What happened to "never forget"?

Question

This was the big theme after 9/11. Now it seems like the vast majority of Americans have already put 9/11 in the history books and have moved on. Did I miss something?

Has our response been so great that we can pack up and come home? Or was "never forget" just a nice slogan?

K-What should have been done with Saddam?

N. Cognito-Stop flooding this board with nonsense, why does it always have to go back to Israel with you? Stop advertising the same site over and over. Reported.

K-America is the military super power of the world by far, so yes I think we should help out those that cannot help themselves. Why? Because its the right thing to do. It doesn't matter too much to me why the other countries don't do it. We are the US. It isn't easy being the best.

If he didn't have WMDs then he should have been more cooperative with UN weapons inspectors.

If Bush Sr. would have finished the job then maybe we wouldnt have had to come back. Just like if we don't finish the job in Iraq this time we will be back in just a few years.

Kat lady-I'm not sure why you think by going into Iraq we aren't going after those responsible. We have caught a lot of high ranking terrorist in Iraq, and in Afghanistan.

Answer 1

I WILL NEVER forget! People get pissed at me because, as they say, I WON'T LEAVE IT ALONE.
(USN, retired)

Answer 2

Lots of historical moments get pegged with "Never forget" right after they happen. Whether it was the Alamo, the sinking of the Lusitania, or the attack on Pearl Harbor, "never forget" is a typical emotional response to something tragic.

And it doesn't even have to be historic on a national or international level. People throw around "never forget" all the time when a loved one dies or they've been wronged somehow.

The problem with "never forget" and the reason it usually fades away fairly quickly, is that it's usually a sentiment of anger. It's a way to spur yourself (or others) into action and to try to keep that burning feeling in your stomach.

But as we all know, harboring resentment or anger is pretty unhealthy. Everyone from doctors to clergymen recommended forgiveness and the release of anger. The former because it leads to stress and heart disease, and the latter because forgiveness is a cornerstone of just about every religion.

And just to bring this back to 9/11, "never forget" was a rallying cry for just about every person who pushed the US into our war with Iraq. For or against the war now, it's pretty obvious that Iraq had nothing to do with 9/11, which in a lot of ways took the enthusiasm out of "never forget". It was a theme that essentially cost the lives of an additional 3,000+ Americans.

My personal opinion is that "never forget" is a great sentiment when remembered in a positive way.

"Never forget your uncle who died in the north tower on 9/11. He was a 35 year member of the Sierra Club, so let's make a donation every year in his name."

There have been some amazing services every year since 9/11 and I'm sure they'll be many more for decades to come. Not to mention the construction of an entire memorial and countless charities set up in the names of the thousands killed that day.

In all honesty, I'd say no one has forgotten. And I doubt they ever will. Excessive flag waving and angry fist pumping simply isn't a life most people want to lead in the long term.

Answer 3

No one has forgotten.

In fact, the administration seems to be using the memory to drag the US around to fight a war that shouldn't have started.

Afghanistan; that was the good one.

Iraq; wtf?

Edit: What should have been done with Saddham? Is America the world police? Since he was committing those atrocities, why didn't the UN do anything about it? Why is it that the US needs to make itself the moral guide of the world? Why can't other countries step up, or are they too afraid of getting the flak that America does?
And what was Saddham doing to America? Nothing. He was under watch and declawed by the Gulf War. Was America under ANY imminent danger from Saddham? *He had WMDs and would give them to terrorists!* And now? Well, guess what. We didn't find any WMDs. So that means two things. Either 1) He had no WMDs to begin with, and therefore was not a threat to America, or 2) They were moved elsewhere. And can still get into the hands of terrorists.
If Saddham was such a terror, then why did G. Bush Sr. stop? Why was it, that during the Gulf War, defending Kuwait, that it was decided that this 'despicable leader' should be allowed to remain in power? Why is it, that more than 10 years later, was it done?

Answer 4

How could any of us forget....we are reminded constantly. Dude, I never liked George Sr., but he got it right in the Gulf War. He never exceeded his mandate, won an incredible victory with a real coalition, and even managed to leave Saddam's military with enough power to resist any attack by Iran. Now George Sr. knew how to conduct a war.

Read George Sr.'s book. He predicted exactly what has happened in Iraq and it is exactly why he didn't do it. I think he needs to give his son a good spanking for being so stupid.

Oh and nobody, right or left, thinks we need to forget about the threat of terrorism. We just think this baloney in Iraq is unrelated and is sure costing us a lot of lives and money. Iraq is just not worth it.

Answer 5

Never forget as a slogan has been associated with lots of stuff that most have forgotten. It was said about the Lusitania, the Alamo, and the soldiers of each war.

Answer 6

i haven't forgotten and neither have most americans.

i actually believe that the opposition to the war in iraq comes from a basic knowledge that iraq had nothing to do with 9/11.

we didn't forget, but i think our leaders have...

Answer 7

No one has forgot...the only thing Bush forgot, was to go after the people responsible.... Iraq had NOTHING to do with 911....
So yeah, I guess you did miss something. You and Bush must have been absent together.

Answer 8

no one has forgotten. 9-11 is mentioned on a daily basis in the news. we never had a chance to move on.

Answer 9

Forget? Hell NO!

"Was it over when, the Germans bombed Pearl harbor? Hell NO!" (Quote by Senator John Blutarsky, circa 1980.)

Also, ever since I shot Allah and Mohammed, the Muslims haven't had much to fight about.

Answer 10

We haven't forget, we are just tired about our people being kill in Iraq without any positive results. This war stopped to be against the terrorism and became to be a war for the interest of few, Bush and his rich followers, they are the ones who are getting good numbers in their profits with the blood and the courage of our troops. We had a lot of emotions fighting against the people who were a menace for our country, but know we are tire of this without a reason war where we aren't defending our nation, we are fighting against people who just want to live in their own country, we aren't fighting for our country any more, now we are fighting for Iraq. We need to fight for our own country and not for the personal interest of Mr. Bush and his followers.

Answer 11

Hardly, stay away from the networks. Read up, books, and stuff, the fun is just beginning.