Which 11 September is more tragic?

[Atlas Has Shrugged]

1973 was reflective of a much bigger problem than 2001 was.

And 2001 was a reaction to the 1973's we have been pulling in the Middle East.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

That's... so not the right way to look at that.

[Antonio the Sixth]

There may be a difference, but could you look in the eyes of a rape victim and tell her that what she went through wasn't that bad because only one guy raped her, and not many at the same time?  Yes, one event may have resulted in more deaths, but it's not fair to the 9/11 victims to place them second because of it.  Both events, in my opinion, deserve equal remembrance.  I agree that the US pays far too little attention to 1973.

There is a difference between the individual level and the global level. Of course, a death is a death and the number of death that accompanied it doesn't change its fundamental value. But when you take view things through the lens of history, given the levels of horror sometimes reached, you obviously can't avoid setting some hierarchies. Otherwise, doesn't that mean the Hamilton-Burr duel is equally as tragic as World War II?

Didn't vote.  I don't see the lives of those in one nation any more or less valuable than those of another nation.

More lives were lost because of one of these events than the other, though. You can't say it doesn't make a difference.

This is true but not in the way you seem to think it is.

I guess that you could make a case for 2001 the victims of Afghanistan and Irak war, but that's a bit of a stretch considering they were the result of specific choices by political actors independent from those who caused the event. The victims of the Chilean dictatorship were a direct following of the coup.

[Hash]

Tragedies aren't contests. If they are, then we live in a pretty sad world.

[opebo]

That's... so not the right way to look at that.

So what's the 'right' way?

[barfbag]

I don't know why this is even a question.

[Paul Kemp]

Yeah, a common concern-of-sorts about the early Bush presidency (and the Bush campaign) in the media outside the U.S was that he might as well have not had a foreign policy.

It’s interesting you mention that. I was sick all day and stayed home, so I had time to watch a lot of TV. MSNBC aired the Today Show from 9/11/2001 in its entirety, showing the breaking news of the attacks and their live reports from the ground. One of their reporters (it may have been David Gregory, actually) brought up the Bush administrations lack of intervention in the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian dialogues and how little Bush was involved in world affairs until that point.

You were 5.

I'm talking about today. Hence why the Today Show was being reaired on MSNBC instead of being live on NBC.

My mistake. That being said, the intricacies of NBC's airing policies wouldn't really indicate to me a timeframe, especially given that a lot of live coverage was simulcast across networks that day.

Splitting hairs I suppose.

Anyway in the regard to the poll question, it's a pretty absurd question. Obviously 9/11/01 is going to be a lot more tragic to the United States, given our proximity. It's like saying "Which event was more tragic: your grandfather dying or a five car pile up 500 miles away?"

Plus, I find the complaining about the lack of recognition of 9/11/73 to be such a tedious obsession among high school leftist and libertarian types who want to show how intellectual and globally conscious they are.

Tragedies aren't contests. If they are, then we live in a pretty sad world.

And this, yea.

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

2001. That was the day when Kwame Kilpatrick won first place in the Detroit Mayoral primary. Detroit has never recovered.

Quoted for truth.

[MATTROSE94]

I don't know. I find it pointless to compare the degree of tragedy of two such terrible moments/periods of time in human history.

This. Both events were terrible in my opinion and I feel that it is upsetting comparing two awful events to see which one was worse. What we ought to do is become more aware of those events and remember the victims of them.

[Associate Justice PiT]

     9/11 had an indelible impact on the psyche of every American old enough to remember it. People I know can give accounts of what they were doing that day, which is impressive for a 12-year old event. The only other event that I've seen associated with a similar attribute was the JFK assassination. If it bothers anyone that people care more about 9/11 than about Pinochet coming to power, than they should stop and consider the human factor.

[freefair]

AFAIK most of the people who died in Chile were killed for choosing to express their views and destabilize the millitary regime, which, though of course right, is also a personal and avoidable choice which could have been expected to have such results. The victims iof 9/11 were murdered by random chance for no good reason pertaining to their behavior.
Also, while in many ways the US and the World has been ruined by 9/11, Pinochets neoliberal economic policies are partially reprehensible for Chile near-abolishing absolute poverty and becoming the big economic powerhouse of the region, and since 1989, a relatively stable democracy.

[Oldiesfreak1854]

2001. I am going to be 100% honest and say that 9/11 is a hundred more times more tragic to me, even if only a hundred people died instead of 3,000. Why? Because I am an American, and not a Chilean. Not saying that what happened in Chile was not awful, but I am frankly more concerned about Americans then people in other nations. Anyone who does not feel this way is lying to themselves.

This is the only objective answer.

[Indy Texas]

Ted Cruz hates Augusto Pinochet.

Not because of his repressive, right-wing dictatorship, but because his decision to seize power on September 11th would ultimately provide an event to distract people from the real crime against humanity that happened that day...THE BENGHAZI ATTACKS!!!

[Vosem]

In and of itself, without considering consequences? 1973. Considering the consequences of the action as well (knowing the result, that is)? Clearly 2001. And I voted 2001.

[Leftbehind]

AFAIK most of the people who died in Chile were killed for choosing to express their views and destabilize the millitary regime, which, though of course right, is also a personal and avoidable choice which could have been expected to have such results. The victims iof 9/11 were murdered by random chance for no good reason pertaining to their behavior.
Also, while in many ways the US and the World has been ruined by 9/11, Pinochets neoliberal economic policies are partially reprehensible for Chile near-abolishing absolute poverty and becoming the big economic powerhouse of the region, and since 1989, a relatively stable democracy.

What a joke of a post. Why not class working and living in in global superpower and working in the WTC as a 'personal and avoidable' choice then, if we're classing, democrats, left-wing values and trade unionism as that? Just another 'libertarian' Pinochet apologist.

[Gass3268]

You are obviously forgetting that 2012 was way worse then both. Also Pinochet was an overal positive influence to Chile that needs to be replicated elsewhere!

http://www.realclearworld.com/2013/07/05/egypt_needs_a_pinochet_149563.html

[Hash]

AFAIK most of the people who died in Chile were killed for choosing to express their views and destabilize the millitary regime, which, though of course right, is also a personal and avoidable choice which could have been expected to have such results. The victims iof 9/11 were murdered by random chance for no good reason pertaining to their behavior.
Also, while in many ways the US and the World has been ruined by 9/11, Pinochets neoliberal economic policies are partially reprehensible for Chile near-abolishing absolute poverty and becoming the big economic powerhouse of the region, and since 1989, a relatively stable democracy.

What a joke of a post. Why not class working and living in in global superpower and working in the WTC as a 'personal and avoidable' choice then, if we're classing, democrats, left-wing values and trade unionism as that? Just another 'libertarian' Pinochet apologist.

It would all be fine if we shut up, kept quiet and sheepishly accepted illegitimate authoritarian, murderous military regimes. Hooray for libertarianism!

[All Along The Watchtower]

Tragedies aren't contests. If they are, then we live in a pretty sad world.

bro, my tragedy justifies my worthless ideology actions more than your tragedy, lol.