Today is the sixth anniversary of the September 11 2001 terrorist attacks. Im not gonna go into that, since w’ve all seen what has come after it. No, my point is that on many calendars this is being called ‘Patriot Day’.
There used to be, and in some places there still is, a holiday called ‘Patriots Day’ (note the Patriot/Patriots distinction). Patriots day is commonly celebrated on April 19th. It was to celebrate the patriotic spirit and remember those patriots who gave for their beliefs.
The current ‘Patriot Day’ is nothing like that. The current ‘Patriot Day’ is yet another example of how we’ve developed a need to memorialize every tragedy that occurs. If the powers that be feel this event warrants a special name and date, terrific..I dont agree but thats just me. However, I feel it detracts from a genuine and long-respected holiday. The original Patriots Day.
For the record, I celebrate Patriots Day every year in the finest fashion – going to the range and practicing my rifle skills.
So, look back on the events in 2001 and behave as you feel necessary. I recall watching the whole affair live on TV and all I could think was ‘There goes my liberty’…time has proven that I was correct. Call it whatever you wanna call it, but calling it ‘Patriot Day’ harkens a certain Orwellian recasting of history.
My calendar doesn’t have any “Patriot Day” on it. I feel I’ve already demonstrated my rifle capabilities (such as they are) this weekend, so I guess I’ll have to celebrate with some pistol work sometime this week. Maybe Thursday or Friday. And I have fresh, unblemished targets ready to go 😉
I don’t mean to be too much of a Grammar Nazi here, but I think it might be instructive to ponder how 9/11/01 was, beyond being a catastrophe, also an actual tragedy. Most people use the latter word when they mean the former without thinking, but in this case, it may apply.
I agree with you. I cringe a little each time I hear 9/11 referred to as Patriot Day. It’s adding insult to injury to memorialize a sneak attack that resulted in mass casualties of US civilians and accelerated the destruction of this country from the inside by naming it Patriot Day. Don’t get me started on the Patriot Act…
How do you feel about Pearl Harbor day?
I commemmorate Patriots Day every year. Even if its nothing more than taking down my regular flag and hoisting a Betsy Ross for the day, or changing my email sig. Equating 9/11 to patriotism makes me slightly nauseous.
I’ve never heard September 11th referred to as Patriot Day.
Maybe the name is meant to celebrate the passage of the Patriot Act.
If it’s any consolation, here in the state where two of the planes took off (including the one with Mohammed Atta), we recognize the day but don’t even think of using “Patriot” in connection with it.
Patriot’s Day here is a holiday in April where we remember what happened in 1775. And it always will be.
I have reported this disruptive blog activity to Michelle Malkin.
It seems to me that it would as deserving as 9/11 of some sort of calendarical distinction.
This is quite true. Its been noted elsewhere that this is actually an atrocity, rather than a tragedy. However, it seems that usage defines definition rather than the other way around these days.
You reminded me of one of my favorite exchanges from the TV show, “Dead Like Me”:
Daisy: I smell a disaster.
Mason: Heh, no, five deaths is not a disaster.
George: How many deaths is a disaster?
Mason: More than five, five’s bullshit.
George: How many?
Mason: 16 to 20, disaster. 21 and up, catastrophe. 8 to 15, is a calamity.
Rube: 7 and under?
Mason: That’s a crying shame.
One of my favourite shows.
I don’t fly the Stars and Stripes on 9/11. I raise the Gadsden flag. My other annual observance is to hit the range, and ventilate an Osama poster.