9/11 Editorial Response

http://blog.al.com/press-register-commentary/2011/09/together_and_apart_we_remember.html

On the tenth anniversary of 9/11, Americans allowed their grief, hope, and determination run forth. We attended memorials, reflected back on that fateful day, and empathized with those affected by the tragedy. In short, we behaved just as expected. This is something which the author definitely touches upon in this editorial, not through their exact words, but through the overall tone of the story.

One thing which I noticed about the story is that there was a large number of “will” statements. For example, the authors states that “Those speaking publicly will honor those who died and address the loss that we, as a nation, still feel 10 years after terrorists hijacked four airplanes and our nation’s sense of security.” Or “Ten years later, the stories told by them and about them still touch us on a very personal level. We find ourselves a little more grateful for friends and family.” As time went on, I began to wonder: what was the point of including so many of these statements? Predictions like seem to be designed to put the audience at ease before the anniversary, at time which was darkened by political debate, and the possibility of another terrorist attack. However, the theory that the author is trying to sooth the audience in the wake of the tragedy that is 9/11 seems impossible, due to the fact that right after the author makes these “will” statements, they launch into a tangent which raises doubts regarding the future of 9/11 remembrance. Was this sudden change of tone and subject meant to jar the audience, or was it completely unintentional? Such a drastic change in writing seems like it could only be purposeful.