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Responses that very soon became political and argumentative poured in after Senator John Kennedy provided a video message attempting to condemn the 24th September anniversary. The Louisiana Republican expressed sorrow for the victims and families whose souls had been lost, and in the same breath, Kennedy lauded the gallant American people. Yet the majority of comments took to blaming the government plus contemporary issues.
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Kennedy referred to September 11th in the video as “a day that will live in infamy” as he recalled “the amazing courage of the American people, our first responders, the brave souls on flight 93, and the thousands of young Americans who responded to the text by listening to serve their country.” He spoke to the grieving families in words more heartfelt: “To the thousands of families who are marking their 24th year without the loved ones they lost on September 11th, America has not forgotten your pain. I have not forgotten your pain. Becky has not forgotten your pain.”
The immediate reaction to the video was bifurcated: while some praised the gesture, many sprang forward with their grievances concerning governmental affairs that have been plaguing this country ever since that very year.
A user [posted] in response to Kennedy comments with conspiracy theories regarding the attacks: “Yeah, We the People won’t ever forget our government lied to us about the controlled demolition of the twin towers and wtc7. How much did Cheney’s Halliburton rake in during the aftermath? Why did the owner of the twin towers add Terrorist Insurance one month before the ‘attack?’”
Killian responded to the message with his third aknowledgement: “Bullshit Kennedy! You are the pure evil. Trump spreads hate with every word he says. You are protecting the convicted criminal Trump and with that you are protecting all the Epstein Pedophiles! Hundreds of Children were abused! Release all the Epstein Files the fuck!”
Immigration policy provided yet another top matter of ridicule. “What a BS post. You’ve imported more Muslims and Hindus into our country in the last 20 years after 9/11 than before,” lamented one user. This was linked to an article on Hamtramck, Michigan, which has a sizeable Muslim community.
One review-with-the-most-content was: “You did nothing when foreign nations and corporations stole our jobs with rampant H1B corruption. You did nothing when universities openly and unconstitutionally discriminated against our brothers, sisters, sons, and daughters. You did nothing while our borders went unsecured for decades.” It then carried on throughout a review of healthcare, pandemic response, election integrity, and foreign spending, ending with: “If you truly cared about America, you would do the hard stuff. Not easy 9/11 platitudes on social media.”
Among these critiques, two sets of messages from Kennedy were defended: “Senator Kennedy is the only one seen making a Remembrance to 9-11. The Families, those killed.” Another interpretation was: “Very few in Congress I would fight for. Senator Kennedy is one. Thank you for your unwavering service to our country.”
It illustrates how what ought to have been somber commemorations are actually tragic events in today’s polarized political climate. From what started merely as an attempt to remember the victims by Kennedy, it soon morphed into a soapbox for airing grievances about governmental transparency, immigration policy, and alleged failings of the administration since the attacks. The responses are symptomatic of a whole set of longstanding grievances that have constituted the foundation of political discourse on national security and what it means to be an American 24 years after the atrocities wrenched the very soul out of America on that afternoon of 9/11. In the end, rather than joining the American people together, the memorial message accentuated the deep, continuing fissures in their memories of history and their outlooks on how they hold their leaders accountable.
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Additionally, in light of recent events, Senator Kennedy has also declared America the greatest country in history, which has garnered various reactions among the populace.