I see a divide in this country over September 11. It cuts north-and-south right at the California line. Californians don’t get September 11 — because it’s not about them. And isn’t everything supposed to be about them?
You can read the rest over at Jeff Jarvis’s site. Ya know what? I’ve noticed the same divide. But I don’t diagnose it’s source from the same roots as Jeff does. I mean – those sterotypes have to be wrong – right?
I think Jeff misses an important fact in his rant. We on the east coast experienced 9.11 in the present tense. We saw it live! I had my TV turned to CNN when the first plane struck. Many, many of us, saw the second plane hit live. I remember it vividly, “There’s been an explosion in the other tower! What happened? (they slowly replay tape to analyze…) My God another plane hit!” Many, many of us were listenting to the reports of planes in the air wondering what’s next. Then the Pentagon was hit.
On the west coast many experienced it as a TV show. Already punditized. Already produced. Already packaged for mass consumption. Planes already grounded. Fighters already scrambled. Country already safe. In this case – the difference between live and not live means everything. Most major media outlets, within 30 minutes of the first plane strike, were talking about terrorism. In those first few minutes we on the east coast experienced – the talk was of the end of the world. At least it was amoungst my family and friends. Did it seem as immediate and as close to everyone across the country?
I do not believe most people were up and about at the time to experience it live as we did here on the east. I’ve had quite a few conversations with folks confirming this. Phone calls shared, within my own company, from west coast homes to the east coast offices and were filled with concerns for how ‘we’ were doing. Didn’t you experience it too I wondered? We all experienced it. Yes we did. But there were differences. Distance, time, and the media, played major roles.
We were at work. They were in their homes. Sleeping or just waking up. Taking breaks for their showers, for their trips to work. Many of us ran from work to be home with our loved ones. They were already with them hopefully, or making the same hurried calls as we were to our loved ones.
Those differences were amplified during the next few days and months as funeral processions were taking place in the northeast. Everyone over here knows someone who lost a loved one. Everyone.
That is a huge perceptional difference. In my communications with west coasters… well I take that into account. I’m pretty sure with co-workers from the west – they take it into account with us on the east. Suffice to say, I think it probably would have been the same if the tables were turned. We all experienced it. Yes we did. But there is no denying distance, time, and the media. No denying them.
The main headline today at the latimes, “Everything Changed in NY” , and the nytimes, “A Nation Challenged”, sheds light. Distance, Time, and Media.
For what it’s worth, this west coaster was up when it happened and experienced it as real-time as anyone anywhere.
That’s probably why I didn’t find your reaction to be in the same class as many other west coasters. Jeff missed the boat on you and your earlier posts.
Saying we should get off our high horse is one thing… saying we shouldn’t light a candle for the deceased deserves alot more then a rant.
I just read Jeff Jarvis’s comments, and let me get on the record — he’s a complete idiot. Norah Vincent’s quote is thoughtful and interesting. If being from the east coast means you’re a jerk, I’ll be from the west coast (even though I was born and raised in the east).
I don’t mind Norah Vincent’s piece either and I think it makes some good points.
But… Jeff experienced that day even closer then I did. He was in NY. As you get closer to the event – the feelings are much more raw – and I find more genuine.
Why do you think no one gives a shit about the famine in Africa? Because we are selfish?
No not really. It’s because it’s not in my backyard that’s why. Almost all people are effected by the ‘not in my backyard’ syndrome. If there was famine on that scale in California – it would be taken care of already. Or here in Philadelphia.
Distance, Time and the Media.
I’m using Jeff’s article to make that point. Not that either coast is filled with assholes.
I think this guy makes a good point about your piece however:
http://www.photodude.com/weblog/dumped/2002/September/002167.shtml
I think that the three factors I mentioned above can move us from feeling that something happened to ‘me’, to ‘us’, to ‘them’. Do you feel personally attacked by evil on Sept. 11th for example? Or do you feel that ‘we’ (or ‘us’) recieved somekind of message. I think you went with the latter. Jeff, and that link above most definately feel the former.
Okay, maybe that does explain it. How would I know. I just got back from a short drive. I looked around my neighborhood. I asked myself if I see any remains from 9/11/01. The answer was a resounding no. They had David Letterman’s monologue on NPR, where he’s saying he can’t be funny. I remember hearing that back then and feeling he was right. Now I hear it and wonder how everyone could have taken it so seriously.
I come from NY. I know that no one in NY gave a shit about the WTC. Of course the 3000 people who died had friends and family, and they definitely were hurt bigtime by what happened. But as much as people want the focus on them..
Life goes on.
Dave
Yes life goes on. Absolutely. No one is denying that. And it’s a testament to so many’s strength and fortitude that life *has gone on already*.
For me, a part of that is remembering and honoring the dead, while fighting for the living. Lighting a candle, or saying a prayer for those who have passed is not disrespect to the living. No. I think that it’s just the opposite. For only in recognizing death do we really face life. Right?