Topic: Can You Believe It's Been 9yrs Since 9-11? STILL So Sad

[bill440cars]

  With all that is going on with Karla, I lost track of what today was, til I saw the Special on TV about it this morning. I still remember what we were doing on that day and Brenda brought it to my attention about the 1st plane. Then, as we watched, the 2nd plane came around and crashed into the 2nd tower. Just hard to imagine how it was for those thousands of people who lost their lives on that day. So Tragic! We need to remember them on this day.  

[Kframe]

Right you are Bill, we must never forget. 
Although, sadly, many people are.  Got to work this morning and somebody was wondering why all the flags were at "half mast"  . 

Yep, I too remember the horrible sinking sick feeling watching the coverage, realizing that I just saw a second plane crash on Live TV, I at first thought it was a replay of the first plane. 
And the people falling/jumping. 
A dark day indeed. 
 
-K

[kirkn]

Yep, I remember it very clearly - where I was, etc.

I remember a group of us chatting about how the safest place in the world right then would be the 2nd building because the 1st one had been hit, and there'd never be a SECOND plane flying into a building...

Very sad.

[bill440cars]

  Yes, Definitely a Day that We should NEVER Forget and I feel bad that it slipped up on me.

[BobbyR]

While my friend of 45 years escaped with only enough time to make it around the corner, we in the NY Metro area have been deeply traumatized. Most of us find ourselves tearing up whenever we see pictures of that day, there is no way we can view it in a detached manner. Many in my community lost loved ones in the Towers so we had many vigils in Town, always painful.

I stood on a ridge with my son and we watched the smoke billow over the city, and the people around us were crying. My son asked me what was going to happen now, and I told him things would never be the same.

I went to Ground Zero two days after the attack, and it was heart warming to see all of the pickups and trucks with out of State plates unloading men with shovels who wanted to help dig out any survivors. People who in other times who would spit when you mentioned NY, all of crap went away and maybe we started to come together as a Nation that day.

In the month after the attack, thousands of messages from around the Country and the World were posted on the building walls for blocks. Each time I look at the Manhattan skyline, I notice the Towers are missing. These scumbags that masterminded this thing tried to kill my best friend, this I can never forgive.   

[mcuozzo]

Well put Bobby.  That was a horrific day.  I worked in midtown Manhattan at the time.  Far enough away to be safe, but not unaffected.  A good friends brother passed and a colleagues aunt as well.  I worked on the 55th floor of a building and let me tell you, you never saw people get out of the building faster, not even for a three day weekend.  A lot of them walked down the 55 flights.  Not for me, I took the elevator.  It took them about half an hour to get down.  At that time, disaster preparedness wasn't taken as seriously as it is today.  Emergency lights were out, re-entry doors were locked.

I was only indirectly inconvenienced that day as no bridges or tunnels were open to vehicular traffic.  Took me 10+ hours to get home by boat, bus, then train and finally a car.  My car was stuck in the port authority parking lot for 4 days till it re-opened.

Really I think I'm still in some sort of denial.  I can't beleive that the towers collapsed although I saw it with my own eyes while waiting for a boat on the west side piers.  Not to mention the hundreds of dust covered people who came past us later.

Obviously I'll remember the tragedy forever, but two lasting impressions were - how quiet the area was until air traffic resumed.  Where I live you see or hear airplanes all day.  The other was the tolling of the bells of St. Patricks Cathedral which was near where I worked.  I can't tell you home many funerals where held there.  Way too many for sure.

And I'm glad a thread was posted here, because to be honest I was mad today.  Only one local radio station carried the ceremonies.  The guy at the pizza was puzzled when I mentioned the crowd at the memorial.  "For what?" he asked, then looked at the newspaper for the date.  A few other forums I frequent didn't even have a thread.  Forget the tragedy of this day, don't people realize how much that day changed everyone's life?  Do they ever fly?  See an unattended package and think what might be in it?  Know someone affected by all the deaths in the military?

Saddest of all is that if we don't remember, and don't make changes it's bound to happen somewhere again.

Sorry for rambling (you're lucky I've got more), feels better go get it off my chest, thanks...

