2 sons and I would also be happy if someone remembered them on the anniversary of the births as well as their angel day. Doing memorials is a way of healing.

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noele.noele | Aug 26, 2011, 03:14 PM EDT

Yes, the suffering is continuing...thanks to Bloomberg. No prayers at memorials? Where is the head of this a__ at? Oh, in his a__! What insensitivity!!!! I suggest those who go....bring your pastors, rabbis, your neighbors and say prayers holding hands in circles during the memorial, particularly when (if, does he dare?) Bloomberg speaks. The rest of us in the USA will hold memorials WITH prayers. Whether you like the institutional churches or not, 80% or more in the USA believe in God (Gallup Poll).

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