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Not Knowing What Else To Do, Woman Bakes American Flag-Shaped Cake
That is still one of the realest Onion stories of all time. Always gets me how well they were able to point out the absurdity of so many Americans’ reactions in the hours and days after, while also obviously feeling the same reaction themselves.
I was talking to my kids last night trying to explain the weird patriotism that happened after 9/11. This cake article was spot on. Everyone wanted to do something but no one knew what.
It’s kind of amazing they were bold enough to make 9/11 jokes so soon afterwards. The country truly went blind with “patriotic” rage, and I guess the Onion writers weren’t afraid of that bullshit.
Days after this Gilbert Gottfried would go on to tell his own 9/11 joke at the roast of Hugh Heffner. It was not received well. He followed it up with the greatest rendition of “The Aristocrats” ever told.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=yiBAfmxwdKc
GG really broke the mould on the whole idea of “too soon” with this. RIP you dirty fuck.
Still hilarious. It has aged well.
Partial to… “According to Generation X sources, the recent attack on America may have rendered cynicism and irony permanently obsolete.”
I’m partial to the TV schedule in the Oral History link, in particular, the listing for “Extremely Uninformed Debate” on public access.
The Onion was such a much needed resource in those horrible days immediately following the tragedy. It helped a lot to keep me sane, at least.
One of the best I remember is a cover pic of celebrities with the caption “Nation yearns to care about useless shit again” or something to that effect. It was so great…I don’t see it in the links above, but it is the one I still remember to this day.
Great post, OP. Thanks!
Edit: here it is!
A Shattered Nation Longs To Care About Stupid Bullshit Again
And another article about The Onion and 9/11 from The Onion: https://onion20.substack.com/p/the-onions-911-issue-20-years-later
That last article at the bottom mentioning Osama and Saddam, I believe we call that “dramatic irony”
So good. It should be in the Smithsonian.
In the oral history it talks about how they came close to being nominated for a Pulitzer; one of the nominating editors actually voted for them.
Wow. Thank you so much for these links, especially the Oral History one.
I remember what a horrible time that was, and being surprised that The Onion addressed it head on, so soon after it had happened. I remember appreciating the tone of the issue, and being impressed that they got it just right.
I’m glad so many others appreciated it, too. I didn’t realize that issue was so highly regarded. The writers deserve every bit of credit and praise they’ve gotten.
They really deserved that Pulitzer, but oh well.
“Massive attack on Pentagon - page 14” really sums up the overwhelming feeling on that morning.
Top notch reporting by The Onion.
