A California middle school teacher is facing intense backlash after showing her students a documentary about the September 11 attacks, reigniting debates over how America’s darkest moments should be taught—and who gets to decide.
At Bernardo Heights Middle School in San Diego, the educator screened a five-minute film marking the 25th anniversary of 9/11, aiming to memorialize the nearly 3,000 lives lost. But what she likely expected to be a routine history lesson instead triggered a firestorm of opposition from activist groups, including CODEPINK San Diego and Palestinian Pals, who accused her of spreading “propaganda.”
The USS Indianapolis Parallel
The controversy echoes a broader cultural divide over which tragedies deserve remembrance. The article contrasts the 9/11 uproar with the widely accepted memorialization of the USS Indianapolis sinking in 1945—the deadliest naval disaster in U.S. history, where 880 sailors perished, many from shark attacks. Both events involved massive loss of life, but one faces political resistance while the other doesn’t.
‘No Thought of Danger’
A key distinction, the piece argues, is that USS Indianapolis crew members knowingly risked their lives in wartime, while 9/11 victims were unsuspecting civilians. “For the 9/11 victims, there were no thoughts of danger that day,” writes retired Marine James Zumwalt, calling the backlash against the teacher “disgusting.”
Activist Groups Mobilize
The school’s principal and district officials reportedly joined the criticism, alongside anti-war group CODEPINK and Palestinian solidarity organizations. Critics suggest their objection stems from reluctance to highlight Islamist violence—while defenders insist acknowledging 9/11 is vital to understanding modern threats.
As education becomes increasingly politicized, the incident raises uncomfortable questions: Who determines which historical tragedies students learn about? And when does commemoration cross into controversy?
Source: www.americanthinker.com — https://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2026/11/two-examples-of-tremendous-tragedy-why-tell-of-one-and-not-the-other/