The Media and 9/11

This post on blogs4God mentions a "Media Fast" that some took part in. Those who participated abstained from the media for the duration of 9/11. The reason being that the media has a tendency to exploit -- that it is insensitive to the victims and their families to show the scenes from 9/11.

Dean Esmay and Rachel Lucas (among many others) have a different opinion of showing scenes from 9/11. They believe it is important to remember the events of that day. They believe the media is wimping out by not showing these events. I would say that blogdom is picking up the media's slack in this regard.

While I think the idea behind the Media Fast is a noble and understandable one, I have to say that I agree with Dean and Rachel on this. I think a balance can be struck between insensitively exploiting the events of 9/11 and sanitizing them. Unfortunately, the major media seems to have trouble finding this balance.

It seems to me that people are falling asleep again. They are getting too comfortable, too complacent. They need to remember. Remember the victims. Remember the devastation. Remember the hate and fanaticism that fueled the attacks. Remember that the problem hasn't gone away. Remember to be vigilant.

Here are some more posts that are good reminders, posts that will keep us awake. There are many more than this -- these are just a few:

• C.G. Hill
• Susanna Cornett
• Dean Peters
• Cox & Forkum
• LGF
• Jeff Jarvis
• And, of course, Lileks.