National tragedies live on in our cultural consciousness for all time. Though we make a point as a people to have moments of reflection, the reality is that we truly will never forget the dark events that punctuate our history. There are positives that come out of our remembrances. Lessons are learned, art is created, and heroes are honored in the aftermath of terrible tragedies.
Sadly, there are also negatives that come on the heels of even the gravest events. There will invariably be those seeking to profit from tragedy; there is always a glut of people waiting in the wings, hoping to use awful circumstances to their advantage. There will also be those who crack tasteless jokes, vent their blind rage, and concoct insane theories as a way to deal with the pain that comes with all terrible events.
Any tragedy brings with it strings of small, painful moments that spread and fade like the ripples of water after a rock hits a still pond. Though they come from different places and express starkly varied emotions, the items on this list have one thing in common: they are fails of the highest order. Here are the Mainstream Media's Biggest 9/11 Fails.