Thread: In Memory of 09-11-2001

I remember exactly where I was and what I was doing for both 9/11 and April 19, 1995 (The bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in OKC). When I was a younger guy, probably early teens, my father told me about where he was when President Kennedy was assassinated -- where he was, what he was doing, who told him -- in vivid detail. I understand that level of recall now.

I remember that day clearly as well. When a friend called me to tell me what happened, I thought she was pulling my leg. After checking the link to CNN news and thinking that somebody must have hacked the site, I tried several CDN and Serbian news sources. Then shock, outrage and a feeling of pity took over. It took a while for me to start thinking rationally again.
At that time, the US administration came up with some words of wisdom (no sarcasm here, just paraphrasing), urging the people not to let the 9/11 attacks to change the way they live, thus letting the terrorists win. Too bad they didn't listen to their own advice.
Since then they curbed all sorts of civil liberties that US citizens used to enjoy, made travelling very difficult and strained foreign relations. Telephone and internet communications are being tapped indiscriminately. Detention and surveilance of honest citizens became much easier. Measures to fight terrorism are being abused by the government to attack citizens who have no connections with any terrorist group. In that sense, the terrorists won with their 9/11 attack.
If I were a US citizen, I'd write to my local equivalent of a MP (member of parliament) to point out that any restriction on American lives in reaction to 9/11 attacks is a victory for the terrorists and that I want my civil liberties back.

I won't take away from this thread by responding to Ilija the way I really really really want to. I will only say that my heart went out to New Yorkers that day and I keep the surviving family members in my prayers.

I second Bill's sentiments on both counts.

Thanks Bill

Yes; nothing is, or should be, more American than that we can mourn together the tragedy of 9/11/01, while choosing to respect (not just tolerate, but respect) our _various_, closely-held, well-intentioned, thoughtful ideas about our country's responses to such awful threats.

Thanks, Josh, Firestart, Bill, Joe, and all.

Wishing everybody much courage and strength on this 1st anniversary of 9/11. Know that the whole world is thinking of the victims and their families. The memorial service and reading of the victims' names is broadcast here live at the moment.
Lest we forget!

Today is hardly a day for politics. Today is a day of remembrance and remorse.

343.

Thank you, FDNY.

I'd also like to take a moment to thank all of the first responders, those among us who put themselves between us and the Dark. The people like Joe Chandler, for example... a police officer who is just an ordinary man who might be called upon at any instant to perform heroic deeds for someone he doesn't know.

Thank you, all the firefighters. Thank you all the policemen. Thank you all the paramedics, the search and rescue volunteers, the civilians who offer aid and comfort to victims and rescue workers alike. Thank you to the normal people of flight 93 who looked deep inside themselves and saw heroes staring back at them. Thank you soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines who serve us all, whether we agree with the politics that sent you to wherever you might be or not. Thank you for the extraordinary in all of us ordinary citizens.

-- Gary F.

I'll never forget where I was on that day. It was my first week of university and I was up early to attend an 8:30am class. As the year rolled on, I usually chose to skip that one.

As I was walking in, I overheard someone say "World Trade Centre" in a conversation. I couldn't piece anything together from that, though. I was still half asleep, drinking an orange juice box and eating a granny smith apple.

Sitting in the back row of the old classroom with my head against the wall, a guy beside me turned and said, "Hey, did you hear about what's happening in the States?"

"No," I replied. "What?"

"They're under attack! 'They' hit the World Trade Centre and the Pentagon!"

I then understood what the people outside were talking about.

It was frightening news. When you hear it like that, you don't know what to think. I had been in New York City a few months prior to that, and can remember looking at the twin towers from atop the Empire State Building.

When I got back to my residence, everyone was crowded into the TV room and watching the coverage. A couple of girls were crying.

Twenty-four Canadians died in the towers and in the planes that day.