This period of early September seems determined to write itself into our history books and memory banks. About this time six years ago, Hurricane Katrina struck the Gulf Coast and the consequences of the disaster – and the even more disastrous days that followed – will resonate for years to come. Now, another hurricane, Irene, has devastated the Eastern seaboard and its ramifications will echo, as well. Of course, another important date is looming – Sept. 11.
There will be a lot of anniversary coverage in the coming days. The news industry will run retrospectives on the tragedies and instruct people to reflect them. The national conversation will turn once again to disaster and terrorism preparedness. Media coverage will no doubt range from instructive lessons going forward and sober assessment to the other end of the spectrum – exploitative opportunism, playing on our collective anger and fear.
The tunnel vision of news agencies, particularly televised news, as they cease their already-scant coverage of international events in an effort to run wall-to-wall remembrance pieces promises to further isolate this country’s viewing public deeper into its own armed compound, strewn with flags and teeming with zealous nationalism and unmitigated pride.
As our individual thoughts converge into a collectivized wavelength during this period, the majority of the public will unify again, as it tends to do in times of crisis. That is inherently neither good nor bad, but can be resultantly be either. In the case of the former, consider the outpouring of support toward hurricane victims in the Gulf. As for the latter, one need look no further than the rubber stamp on the war in Iraq.
During this time of national reflection, it is important to put everything in its proper perspective; to see these past events in a historical and global context lest we grow further myopic. So, let’s acknowledge the past and move on that we might handle the next disaster with the wisdom and experience we’re acquiring much too frequently in this new century.
