I remember when it happened. I was in kindergarten when it happened and then sent home. I asked my mother what’s happening and didn’t get a response a few minutes later my dad came stumbling home and up the stairs. I was watching tv in the living room and got sent to their bedroom cause my room had a crap tv because reasons.
“ Just stay watching cartoons in the room.”
Me being the nosey ass smart kid that I was did not listen to those words at all. I waited a snuck out the room and positioned myself to see the screen but I hadn’t mastered stealth yet and my dad saw me. I then was sent back to the room and started watching cartoons then remembered I could change to the news. So I did and was confused at what they were saying. The next day teachers didn’t know what to say to us and because death doesn’t click with kids mentally yet they got off lucky not having to explain what happened.
Lets flash forward a few years and the War in Afghan happens. Parents are upset that kids are being sent off to fight in a war, pretty justified reason for being angry then something peculiar happens. Those going over seas were just joking and making fun of the whole things even back home in the states. The jokes weren’t disrespectful or poor in my opinion. Our parents on the hand were fucking pissed and about to erupt like a volcano. They were surprised that it was treated like another day on, like working the damn plantation. They blamed video games and movies, completely ignoring the damn trauma that unfolded on our own soil. When something like that happens you don’t go back to thinking war is unavoidable, honorable or you’re untouchable. You just fucking don’t. Then the fact they had the damn gall to be upset when they let old veterans down with the PTSD what did they get no damn therapy, addiction treated like scum and left out to rot. All our parents did was talk good shit. They didn’t do anything and like what the fuck did you think would happen when the largest modern terrorist attack against the US, what kind of people don’t get therapy and address the elephant in the room for the kids. It’s fucking disrespect. It just comes across Simpsons level of stupid shit.
However we all know people make jokes when they’re uncomfortable or to cope. When 2020 started off with World War III memes and half the planet on fire like it was being terraformed by aliens what did people do. We made jokes because there was nothing to do but try and make light of a shitty scenario. I’m not the biggest fan of this way to cope but this how we do things especially in America where there’s a really big stigma against. I’m not denying it’s the most ethical way to cope but I’d be laughing if the memes over the last 2 years were some of the funniest things I’ve seen. Twitter is in rare form when events happen and I do recommend (to an extent because it can get dark and toxic) for a good laugh.
It’s disrespectful and disingenuous to blame others and ignore the elephant in the room. That’s why when my aunt or other older people discredit or talk about it like we weren’t alive or a part of that moment I and others get justifiably so get fucking heated. We as a collective lost friends, family was sent over seas with no aid for when we get back.
