Show w Why hy So Many any P. P Pictures IC t ures e J I r A iI Are all those pictures of the grief and tragedy of September really necessary By Theresa OConnor O'Connor Contributing Writer This past week we as Americans have all had the opportunity to look back on a tragic day in our history We have been flooded with pictures and information about 9 11 a day that more than people lost their lives There are arguments over what should be done as a memorial whether or not it should be declared a national holiday and where funds donated actually went Through it all our lives are being inundated with visions of those horrible events With the explosion of the New NewYork NewYork NewYork York skyline and the trauma it caused we realized as a nation that we are not indestructible The past few weeks news stations stations stations sta sta- sta- sta have shown countless images of the twin towers collapsing collapsing collapsing col col- lapsing over and over again Even the Globe published pictures pictures pictures pic pic- pic- pic tures in last weeks issue While these pictures are shown in efforts to bring a visual presentation presentation presenta presenta- tion to the events are they really necessary Do they help in our country's healing process Or do they simply extend the horror of that day I believe that for most people these images bring back the sadness sadness sadness sad sad- ness and nd anxiety they felt immediately immediately immediately imme imme- after the attacks Take for example those running from the building for their lives or those rescue workers who cleaned up after the attacks Many of these people have gone to see therapists to try and deal with what happened the panic attacks and post traumatic stress disorder Many of these people have gone to see therapists therapists therapists ther ther- to try and deal with what happened which now plagues their lives These people already know what the rubble and falling towers looked like Many of them have expressed guilt on talk shows and the news about being a survivor Do these images really help them deal with the past and move for for- ward Hours after the first plane crashed into the north tower news agencies were told not to broadcast broadcast broadcast broad broad- cast pictures of the planes entering entering entering enter enter- ing the building The reasoning was explained by news anchors such as Dan Rather government government government govern govern- ment officials were concerned about the affect these pictures were having on the public they were concerned about mass hysteria Taking those images off the air allowed everyone a chance to digest what they had seen instead of wondering wondering wondering wonder wonder- ing if another attack was occurring occurring occurring occur occur- ring in front of their eyes Now we have a different setting setting setting set set- ting it has been a year The initial trauma has dissipated and people are coping with their loss and their fear One of our greatest challenges is to treat 9 11 with respect and sensitivity to honor those who were lost and the sacrifices they made and help each other with the necessary work of moving forward according to the Independent Media Institutes Institute's web site It is natural after an event occurs to have the images change and dim in our minds perhaps one way that we can show our V respect is to take these images off the air This would allow surviving surviving surviving ing victims to either re-create re these images for themselves or orto orto orto to let the fear subside |