A little reality: Flight 93 story might be wakeup call audiences need

It isn’t often that a newspaper would suggest there might be a reason for a reader to put down the paper and head to the theater.

But then again, “Flight 93” is not just any movie.

The new release, which hasn’t even hit theaters yet, tells the story of the last moments of the passengers on United Flight 93, the plane that went down in a field in Pennsylvania on Sept. 11, 2001.

The film is drawing some criticism because its story is so emotion-filled. Some worry it might be too soon after Sept. 11 to show the graphic depiction of the day that sent shock waves around the world.

Interestingly enough, it is not the families of the Flight 93 victims who are complaining. Many of them have said that although the film was difficult for them to watch, the story of the heroes on that flight is an important one that should be told.

And they are right.

The horror of the images in “Flight 93” is no more graphic and disturbing than that of just one episode of the hit show “CSI: Miami” or one of the many other crime dramas that populate primetime. What makes this movie so tough to watch is that the story is real — and a reminder of the danger this country has faced and will continue to face as it tries to fight terrorism that no longer is confined to other countries but has hit home, hard. There is real fear, real sorrow, real courage and real death.

Perhaps rather than continuing to shield ourselves from the horror of Sept. 11, we should be reminding ourselves how it felt to hear the story of the 3,000 people who died that day. Maybe we should think a little more about the lost lives, the mangled families and the destruction that killed thousands of innocents for the fanaticism of a few.

And maybe it also wouldn’t be such a bad idea to remember, too, that there were many heroes on Sept. 11, who were not content to sit back while terrorists slammed a plane into their nation’s capital — even if it meant their lives would be lost in the process.

Rather than being damaging to America’s psyche, “Flight 93” might be just what we need need to remember the reasons we started fighting terrorism in the first place.

Maybe it might make us think a little bit more about the cost of maintaining freedom and fighting for what is right, even when the price is high.

And, maybe, just maybe, “Flight 93” might remind us to be a little prouder of the American spirit that fights for country, family and what is right, no matter what.

“Flight 93” is the kind of reality show we all should be watching more of — especially now.

Published in Editorials on April 14, 2006 11:35 AM