Hiding True Colors - September 6, 2020

 

A post appeared in my town Facebook group announcing a Defend the Police rally for September 11, 2020. While I have thoughts about the rally, about the Defund the Police diction, and about the social goings-on in the country at the moment, my issue with this particular rally is the chosen date. To choose September 11 for what is clearly a political rally is about as insensitive a choice as possible. Some defending it claim that the date is to honor the nation's first responders, but that's a red herring. 

To make September 11 anything other than what it is, a day to remember a national tragedy, is itself tragic. In less than twenty years, this solemn day has begun to lose its true meaning. It is well on its way to becoming a day where the intent has been lost (e.g., Presidents' Day and Labor Day) and it has become just another day, except we don't get the day off part of it. Worse, to make it about anything else is beyond thoughtless. 

The true intent of using September 11 is evident solely by the fact that it's a Friday this year. It's not a day off from school or work, so attendance would be driven by the issue. If the organizers truly wanted to promote their cause, they would aim for as large a crowd as possible. To intentionally choose a weekday flies in the face of all logic, unless there is another motive, in this case to try to join their cause with a greater one. 

By all means, if you want to have a political rally or protest, do so. But don't demean or diminish a national tragedy in the process.