Writing about tragedy is difficult and sensitive for all
involved – writers and readers. To write about tragedy, one needs to think
about the audience that may see what is written. Do they live near where it
occurred? Would they know victims of the tragedy? I think for this kind of
situation to be written about, opinions should almost be left out of it, at
least at first. Nobody wants to read an article about an event that killed a
loved one and see that people are already forming opinions about what happened
and what we should do next, without mourning the losses. For example, right
after 9/11, it was important to come together as a nation, without starting to
form judgments about who did it and what needs to be done. Now, looking back 14
years later, it would be appropriate to analyze the way we reacted to the
situation and decide whether it was right or wrong. For me, I don’t think I
ever got too “disturbed” about 9/11, simply because I was too young to grasp
what happened and it seemed like it was so far away. However, watching footage
of that day is painful, and if I think about it a lot, the event really does
worry me.
Audience is
extremely important when writing about a tragedy such as 9/11. If I was writing
to peers around my age, I think I would address whether or not they remember
the day or know how it affected their lives. If I was writing to someone older
than me, I think I would be intimidated that they would know more than I do,
and be sure I have correct facts and write sensitively to those who may know
someone who died that day. It would be very
difficult writing to an audience in NYC or Iraq, because I feel like I
wouldn’t be able to write what I felt without feeling like I’m stepping on
someone’s toes. In New York, I feel like I wouldn’t have authority, simply
because I wasn’t there. If my
audience was from Iraq, I feel like I would worry about drawing rash
generalizations, or coming off sounding like I was prejudiced, when in reality
I would want to respect all parties involved. Writing about the political aftermath
of 9/11 would be difficult for me as well, since I was so young when it
happened and still don’t quite understand it to this day.
When a
tragedy happens, people want to be comforted, so immediately after the event,
the most important point is to be sure to explain facts. After it’s understood what happened, we can start forming
opinions and plans of what’s next. I don’t think tragedy will ever get easier
to write about, but the most important part to remember is to be sensitive to
audience.
If you had to write to an audience in NYC or Iraq, how would you do it? Imagine you're in a situation where you must do it -- how do you address the audiences?
ReplyDeleteIf I had to address an audience in New York, I would probably try to avoid situations that would trigger memories that may be hard for people to live through again - for example, names of people who died, or pictures/video of that day. I would want to focus on how to move on and heal from the event instead of bringing up the past. If I was addressing an audience in Iraq, I would primarily want to assure them that they are not to blame as a whole for the attack, just as every person in the United States is not responsible for the ensuing war in Iraq.
DeleteIf you were speaking to peers I think it's important to first sort of almost shock them with the statistics so they hear how real it was. Then continue to tell them how it has affected their lives. I think the inital insight is important though.
ReplyDeleteCompletely agree that opinions should be left aside when speaking about this because it is more important to be sensitive to people that were affected by it. I also feel the same way about writing to an audience in NYC. It feels like we don't have the authority to speak about something they witnessed, not us.
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