While talking with listeners about the blessings we've received in our lives since the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11th, an e-mail popped up from a young man named Jim. The subject line was "A Younger View."
I read the e-mail on the air, and touched off a conversation that my inbox is still fending off. (*If you want to hear this morning's shows to listen to callers' responses, the entire show is posted within the Vintage Voorhees link down the left-hand side of this page. Jim's e-mail and the responses are in the second half of the program.)
Here's Jim's message, with a selection of responses following it:
Scott,
I was 7 when 911 happened, and don't really remember the details of the day. I guess what I'd like to ask is when will we move on from this. It's like we're just marinating in bad feelings.
I understand that the people who lost family members will want to visit graves and such, but the older people in this society, who had nothing to do with 911, seem to want to relive the past for some reason.
There's a whole new generation of Americans entering adulthood who don't remember that day, and who don't have the same feelings that you older people do of this day. We don't have the same hate or need for revenge that older Americans seem to have.
And if you really think about it, not that many people died that day when you consider the history of warfare. How many people did we kill with the atomic bombs on
I hope my generation will be different when we're in charge and we won't go to war as a first resort. I hope we'll try to walk a mile in other people's shoes before we kill them.
Jim
Dear Jim,
I understand that you don't like to have the bad things of the past repeated back to you ad nausium. I understand why you just want to move on and be done with it. Here is why you have the wrong perspective.
It is a proven fact that those who fail to recall the past are condemned to repeat it. Jim, you need to understand that we don't observe all these horrible events - like 9/11, Horishima, Vietnaam, etc. - because we find some perverted pleasure from them or that we love to somehow glory in the past. No. We observe these occasions so that they might not ever be repeated again.
In other words, Jim, it is in your best interest to observe these events in history and LEARN from them.
Sincerely,
(Mr.) Val
Scott,
The more you read from "Jim", the guy who sent you the email concerning the Rembrance of 9-11, the more furious I have become!!!
We still have a Remembrance for all of those killed on the Arizonia that took Americainto World War 2. If I had my way the networks would rerun the footage of the carnage that was taken on 9-11 just so people like Jim could "get it."
Since "Jim" has NO CLUE what it means to live in a Free country, I believe he should have the experience of getting to live in one of the nations he named where we killed innocent people....
FREEDOM ISN'T FREE JIM!!!!! For ;you to live in the nation that you do -so that you can believe and talk pathetic nonsense-- has NO COST to YOU--obviously, Ole Jim needs to be thanking others -all the others for their sacrifice so that he can live his pointless little life in a free country!!!
Thank you.
Jill H.
Hi Scott,
Regarding Jim’s email: Ignorance is Bliss, and Jim must be one of the most blissful people around. War has never been a first resort, it has always been a last resort. We do not enter into it lightly, and we do not sacrifice our men without heavy hearts. We reflect because we want to remember, and make every effort to not have history repeated.
Tim
Morning Scott,
Jim's email made me sick to my stomach. I can even let go his comments about 9/11 (and I am a veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom). But to say that we should commemorate the deaths of those we killed in wars past is so far out there I really don't know how to respond. Maybe Jim would feel better if we were having these conversations in German. I'm only 9 years older than Jim, but his apparent inability to recognize our virtuous past (and present) and the sacrifices this nation has made, not in offense or conquest, but in the defense of others, only convinces me that the end of this country as we know it is fast approaching. Our nation's enemies hear the sentiments of spineless fools like Jim and lick their chops at the thought of seeing our downfall.
Never forget those who died. Never forget those who killed them.
Tom
That guy is what is wrong with America! Bleeding heart idiot! Obviously he doesn't know the difference between war and a terrorist attack. This was not a war, it was a terrorist attack on innocent citizens, going about their normal lives. Stupid, uninformed punk!
IDIOT!
Wow... there is so much I could say about that young man's email but given his lack of understanding about the events of that day my efforts would be wasted.
What I will say:
1. If his thoughts are shared by a significant number of other people his age.. this country is screwed.
2. You are probably an Obama supporter so do us all a favor and stay home on Nov 06.
Deb
Hey scott jim is a freakin idoit and he is prob a ron paul supporter. People like him give me a bad name. Im 21 years old and that day is still in my heart. Also jim said we should walk in other people shoes. How about he walk in a shoe of a young kind or wife or husband who lost their love one that day!
God bless America
Ryan
Jim’s attitude is a huge contribution as to what is wrong with our country & I pray for our future. He’s probably one of those little pricks that doesn’t stand for the National Anthem which I have witnessed. He’s so quick to point out all the deaths our country is responsible for in wars, etc.; however, it seems he’s oblivious as to the horrible things those other nations were doing to their own citizens.
I’m old enough to be his mom…I believe I would be ashamed to call him my own. I’m sure the case is he was brought up this way by parents who don’t appreciate our country & they’re part of the group that wants to change it. They need to move elsewhere!!!
Very sad.
Kimberly
Couldn’t Jim’s logic also be used to say – “when are we going to get over slavery and segregation and racism already. That was, like, before I was born and my generation isn’t going to dwell on the past.”
I think Jim has some “living” to do – unfortunately he has probably been sheltered most of his whole life.
Mike in
To Jim...
Jim we do have a day to remember our service members; it's called Memorial Day and we honor those who served in the military on Veterans Day. I wasn't around for
Your age has nothing to do with your attitude or lack of serving others. You believe people should give you respect and not have to earn it. You Jim are a brat and don't have any knowledge beyond your own selfish desires. You're too plugged into your I-Pod and I-crap to pay much attention beyond your shallow little insignificant life. Go build a habitat house, join the Peace Corps, or the Marine Corps and serve someone else for four to eight years. Go grow up.
Jonniez
Jim reminds me of my nephew, a bright young man with a great analytical mind, who doesn't understand that his perspectives lack wisdom.
Wisdom is a function of age, and there are a number of well peer-reviewed studies that codify that fact. A young person can be bright, but not wise. Hopefully Jim will eventually reach that point and his perspective will change.
I wouldn't judge him too harshly, and you were right Scott when you responded to him as you did.
Daniel
Scott,
My daughter is 19 so was 8 on 9/11. She doesn’t remember a lot, but does remember talking about it that day and knowing that something really bad happened. We, though, are a military family. We were stationed at Offutt at that time. We remember 9/11 in our family every year and pray for the people who were personally affected as well as the rest of our country as we feel it deeply, and that includes my 19 year old daughter. She feels it as deeply as my Husband and I. Does Jim’s family not remember? Do they not impress upon this child the magnitude and importance of this event? I will pray for the youth of our country that they might realize what this meant to all of us!
Melissa
Scott,
I applaud you for spending time on Jim's email. His ignorance is clearly representative of the complacent attitude that's being instilled in the youth of today and hopefully, if anything, it reminds us that we cannot rely on our public education system to teach our children patriotism & empathy and the real education should first start at home. Maybe someday, Jim will start his own family and gain a different perspective in his next 18 years on this earth.
God bless,
Ashley
