A NON-debate September 11 thread.

[JoBelle]

I just thought I'd visit and say a little hello, but I figured I take a minute to send out some thoughts to anyone else who is reflecting on September 11th's place in history.

If you feel the need to say how "America deserved it," "Get on with your life," "Terrorism has been happening in other parts of the world forever," "Blah, blah, blah," or any of the other typical statements, then you can stop reading right here and find another thread. This one is a simple note to say that I am just recalling the memory of all of the children, men, and women from all the countries affected who were lost that day.

I lost a lifelong friend who worked in Tower 1, and today finally attended a small memorial get together in her name. This was the first for her. She never had a proper funeral, and her friends never had a chance to sit and share some good memories. Today was a good day. So, in keeping with that, I'll just say, my friend Mimi was a beautiful person and in her memory, I'll lift up a prayer for anyone else who might need one.

Hope you are all appreciating what you have today.
Joby

 

[Haltickling]

My thoughts are with all the victims of this horrible attack, with their friends and relatives, and with all others who have suffered from the traumatic aftereffects of this monstrous crime.

Two years ago, I was shocked stone-frozen by the pictures on TV, and I saw the reruns only blurred because of the tears in my eyes. Even today, whenever they show the reruns again, I feel my tears. And I only saw this on TV. How much more traumatic it must have been for the eye-witnesses!

May the dead AND the survivors find peace!

 

[qjakal]

Basically...

all of NYCity needs a prayer/hug/thought today and probably all of this week. Nice sentiment Ms. Jojobee. Email me if it needs to be defended. Q

 

[His Divine Shadow]

We must never forget those who died. Pray for them and those they left behind. My thoughts go out to all of New York city, and to all the families of the victims.

 

[AphxA]

..

We new yorkers are tough as nails. Bite us on the ass and well bite twice as hard!!!You cant destroy our spirit!!🙂

 

[milagros317]

Thannks for putting the 'non-debate' in the title JoBelle. I just want to share a story told to me by the superintendent of my building, which is in Manhattan about five miles north of Ground Zero.

On the evening of September 12, 2001, he got a call from a tenant who said that a cat was crying incessantly in the apartment next door to her. He went up to that apartment with the duplicate keys, and, after knocking, let himself in. The cat stopped crying and ran to its food and water dishes, which were empty. The super gave the cat food and water, and went back to his own apartment.

He looked at the records of the tenant whose cat it was. He saw that her work address was 2 World Trade Center. He said "Oh, shit."

He called the number listed to call in case of emergency. They already knew. He fed the cat every day. By the end of the month, her parents came and took away her stuff.

Just one of three thousand murdered that day by the 19 terrorists. I didn't know her, it's a ten storey building.

 

[mykal]

Today, I found myself reflecting quite a bit on what happened two years ago. In my case, I was in the air, flying from Wisconsin to Boston on a business trip when an announcement was made that the plane would be making a forced landing in Syracuse, NY.

I first got word of what happened when I called home to let my parent's know what had happened with my flight. My mother told me about what happened, but it didn't really sink in.

Shortly afterwards, I was able to get a rental car and drove the rest of the way to Boston. I forget how long the drive took, but I do remember that it had such a surreal quality, as though the world had gone mad all of a sudden. There was a continuous stream of information pouring out of the radio on every station, trying to explain what had happened. In addition to the radio, the only thing that I remember about that drive was a construction sign that was put up along side the expressway heading into NYC stating that the city was closed.

For some reason, thinking about that sign makes it feel as though it happened today, and not two years ago.

Anyway, I just wanted to share that, and my thoughts go out to the people of New York City and all those who lost someone that day.

 

[kurchatovium]

9/11 changed us all that day. My thoughts and prayers go out to all the victims and their families.

 

[venray]

May those that were lost and those that lost them have peace. We must never forget and never let it happen again.....





Ray

 

[terorizer]

I could never and will never forget the lives lost, altered or forever affected by that day. I also will forever chose to let this day be a tribute to the galvanizing of a nation and the display of the American Spirit that many of my generation didn't even know we possessed.

