How is 9/11 viewed internationally?

[unicron44]

Well I lived in Washington DC at the time and it was an extremely scary day. My dad worked for United Airlines so I only expected the worst and I was only seven at the time. To me it's one of the worst days of my life but I try not to make a big out of 9/11 because I'm sick of all the media and pictures posted everywhere. Yahoo, MSN, Google, Comcast, etc. it's just posted everywhere. A huge deal is made every year about it and it's just so watered down.

 

[Zeh Don]

Basically, I think everyone other than Americans, and the Media looking to drum up some ratings, stopped caring quite some time ago. It was a horrible event, but this whole "We Will Never Forget, We Will Never Forgive" crap keeps the hate and fear alive. Remember the people, not the way they dyed.

*shrugs*

A few thousand people died in September 11, at the hands of some clearly dangerous individuals. America as since then used this event as the basis for the deaths of over 100,000 people. Whatever tragedy was felt on September 11 is long since gone.

 

[FateOrFatality]

My mother is American, so despite the fact I've lived in Australia my entire life, 9/11 is a bit more important to me than others.

Still, while I remember it as a horrible event in history, I don't think it is particularly unique nor should it be brought up as much as it is. It was a tragic event, but it happened ten years ago and the man responsible for it has since been killed. Not much more to say.

 

[TheIronRuler]

Being American, the 9/11 attack is a big-ish deal, especially with the buzz going around about the 10th anniversary.
However, I have no idea how other country's view it, and am wondering how you see it? Do you remember it, or recognize the day? Has it affected you guys too?

Sorry if I sound really American, but these are honest questions.

We have our own catastrophes to remember.
You have your two thousand and a half dead from a population of 300 million, we had at the time the same ratio of casualties to local populace, but we had more than one bombing.
Oh I hate to remember the second Intifada.
You don't have a world wide memorial day for the dead during that period.
Yes, it was a disaster. Many, many, many lost their lives. But if you ask most of the people that live in the mid-west, they don't have any relatives there. You have a huge country with a huge amount of population. Some people were not affected by the event.
.
My uncle used to work in NYC, so I was worried because my mother was worried, but other than that I didn't care much. The people living on the other side of the world - they have nothing to do with me.
I remember the date. Nothing more, nothing less.

 

[The Harkinator]

Internationally: A tragic and cruel loss of life that became one of those 'Where were you' days for everyone.

Personally: Well, actually I just gave my opinion but I wish there weren't TV programmes about the 10th anniversary of 11th September because for me it somehow cheapens the event. Some shows focus on the families of the victims moving on and I think its good they come to terms with their loss I don't think it needs to be on our screens. Just my opinion but the best form of respect in this case is to spare victims families from having cameras watching them. I also think it was used to justify deaths and hunting for terrorists who may not have been terrorists. 11th September was a date many people were killed, it then caused many other people to be killed not all deserved it.

 

[No_Remainders]

I can't speak for all the Irish, but my attitude is it needs to be forgotten, or at least people should shut up about it.

"THEY ATTACKED US!"
"Yeah, and then you invaded Iraq for oil. Get over it."

 

[Mr.Squishy]

NZ. Not cared about in the slightest. In fact[footnote]Though to be fair this is just from people I have spoken to about it.[/footnote] people find it distasteful that americans still go on and on about it like it was such a big thing. And the whole "They attacked us!" is disgusting.

Simple fact is this, unless you actually lost a family member in the attack then you really need to stfu about it and stop acting as if it had anything to do with you.

Oh and internationally its viewed 11/9. <.<

Yeah, this is pretty much the Norwegian attitude too. Either "get over it already!", "What's so special about that date?" or a big, fat, resounding "Meh".

 

[Death-of-Penguins]

I can think of quite a few people I know in Scotland who really don't care that much any more. I mean, it was a horrific incident at the time, but it's been ten years. I saw a list recently of ten more significant things that have happened since then, and I'm inclined to agree.

Arab Springs, for a recent example, or The stagnation of the U.S. and other developed-world economies.

A quick Google should bring up the list. It's an interesting read.

