Every year it gets harder to have a proper 9/11 tribute. Our memories of the tragedy fade, and we become more distanced from the emotion and the absence of irony that followed the terrorist attacks. Today marks eight years since all of our lives changed, and it’s too easy to forget who we were before and how we ended up here — “here,” in my case, being New York City by way of Iraq, a windmill of a war born from the attacks that still goes on today.
So every year I re-watch Jon Stewart’s opening on the first “Daily Show” after 9/11. Some people might find it too overwrought and blubbering, but to me it feels sincere. It represents how I felt back then and what I love about America, and the last two minutes or so always get me choked up. If you wanna make fun of me for that, well, you hate America and the terrorists have already won.
(Need more 9/11 reminiscing? Here’s my memory of it.)
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I was 10 years old when that happened, and I remember it like it was yesterday. I was at camp, and our freaked out cabin instructor blurted out “We got bombed!” When I came back home, I remember countless times I would sit and watch the footage. Over and over, and I was confused, scared, and angry. This event is different for me, as a kid, then it was for most; I wasn’t a grown adult, I was a coming of age kid. This event, and watching the footage, where I was, the way I felt; it will forever be etched in my memory. Its what made me politically jaded and cynical, but why I strive to help people, and influence the world for the better. Sounds cheesy, but I’m for real.
9-11 has affected all of us. I was in week 2, day 2 of Ranger School on September 11th and the RIs were crying, although we had no idea why. Understandably, we had no access to the news or TV but it was clear that we were going to war eventually. So to say “war in iraq” in three short words doesn’t really do it much justice. That for me meant 13 months in Kuwait and Iraq. My friend Brian was killed during that war that was spurred on by the events of 9-11. Two of my Sergeants were killed during that war and 18 of my guys were seriously injured, so to them and their families, it wasn’t a little thing that keeps you from buying a Wii fit, it was everything they had to give. Many good men and women from many countries have died fighting against the chaos and extremism that Al-Queda seeks. If you really haven’t been affected, then go fuck yourself and make friends with some people who give a damn about this great country we live in. They’ve been affected, and transitively, so have you.
well done warmin’
And since then, Im sure I could hear him plead for the “rights” of the poor prisoners at Club gitmo, who would do this a thousands times over if they could. Or show his undying support for a president that bans the word ‘jihadist’ ands calls terror attacks ‘man made disasters’.
Incredibly moving, thank you for posting this
I live in the Midwest, always have, always will… to say that it hasn’t “touched” me directly is just silly. Just ask my cousin who’s a wreck again because her husband got recalled and is in the Middle East (we don’t know where, of course) for another few months.
I can’t say thanks to Nick right now Matt, so let me Say Thank you to you in his honor.
Thank you.
The 3 saddest things that came from 9-11:
1. All the lives that were lost.
2. Eight years later, we STILL haven’t got Bin Laden.
3. It was supposed to bring everyone together, but everyone went back to normal (with our two major political parties caring more about power than our country) six months later.
Thank you for your service, Matt.
I haven’t seen this in forever, but it feels weird, because one of my most vivid memories of 9/11 was seeing Jon Stewart on the street. I was living in the West Village, and watched the whole thing happen as I walked on Sixth avenue, and later in the day, I saw Jon standing in front of a pizzeria, along with a bunch of other people who were trying to get info on blood donation. It was such a disconnect, seeing a celebrity I adored, versus the confusion of that day.
Letterman’s was better. So was Conan’s. But this isn’t bad.
I grew up in and around NYC and have lived here for most of my life. Maybe because I’m older , I’m not sure but 9/11 caused me to look inside and decide to try things I never tried before, because I saw so many people lose their lives and they would never have the chance to do so. Yes, 9/11 did change me quite a bit.
When was the last time you were at an airport?
/NOT COOL!
//Cory Lidle
FOA: Oh, one more thing. Major high five to your parents for busting their asses to be being part of a country that, despite its laundry list of fuckups, leads the world in freedom of expression and economic opportunity. And NASCAR crashes.
