Imagine my shock when I happened across a news article this
afternoon, depicting two British women dressed for Halloween as the Twin
Towers. The women, one dressed as the South and one the North towers, were
spotted at a night club in England, winning a costume contest. I am not sure
the age group in which I am speaking to. As college students we are many
different ages, but I can say with confidence that you have heard of 9/11 and
the horror of that day. Some may feel distanced from it, due to their age, but
I remember it like it was yesterday. I remember seeing the people jumping out
of the buildings, falling to their death because the alternative was being
blown to bits or burning to death. Thinking back, I cannot believe that that
was on the news, the people jumping that is, but it was real and the truth, and
I am glad that the event was not sugar coated because the nature behind the
event, the meaning would have been lost to future generations. I remember my
teachers crying. I wasn’t very old then, 13 or so, but the impact of that day
will go with me. I went to school with people who lost family there. I have met
people since then that have lost family during that crisis. It was a sad day.
Normally, I try to ignore people’s ignorance, when it comes
to creating costumes they deem fitting or funny, but I believe these girls took
it a step too far. I understand that they are across the pond, and their
emotions concerning the incident are separated from us because they are not
American citizens, but they should not have worn such offensive costumes. The
article reads that they were even sure to add the people jumping from the
buildings. They added smoke and fire, and they topped it off with an American
flag. They claim that their intent was not to offend. It was to simply dress as
a modern day disaster. They issued a public apology, but I do not buy it. Take
a look at the picture that they were seen in, do they not look like they are
partying it up in their costumes that are supposed to represent a terrible day
for Americans everywhere? I imagine they believed that it would be hilarious
and creative enough to win the costume contest, and they were right in that
sense. I also imagine that they did not realize that anyone would ever see
their costumes around the world. So, what do you think? Do you think that they
were ignorant to the repercussions of their decision? What does that day mean
to you? Do you remember it? What were you doing? How do you feel when you see
this picture and read the story?
