Am I an awful person because I don't care if the Challenger blew up 25 years ago?
Social media, and traditional media too, is filled today with people posting links, vids, pics and personal thoughts about the tragedy that was the Challenger shuttle explosion. It was a horrible event that rocked the psyche of the American public because of the pride in the NASA programs, and the respect for the brave individuals who lost their lives serving others. Plus, it was just a huge visual, with the remnants of the vehicle slowly falling out of the sky while onlookers and family members watched in stunned disbelief.
I was actually on the air on the day it happened, stopping down to deliver the "news" to listeners moments after the explosion...so I understand the "what were you doing" memories, for instance. But for me its just one more thing that happened in the past that doesn't impact today or tomorrow. So I really have no sentimental feelings about it, and certainly wouldn't think to post them if I did. Don't misunderstand, the intention here is not to disrespect the dead or their memory. But I wonder if we're seeing more of an outpouring from individuals because they care, or because they can (hmmmmm, kinda like a blog). It's so easy now to throw ones thoughts out onto the interweb, which may in a strange way be generating more sentimental feeling than in the past.
Would many of the same people posting about the explosion today have stopped someone in the halls in the past to tell them how the 25th anniversary of a tragedy was making them feel? I have a feeling the answer is "no". For many, social media has become one of their preferred means of human interaction. For some, social media has given them an outlet for their thoughts, emotions and feelings in ways they would not have had in the past. Social media appears to organically generate an increased level of self-expression and sentiment, and give it a platform for consumption...and that is a good thing, today.
What did stay with me after Challenger was a sense of anxiety every time they launch a shuttle, and hope that it will be safe. That's what I will be feeling when they launch the last flight on June 28th...and that's about living for tomorrow, not remembering yesterday.