Matt

[bill440cars]

  Bobby and Matt, even though I was far away in little Greenwood Arkansas, I watched on CNN as it unfolded. I saw it all except the 1st one going into the 1st Tower. Even though I knew no one who was affected, when I saw all that going on, I was horrified and when the towers collapsed one by one, I just couldn't imagine so many people ended up not only dying, but disintegrated to nothing but dust. I don't see how ANYONE could see that and NOT be affected. Yes, we HAVE to NEVER forget things like that. I was just stunned to KNOW that so many lost their lives and all they were doing was their everyday job, trying to earn a living to support their families. I also can't imagine getting a call from their cells, telling their people goodbye OR having to make a call like that. I can only imagine having friends or Family who were in those Towers. I can only imagine.........
                                            I am STILL stunned,   Bill 

[Spanner 1]

I had enjoyed 11 years of peace in this great country, having come from a place of daily atrocities which lasted all through my teen and most impressional years... what a weight off my shoulder to enter a country free of fighting and intolerable killing and bombing.... and to enjoy the up-and-up positive attitude of the people I came in contact with every day here...... and then it all changed on Sept. 11 2001.... I had no other words for it other than the end of  innocence for the American people... from that instance forward the people of this country have been confronted with a previous unknown, fear ,and it has lasted to this day and will indure and has forever changed the American psych. The loss of life that day was horrendous and the loss of security in people's minds is the bigger and saddest outcome IMO.

[bill440cars]

I had enjoyed 11 years of peace in this great country, having come from a place of daily atrocities which lasted all through my teen and most impressional years... what a weight off my shoulder to enter a country free of fighting and intolerable killing and bombing.... and to enjoy the up-and-up positive attitude of the people I came in contact with every day here...... and then it all changed on Sept. 11 2001.... I had no other words for it other than the end of  innocence for the American people... from that instance forward the people of this country have been confronted with a previous unknown, fear ,and it has lasted to this day and will indure and has forever changed the American psych. The loss of life that day was horrendous and the loss of security in people's minds is the bigger and saddest outcome IMO.

   Absolutely right. Very well put. I used to hear folks complain when OUR BOYS would be sent overseas, to fight somewhere and my thoughts were usually (not always) that they might help stop the crap that was going on, before it ended up OVER HERE! I even voiced my opinion some times and usually got ganged up on about THAT. BUT THEN, here we are (not as bad as a lot of places, but it could happen). I remember hearing from older folks some years ago, that OUR LIBERTIES would be our downfall and they would say that the wrong kind of folks would take advantage of that and cause us problems. Sure seems to be going that way. Just MY thoughts AND what I'd heard.

       BTW Spanner, glad you could get over here and have SOME peace.

[Skunk Stripe]

I think the biggest tragedy is that we have left the sites barren. Within a couple years we should have been raising new towers in a sign of defiance to the powers that took them down. Instead we allow questionable laws that infringe on our rights as Americans. Two wars that never should have happened were started using 9/11 as the reason. All while still fomenting the fear of future attacks. I have to wonder if the innocent victims would have wanted things handled like this or if we should have shrugged off the fear.
just my thoughts. no disrespect intended.

[mcuozzo]

No offense taken Stripe.  

That being said, they are building there now.  I don't think it was fear or even a lot of politics that kept it from being built sooner.  It's NYC.  Nothing gets built quickly.  Let me rephrase that - Nothing gets started quickly.  Zoning laws, unions, the wise guys everybody needs to get thier hands on any project before the work starts.  This one was also slowed down, because the families where not happy with the original plans.  Understandably their opinions were taken into account.  Now that work is being done, the memorial will be done before next years anniversary.

And for the most part I do think we've shrugged off the fear.  People still work near that site, and all the other buildings around the country that could be targets.  People ride the subways, go to sporting events, travel.  Even Times Square is still packed even after the attempted bombing this summer.

As to the wars, I don't know that they could have been avoided.  The sentiment at that time was for blood.  Anybody's blood.  I think people today who say we shouldn't be in the wars where the same people calling for that blood.  

