Despite the fact that 9/11 was a very tragic day?

Question

Why is it that when the same amount of people who die in other parts of the world it is hardly mentioned? There are websites, recovery groups, buildings, monuments, books, magazines, and other stuff made in remembrance of 9/11.

But when a cyclone kills 3,000 people in Bangladesh, when an earthquake kills 2,500 people in Indonesia, or when a terrorist group kills hundreds of people in the Phillippines, it is barely mentioned and it almost never makes the front pages. Most people will never hear these stores. Why?

Are American lives worth more than other lives? To me, I think a human in Sri Lanka is the same as a human in New York City. To me, a street beggar in Calcutta is just as worthy of life as a millionaire in Beverly Hills. It just doesn't make any sense to me.

By the way, not only am I an American but I am also an Airman in the Air Force. I feel sad every time I think about 9/11 and I wish it never happened. But worse things happen almost every day around the world.

Answer 1

It's easy to pretend that something tragic in other countries never happened, or to downplay it, or to leave it out of the news. Few people are aware that a tragedy took place anyway, nor are they personally invested in that country. 9/11, however, took place in this very country. It was impossible to ignore, could not be downsized because it was so widely televised originally and it impacted all Americans. Many people watched it take place again and again on the television but never say any pictures of devestations that you mentioned. That detatchment makes the tragedies in other countries seem much less serious. News that directly impacts people is promoted more than news that doesn't. I'm not saying it's right, but that's the way it is.

Answer 2

I completely agree with you. (I am American as well, and love my country.) However, I think there is/was something about "the world's greatest city" being under attack. It was such a shock to all of us, and part of the hype was in the days, weeks, and months following, we didn't know if we were always going to be targeted, how much our lives would change forever, etc. It was a big deal across the world for America to be hit like it was. Especially because we were hit by other human beings. We were targeted. We're supposed to be the strong. The leaders of the world. It was really a time for Americans to come together and support each other, which we are once again seriously lacking. This is obvious again, just six years later, when we're all arguing and fighting over so many trivial things. We are no longer the united front we were on the night of September 11th.

Answer 3

Violent death tends to draw more attention than death from natural causes or acts of God. Look at the coverage that murders get in the media - murders are something like 1/1000th of deaths in the US, and even lower in Europe, but draw more attention than the numerous deaths from disease.

Even more, it took place in New York. That's where the media is located. A huge event like 9/11 obviously would have been noticed anywhere, but it wouldn't have had as much dramatic impact elsewhere. Look at the 2nd largest terror attack in US history, the Oklahoma City bombing. It totally dominated the news for a few days; it was all you could find in any paper or on any station. But after a few days, it disappeared from the media, and over time has mostly disappeared from memory.

Lastly, playing up 9/11 and constantly reminding people of it happens to match the political agenda of the present US leadership, which is therefore very eager to ensure it is remembered as much as possible.

Answer 4

Have you ever really paid attention to the mainstream press? I mean really paid attention. That crap isnt news, its mass distraction. For months now we've been inundated with brittneys sad life, and the ongoing saga of anna nicole. You mean to tell me that hours and days can be spent on anna nicole vs. james brown? He was an american music icon and he got very little press when he died. For starters americans are being told what to think and most dont care whats outside thier little bubble. When my wife arrived here (she is Filipina) the members of my church actually asked her "why do you speak english?" Imagine that. And you ask why our country's news isnt aired here? They dont want to know about real news no matter where it takes place. It isnt so much of a racist thing as it is a lack of personal depth. The people in this country have been wacked out on prescription drugs, consumerism and conveniences they dont want to know anything else. And the few that arent asleep have to get thier news from the web, npr or public broadcasting. Dont wait on fox, cbs, abc etc. They are all controlled information outlets designed to keep you asleep. Want a real eye opener? go to youtube, wikipedia or the library and find out who owns the media giants. Once is an accident, twice is a plan, three times is a program, ask Norman Minetta Secretary of Transportation. 9/11 was a program, thats why every time you see george on tv he is playing the 9/11-terrorist buttons like a monkey with a hammer. Oh, and dont go patriot on me, i served our country too. Im just not sure its our country anymore.

Answer 5

the difference is between random acts of nature and intentional grand scale violence perpetrated by terrorists. 9/11 was an act and/or declaration of war on America. That made it the biggest happening in America since Pearl Harbor. The tragedy is that we let the perpetrators slip away for the sake of a silly conflict that will never end well or cleanly.

Answer 6

Honey, I trust you that one existence is purely as significant as yet another. notwithstanding, too a lot of our forefathers, brothers, sisters, mothers, aunts, uncles, etc., died so as that we could desire to have the freedoms and liberties that we've right this moment. So whilst somebody assaults our place of delivery it is a brilliant deal, an somewhat, very massive deal. The lives that have been taken have been tragic and purely as tragic as the different existence, however the reality that they've been taken on American soil is what made it and makes it so terrible, a minimum of in my view. i'm an somewhat proud American and that i hate the reality the lots killing is going on everywhere in our international or maybe in usa for the main weird and wonderful reasons, yet whilst yet another us of a or terrorist attack our place of delivery it is extra beneficial than purely homicide. i think that's what made it so undesirable. i became into fortunate to no longer have lost all and sundry in the 911 tragedy, yet i'm proud to declare that I at present artwork for the branch of place of delivery risk-free practices and that i could die to guard each and every guy or woman who comes my way and each guy or woman who I stand and artwork with. i'm happy with what I/we do and that i'm happy with what you and something of our protection rigidity do. we are a small team struggling with to save a brilliant, very super mass of persons who from time to time do no longer opt to be saved for any reason. that's what the unhappy area is. God be with you and God Bless us all.

Answer 7

Because it probably isn't an election year in those countries when it happens. Catastrophe makes for good PR spin, done right.
Want to see something interesting about the World Trade Center? It's a movie. It's free. Part three is most interesting. The Trade Center did not collapse from any aircraft hitting it. They were demolished intentionally, with set charges on its superstructure, deep inside the buildings themselves. One building collapsed yet was never struck by anything, not even falling debris. Those buildings were designed to withstand being struck by several very large aircraft and never topple. Why wasn't there ever any wreckage at the Pentagon or in Pennsylvania? Because a plane never hit them. A missile did instead, both. It was all very nicely staged and perfectly planned and executed. Sadder than it even happening is everyone believed it too.

Answer 8

There is a difference. On 9/11 there was a devastating attack caused by humans. To think humans would even think about wiping out that many people is horrendous.

Answer 9

Totally agree. The Tsunami was dreadful, and then there was that earthquake in Pakistan, the flooding in Southern Mexico, Hurricane Katrina...it's all very sad and out of anyone's control.

9/11 was a political tsumani of sorts, and though we all have different ideas about 'who done it', it was a mass murder and just horrible too.

Answer 10

It is more of the media's exploitation....as expected politics penetrated again....so the more powerful the country is, the more highlights are given to the tragedy that it suffers...and the easiest to magnify such issues is to let the whole world know about it through the expense of Media.........