If you don’t think 9/11 had an impact on your life then you (a) have avoided air/train/international travel for eight years, (b) haven’t paid taxes to fund our military for eight years, (c) don’t look look Middle Eastern, and (d) think Bush would have won in 2004 anyway.
You don’t have to care or feel patriotic or mourn the loss of those who died (I’m a dirty liberal so the loss of innocent American life is no more tragic to me than the loss of any innocent life), and you certainly don’t have to hop aboard the Wistful Reminiscence Express. I’ve never felt compelled to get overly sad about 9/11 more than any other horrifying event that didn’t impact me directly. I sometimes get defensively anti-sad, just to counteract all the treacle that spurts down the pipeline each 9/11.
But now that you’re 20 years old and are (presumably) voting and paying taxes, it seems almost willfully defiant to claim that 9/11 didn’t impact your life.
Man, I was 12 when that happened. I really don’t know what changed and I’ve only ridden a plane twice, both times before 9/11. So in conclusion, you two guys are right.
That still seems indirect though. Yeah, 9/11 affected everybody, but it only directly, as in immediately/everyday, affected people who lost someone in the attacks and most of New York City. Is anybody riding a plane today, being searched, and thinking “Fucking 9/11!”. Doesn’t stuff like that seem like the norm at this point, mostly detached from the reasons that caused it?
Everyday, something happens that changes everybody’s life forever. That day was just more major. Like any other event, it’s impact will fade into history (Do most people have a moment of silence on 12/4 these days, or is it just another day now?).
Maybe it’s my age (I was 12 on the day of the attacks). Maybe it’s my disconnection (My parents are Mexican Immigrants, thus the likelihood of one of my relatives dying in the attacks was basically nil). Maybe it’s the distance (I live in the Southwest). Maybe I’m just a dick. Whatever it is, I can’t bring myself to care about 9/11, or to see how it affected me aside from indirectly (9/11–>War In Iraq–>Massive Spending–>Massive Debt–>Shit Economy–>I don’t buy as many things).
Oh, and anyone who says that our lives haven’t been changed directly by the events of 9/11 is either too young to remember how it “used to be” or too ignorant to recall. You are probably the same person who does not notice when the smoke alarm battery needs replacing and allows it chirp for months.
Wow, that’s a really wide tie! I’ve been watching too much Mad Men. Oh yeah, way to be Jon.
Nothing against you Matt, but aside from indirectly, most peoples lives (hell, most Americans) haven’t had their lives changed from 9/11.
Really? When was the last time you were at an airport?
Great video. I remember Letterman’s perfect 9/11 speech too.
I had to walk around Ground Zero twice every day to get to work and home for 3 years. It never got any less depressing (the lack of construction didn’t help).
Anyway, thanks for posting this … now completely disregarding the man’s politics, I’m off to watch this overly treacle video of George W. Bush firing an f’n bullet to home plate about 18 times in a row.
My life before 9/11: Constant Self-Gratification and endless complaining about nerd-related things at people who don’t care.
My life after 9/11- Uhh…
Nothing against you Matt, but aside from indirectly, most peoples lives (hell, most Americans) haven’t had their lives changed from 9/11.
Jon Stewart. I love you. You are what I call a real man.
You too Matt.
Booya
what I love about America
Christina Hendricks
God bless America. And thank you for serving our country Matt.
Thanks for posting this Matt. I never saw this when it actually happened because I too was a blubbering fool for days just watching the news and trying to figure out what in the hell just happened and coming to grips with the fact that I would never see the WTC from Laguardia street down in the village again.
Watching this now is the best tribute we could have every year. And now I’ve got to get myself back together.
Normally one wakes up and it’s just another day. Eight years ago I woke up and the world had changed. Remember those whose lives were lost in those short few hours that September morn and those who’ve been lost in the years after, and work …towards a morning when triumph, not tragedy, brings us together as a nation.
John Hodgman gave a speech shortly after 9/11 that remains worth reading.
McSweeneys is kind enough to repost it every year.
Thanks for posting this. I love that speech.