Does September 11th have more than one meaning?

Friday, September 17, 2010

“One Day, Now Broken In Two”

By Ann Quindlen

We as American’s all remember the horrific events that occurred on September 11, 2001. But, before that year, what did the date actually mean? Was it a loved one’s birthday? An anniversary? Did it have any significant meaning? I know for myself, it did not. No matter whatever event actually took place before that day, it is clear that now the specific date of September 11^th has a particular meaning.

In Ann Quindlen’s brief article, “One Day, Now Broken In Two,” aims her argument towards to idea of patriotism, which the intended audience could relate to. Quindlen manages to describe her own personal meaning to the attachment of that day: the birth of her son. But now, she states, “The day approaching will always be bifurcated for me: part September 11, the anniversary of one of the happiest days of my life, and part 9-11, the day America's mind reeled, its spine stiffened and its heart broke.” Quindlen is able to take on one of the most sensitive and talked about issues of our generation and is able to say what all Americans have felt after the disaster.

Even though Quindlen had a personal effect by her son’s birthday, the date of 9-11 may just be that. She seems to believe that this date was significant to everyone before the attacks. In the article it is clear that Quindlen is very patriotic and tries to relate to what every American had felt that day. One thing that the article manages to address in a nation wide standpoint is describing how we as American’s have tried to mend after the incident. Quindlen talks about a time when she was in another country and someone had asked her if everything was back to normal after the heartbreaking events. Quindlen replied saying, “I said yes. And no. The closest I could come to describing what I felt was to describe a bowl I had broken in two and beautifully mended. It holds everything it once did; the crack is scarcely visible. But I always know it's there. My eye worries it without even meaning to.” Though the thoughts and feelings that Quindlen discusses are highly touching and heart felt, that is simply are there is to the article: thoughts and feelings. There is no critical point.

When comparing this article to Kinneavy's “Basic Purposes of Composition” chart, it would have to be believed that it would be found under Referential category under a Diagnosis. According to Kinneavy’s definition of aims, I would have to say that Quindlen’s aims of discourse in her article are very complicated. Though Quindlen’s article is touching and states concrete facts, there is no real sense of persuasion. She is just stating a personal experience from what the specific date means to her. By no way is she trying to persuade the reader of what that day means or should mean. This becomes a problem when trying to classify the article in a specific category. Mainly this is because she is not making a particular point within the article. It is simply based on feelings and personal reactions to the event. She doesn’t stop to address or acknowledge that someone else who is reading the article may have a different stance or viewpoint on the occurrence. Although the article is touching, it lacks a certain point or even any kind of persuasion.

From the perspective of an American, and someone who has lost a friend in the war, I sympathize and agree with Quindlen’s feelings and emotions about what happened on September 11^th. The lack persuasion, however, is a drawback from the article to other readers. Had the article had more of a persuasive point about why exactly the date of 9-11 meant something more, it would have been a much more effective article.