 

[Strixvaliano]

NZ. Not cared about in the slightest. In fact[footnote]Though to be fair this is just from people I have spoken to about it.[/footnote] people find it distasteful that americans still go on and on about it like it was such a big thing. And the whole "They attacked us!" is disgusting.

Simple fact is this, unless you actually lost a family member in the attack then you really need to stfu about it and stop acting as if it had anything to do with you.

Oh and internationally its viewed 11/9. <.<

American here and I have to agree with your post 100 percent. It is pretty distasteful that the whole nation keeps ranting and gibbering on it like some damned baboons for 10 years straight.

Sure it was a horrible event and we all paid our respect 10 years ago but people here just love picking on the wound. People need to learn to let go and move on.

 

[Dense_Electric]

You don't see Japan doing this with the Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombings.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hiroshima_Peace_Memorial_Ceremony

Oh no, far be it from the Japanese to do something as selfish as remembering a national tragedy

To anyone claiming America needs to "get over it" - I'm sorry, but it was sort of the spark for most of the major events involving this country over the last decade, you know? Not to mention one of the single deadliest days in our history. Not to mention it's specifically the tenth anniversary of that day. So yeah, it's sort of a big deal for us.

You don't have to remember it, you don't have to honor it, you don't have to feel invested in it in anyway, but you should at the very least be respectful.

 

[Danik93]

The media loves it, but here in Sweden no one has ever cared at all. Why should we?
I'm pretty sure 9/11 was the starting point for my deep hatred for American patriotism.

Anna Lindh got assassinated on 9/11 so that's one reason for us swedes to care.

 

[Father Tunde]

Initially sad, but then other attacks happened in places all around the world, like London and Madrid.

And then several years later, I found out many Americans funded/supported IRA attacks on Britain. Guess I don't feel that sorry for them, now they know how well the boot fits.

 

[MrTub]

I must say I really didnt care.
And I still dont care about it.

 

[Amplify]

I'm English, and I see it as the day that terrorists won "the war on terror". The 10 years after that are simply America not realising that the moment they gave up most/all of their freedoms for a little security "just in case" of terrorists is the same day they lost, possibly permanently.

 

[Sam Leighton]

Here in Australia we woke up, turned on the tv, wondered where Cheez TV was gone and then sort of went on with our lives. Keep in mind I was 10 at the time but I remember wondering why Australians even went to war over it. Not sure of the numbers but there were very few Aussies in the towers.
Personally I see its importance more in the political change it brought about. Things such as the Patriot Act, Australia going to war in the Middle East, the Invasion of Iraq and dramatic shifts towards the political left in both US and Aus long after 9/11 would probably never have happened without 9/11.

 

[Ledan]

Swedes mostly don't care.
Me and my friends, a lot of the people I know, and others find the memorial..... untasteful, for lack of a better word. Americans spend an entire day for these 3000 people, yet nothing for all the hundreds of thousands of civilians America has killed? Or Guantanamo bay, which coupled with other such facilities has over 3000 people interned? Or for the lives of others that have been destroyed.
Also, we find your general patriotism vulgar. Since 11/9 is closely associated nowadays with American patriotism, we find it a bit vulgar. And shameful that America props this event, as America being a great suffering victim, yet does next to nothing for those who have suffered greater tragedies.

 

[Darby]

I woke up and checked my clock this morning. It read 9:11 9/11. I was so freaked out.

 

[Mr. 47]

Personally, a day of sadness. Many innocents died, no matter nationality, that is a tragedy.

For Canada, the weeks that followed were a reminder to our hospitality. Your flights in air were re-directed to Gander, Newfoundland and Labrador. The 6 and a half thousand people traveling to America were taken in by the townsfolk there, public areas like schools became refugee shelters, travelers joined families for meals, bordings, and showers. A proud moment for all Canadians.

 

[Get_A_Grip_]

When it happened I did see it as a big deal.
But now ten years later, I don't really care about the events of 11/9.

 

[El Poncho]

I have really stopped caring, when I was a kid I was too young to understand but when I was a bit older I cared but now I just can't seem to care.