I think instead of wars, we should have just drop shipped video games, cell phones, skateboards, blue jeans, nike sneakers some pot, Doritos and mountain dew into suspected terrorist camps.  Would have stopped them in their tracks.  Just assimilate them into our culture.  Now that I think of it, starting a national sports league wouldn't hurt.  I mean if we didn't have the NFL, do you know what kind of trouble all the US men would be getting into on Sundays???

Matt

Matt

[BobbyR]

Matt is right, it was too many parties involved to have the project move forward. Now they are making progress and I worked down the street from the Trade Center and across the street from the controversial Mosque site.

Most New Yorkers say they expect some other type of attack, but as Matt said the streets are full of people, the Subways filled, sporting events, concerts etc are well attended. Tourism is way up. Those that have not visited NYC should, and would be surprised how civil it is. Then grab a Train on the Metro North Hudson line, or a car and ride North and wonder at the open space and the beautiful lay of the land. Many would be surprised at how you move through the suburbs and into the countryside.

NYC is the symbol of what is most hated by the extremists in this World, so we will continue to be a target.

[demon78]

Bobby we in the west are a symbol of what the rest of the world is ambivalent about,, some hate us because we've got it easy, compared to them, some accuse us of #$%*ing up their culture because of our loose morals, some don't like our lack of kowtowing to a higher authority whether it be religious or political, so we are all targets, it happened in N Y but it could of happened in Halifax, ( because of all the Canadian down east military that's spread through out the middle east) or Langley Virginia or Melbourne or name a city, you guys got unlucky, but the rest of us are vulnerable, whether any one believes it or not and we have been for a long time, it's going to happen because if NY is too tight another city isn't, I won't say what I'd do if I was of the terrorist bent because why give out any ideas. The world has changed from when I grew up as I'm sure it has for you to. I think the trick is to take it in and go on and if there is chance to exact justice in the future go for it. I'm not sure I'd dwell on it now.
Bill the demon.

[onagd]

Yes, it was a very sad day that not only affected the lives of those who lost friends and loved ones, but it was a day that affected the rest of the world.
As Matt said earlier (and it applies particularly here in New Zealand) "have you never flown", as that one incident has changed so much about how we view life as we know it today, and the hassles it has created in getting around the world.
The effects of what happened on that day will be with us for the rest of our lives.
I only hope we continue to remember those innocent lives lost.
It was heartening to see here in NZ during the terrible earthquake we had in Christchurch that the local fire fighters and other service people took a momental out of their hectic time to remember those who feel on that day. Here in Auckland and I assume in the rest of the country all the flags were at half mast on the fire service buildings.
My thoughts go out along with my prayer to those of you in the USA and any one else who lost someone on that dreadful day.

Brett

[BobbyR]

Bobby we in the west are a symbol of what the rest of the world is ambivalent about,, some hate us because we've got it easy, compared to them, some accuse us of #$%*ing up their culture because of our loose morals, some don't like our lack of kowtowing to a higher authority whether it be religious or political, so we are all targets, it happened in N Y but it could of happened in Halifax, ( because of all the Canadian down east military that's spread through out the middle east) or Langley Virginia or Melbourne or name a city, you guys got unlucky, but the rest of us are vulnerable, whether any one believes it or not and we have been for a long time, it's going to happen because if NY is too tight another city isn't, I won't say what I'd do if I was of the terrorist bent because why give out any ideas. The world has changed from when I grew up as I'm sure it has for you to. I think the trick is to take it in and go on and if there is chance to exact justice in the future go for it. I'm not sure I'd dwell on it now.
Bill the demon.

Yes Bill you are correct. NYC was the most high profile target, and of course the Pentagon. The World has changed and will continue to. They attacked us but they do not understand us. I fear their understanding is so basic that someone could do something really stupid and so horrific that our response would be beyond their comprehension. What they have seen so far is nothing. Our ability to rain down destruction is immense, and no one in the World could stop us.

I pray we never see that.    

[Don R]

My wife was watching the whole ordeal on TV. I left the room and wouldn't come back until she was done watching. Usually not much bothers me. This does.

[demon78]

Amen.
Bill the demon.