 

[ta2686]

As a former New Yorker, I must admit I have cried many a tear this day, as well as last year, in remembering that horrible day in our history.

I must admit I am old enough to remember when those towers went UP back in the late 60's and early 70's. Many a time I stood there in Manhattan and marveled at their sheer size and beauty. They were indeed a sight to behold.

On that day though, I had thought about a sister of mine who had worked in one of those towers. Fortunately, she was not there on that day. My father had worked in one of the surrounding building years before as well. I shuddered to think what would have happened to them if they were there on that fateful day. I also had several friends who perished there on that day, and to this day, I can not look at many pictures or watch any film regarding that day or any memorial service that takes place since then.

America must not forget those who died that day or the events that took place that day. America must also appreciate the efforts of ALL police, firefighters, and EMTs; those who put their lives at risk every day doing their job.

God bless America!!!!!

 

[BigJim]

There is no-one in all the world who wasn't moved by the attrocity. In the streets of Tehran in Iran, normally a place hostile to America, people lined streets in candle-lit vigils.

*AMERICA WE FEEL FOR YOU*

proclaimed one banner written in English.

We all felt for you and we all still feel. May the negative feelings caused by this mindless act be transmuted into love; may the people who were grieved, mourn their loss but move on the stronger; may the world never forget the lessons that life teaches it.

Let no-one ever forget just what mindless hate is capable of destroying, Let everyone realise what love and tolerance is capable of creating.

And most of all, let no-one forget just how many sad, deranged people need to be taught that very last lesson.

 

[JPie1]

Yesterday we had a non denominational memorial prayer at work, we were all together, christians, Jews, Indians, Blacks, Whites, Hispanic, Arabs...we were all there, while some basic words were said in memory of those lost and their survivors we then bowed our heads and prayed in a way that was comfortable each and every one of us, every one had a prayer. Lets all pray for the day we can all just get along!


We will never forget!

Judy

 

[MadKalnod]

The one thing that I'll always think of when September Eleventh comes up is the story of a man named Tony Savas. He was a building inspector who had overseen the near-constant renovations and changes made to the World Trade Center interior for years as spaces were bought, sold, and expanded.

When the first plane hit, Tony managed to get down from the upper floors, helping people towards the exits all the way down. Once he reached the lobby, he could have chosen to get out, to get to safety, to get back to his wife and three children. However, he saw the firemen ariving to mount rescue attempts. So he called his son and told him what had happened, and that he had to go back in. Tony had keys for every lock, the blueprints in his head, and he knew every back way and short cut in the Towers. No one else could do what he could do; no one else could lead the firemen to the people they needed to reach. So they went back inside, determined to save as many as they could.

Tony Savas and the firemen he was guiding did not return.

When Marvel Comics put together "Moment of Silence", a special sold to help fund the relief efforts, they chose to lead with Tony's story, not just because one of the Savas children was a Marvel intern, but because Tony's final hours embodied the principle of great responsibility coming with great power: Tony sacrificed his life without hesitation in the hope that his skills and knowledge could be put to use saving others.

With the utmost sincerity and respect, I salute the memory of Tony Savas, the firemen, policemen, and rescue workers who died with him on September Eleventh, and the members of our Armed Forces who are even now working to prevent another September Eleventh from befalling us, because they are truly Earth's Mightiest Heroes.

 

[Knox The Hatter]

Here's a memory, an eerie one...
riding up the Turnpike to work that Thursday morning, not a cloud in the sky, a beautiful morning...but the sky wasn't empty. There was one long, earth colored smoke trail in the sky, coming out of New York, about a mile wide, moving inexorably in the direction of where the wind was pushing it, all the way over into Pennsylvania. It just moved very slowly. There was something new on the overpasses crossing the Turnpike that drew one's attention to them for the first time: flags draped over them, in mourning, as well as flags flying defiantly high. Flags also flapped from radio antennae on the cars riding north with me.
It was a very emotional time...driving through Woodbridge and Edison, passing by candlelight vigils, people proudly honking their horns. Unforgettable...