Although the two pieces presented this week were on the same topic, they had significant differences in meaning and tone. John Updike and Susan Sontag seemed to have written their works at different times in my opinion. To me, Updike's article must have been written immediately after as it gives, in vivid detail, his experience in watching the horrors of 9/11. On the other hand, Sontag's writing reminds of some editorial article I would've read a month after the tragedy. Both pieces gave me varied emotional responses listed below.
As morbid as the subject is, I can honestly say I enjoyed reading John's writing. It was a simple recollection of what he saw and heard through his own senses. At the same time there was an inspiring undertone to his view of the events occurring. To condense what he was trying to say, from what I got from it, his message reminds of the phrase, "What doesn't kill me makes me stronger." He described all of the new-found pain and fear that he and other Americans were feeling, but the patriot inside of him knew that it didn't matter whose fault it was, why it could have happened, or what the government should be doing about it, but that America, together, will again rise to the occasion.
Sontag's article left me confused and latching on to mixed feelings about her view on the event, our government, and her patriotism in general. Not one paragraph spared a line to commend an American for fighting through the setback or to compliment the efforts of the U.S. government in their restoration process. Instead it's damn near pure criticism of all members involved. However, I will say I appreciated the fact that she leveled the playing field in terms of explaining why the Terrorists attacked and that they, in fact, are not cowards.
Anywho....cool articles. Peace.
