Thread: In Remembrance

"The boundaries of hell have never been defined." - Richard Wright

That day began as quietly as this morning.

Hold Fast America.

I am thankful for those who run toward the danger.

-Rob

Apologies are difficult. I don't remember seeing your previous posts, XMan, but whatever you may have said, today's comments were well placed. Well said, friend. To those who've commented before me on how the tragedy affected us all and hope for a peaceful rest for those who were lost that day, I ca only add my prayers.

We will never forget. It's one of the reason why I wear the uniform today.

I remember it well. It was not so long ago... but time flies and the impressions stay the same. War is a horrible thing. That is the more the case when war is fared agains innocent people who are simply doing their jobs and living their lives... A terrible scenario that I will never forget - I saw the second plane crash on real time over the TV. I will never forget my feeling of utter... nothingness, emptyness watching the terror unfold live on the television. It's a movie... but somehow it isn't. And the cameras focused on the horror of the innocent tumbling to their deaths.
Brave men and women tried their best to save lives. Some were saved. Most of them died. We know that - all of us in the west (even those, like myself, who are not american or americanized) felt the lost. And felt the rising of the winds of a war that had already begun, un-announced, un-declared. The actions of extremists that claim the truth for themselves. "The War on Terror" that begun that day is still being waged. It doesn't matter what the reasons are. The politicians come and go - and so they went and came - but the boys are still being shipped overseas to fight and to die. Americans, brits, germans, belgians, portuguese... whatever and whoever. Fighting for what we no longer know what - it is abstract. Like in a film... that somehow isn't a film.
Islam is not the enemy, though. Let's not wage another crusade. Lunatics are the enemy. Lunacy, extremism, violence and intolerance is the enemy. Because as long as there is someone who will no accept his neighbour like he is... there is always a war in the making.
The absurdity of 9/11 is boundless.
Nothing justifies the attack on innocent lives. Even if diplomacy has been exausted, even if a war is being waged in muddy trenches.
I will never forget the movie I saw on that day. And somehow... it was not a movie. I will never forget the absolute sadness of a seing a world crumble before my very eyes, eating lunch in front of the TV, trying to enjoy a meal while people died... I felt bad. I can't explain. Maybe one day, when I can find the words that may have to invented. But I will never forget that day.

I admire your humility and appreciate this thread.



rest in peace to all the 9/11 victims and I wish all their loved ones the best.

Even now, watching it happen it doesn't seem real. I can only hope that we can remember and hurt alongside the families. I also hope that we can learn from that day; whatever you may learn, I just hope that you do.

-G

Many innocent people died on that day. Thousands more people have died in the aftermath. Most of them blameless. As the song says: "When will we ever learn?"
Sadly, based on past history and the way we forget it so quickly, I don't think we ever will. Religious difference, greed, pride and the need to dominate are all part of the human condition.