"On 9/11, Innocence was Lost Once Again," is Leonard Pitts’ emotional look back on the effects of September 11th after five years. Innocence is a fleeting and cyclical idea in Pitts mind; it waxes and wanes but always returns. This idea is supported by America’s transition back to naivety after the struggles of the 20th century. Hard times are not forgotten, but as time passes, these memories lose their clarity. Complacency returns and past troubles are tucked away as unwanted reminders of darker days. This return to innocence allows for progress; tragedies may shape us, but we must be able to overcome even our darkest moments. If we are not able to do so then we might as well should give up on America and watch our country turn to shambles.
“So dawn goes down to day Nothing gold can stay.” Frost’s uses the imagery of a sun rise to mourn the loss of innocence. What begins as a golden moment in the morning eventually turns into the harsh light of day. It is the nature of the world that all things must end, even the best moments. Innocence is no different; it is constantly lost to experience, just as the dawn fades into day. However like the dawn, it will always return. Living in the past, either in the good moments or the bad is not productive. People naturally move passed what has happened; it is the only way to survive. As people move on, the wariness of experience dulls and we are made innocent again.
Pitts asserts that by the turn of the millennium innocence was the one quality we were sure we had lost. The internet cannot be mentioned without a tongue in cheek joke about the filth it makes available, and for good reason. If it exists, there is a depraved version of it on the internet. This development has led many cultural critics to say that innocence is lost too early, that millennials are becoming numb to what should be shocking. Violent videos make light of pain and the darkest thoughts are nonchalantly discussed. While this does lead to the loss...