2009.09.11
Sept. 11, 2001, becomes history
This Sept. 11, I learned what it must be like for all those Baby Boomers. I remember people my parents' age often saying how they remembered exactly where they were and what they were doing when they heard that JFK and MLK had been shot. They lived through those events. They were immediate, traumatic things in their lives. For me, they were always history. Important and interesting, but detached.
The Washington Post today has a story about how that is already happening with the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. Many teenage students today were too young then to recall much of that day and its immediate aftermath. What six year old is going to remember that the planes didn't fly for days and the nation came to a halt? As even younger people, those not yet born in 2001, grow up and attend school, the attacks will move into history. Maybe that's a good thing. It's certainly inevitable.
But I'll be there, telling young people how I remember exactly where I was and what I was doing when I learned what had happened. I was sleeping in my apartment in Oregon. My phone rang, and my mother was on the line. "You need to turn the television on now. Then you need to get to work," she told me. I tuned in before the second plane hit the World Trade Center.
"You're going to have a lot to write about," my mother said.
She was right.
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The wife and I lived and worked in Manhattan then. Not fun. Will never forget. One thing children will still get to see is the construction of the new tower, which will probably take decades to complete.
Comment by Jim — September 11, 2009 @ 1:41 pm
I wish they wouldn't build new tower. I wish they would keep the spotlights there shining up into the heavens instead. A new building will most likely make people forget but if they see the lights shining and perhaps a nice memorial, it could be a place of prayer and remembrance.
Comment by pammala — September 11, 2009 @ 4:10 pm
The thing I remember was the cloudless blue sky..happened again on the first anniversary and again this morning. Brought to our knees in pain and prayer-- wondering why.
Comment by BUD — September 11, 2009 @ 4:23 pm
It's SO important this awful event isn't allowed to fade from our memory, lest we become too complacent and tolerate a public policy which doesn't take terrorism seriously. I fear this has started to happen already.
Comment by Suzie — September 11, 2009 @ 4:50 pm
I was hoping they would just put the original (similar) buildings back.
Comment by Ed S. — September 11, 2009 @ 5:52 pm
4... I do too Suzie, it's quite obvious
Comment by pammala — September 11, 2009 @ 6:33 pm
#4 - Suzie: "It's SO important this awful event isn't allowed to fade from our memory, lest we become too complacent and tolerate a public policy which doesn't take terrorism seriously. I fear this has started to happen already."
Indeed it has, Suzie, indeed it has.
Comment by Patrick — September 11, 2009 @ 7:29 pm
Unfortunately, Obama can't seem to say the words "war on terror".
Not all Islamists are terrorists, but all terrorists are Islamic.
Comment by John R — September 11, 2009 @ 9:40 pm
There are plenty of Christian Terrorists too.
Comment by scott — September 11, 2009 @ 11:51 pm
@John R #8 Timothy McVeigh, Khmer Rouge, etc., for many more groups try http://www.cdi.org/terrorism/terrorist-groups.cfm.
Comment by Gary — September 12, 2009 @ 7:25 am
He doesn't use the term "war on terror" because it's a stupid term. All terrorists are Islamic? Tell that to ETA and Kahane Chai.
It would be nice to turn the area into purely a memorial, except that it's some of the priciest real estate in one of the priciest markets in the world, lying fallow now for 8 years. The last thing that's going to happen in NYC is anyone "forgetting" 9/11, regardless of how that spot is developed. They certainly don't need people in SW Virginia wagging their fingers and dictating to them how they need to treat property in their own backyard.
Comment by Kristen — September 12, 2009 @ 7:59 am
In the words of Joe Wilson, John R "You Lie!" John McVeigh was not a Islamacist, neither is the KKK, Baader-Meinhof Gang, The Red Brigades Islamic. Neither are the Basque group ETA islamic. Sorry, couldn't leet that slide John R.
Back to the post, although a native Brooklynite, I was here in Roanoke that terrible day. I did call my old job in NYC to check on our people, as we always had people going to and fro to clients in the WTC. Having spent more than a little time in the Twin Towers, my heart immediately went to the little people who worked there. The brigades of maintenance workers and the people who worked at the Windows on the World restaurant that used to be at the top of tower 2. May they rest in eternal peace.
Comment by Just Saying... — September 12, 2009 @ 8:06 am
@ not near as many as islamics, I dont see that at all
Comment by pammala — September 12, 2009 @ 9:48 am
Lest we forget other religious hatred and terrorism and war throughout the history of time such as The Holocaust, the Situation in Northern Ireland, The Crusades. You can also head to other regions of conflict like in Nepal (the people killed their royal family) or south america (FARC). Won't find too many islamic people stirring up trouble there.
People have no justifiable reason whatsoever to think that the only terrorists in the world are muslims. This is only ignorance on their part. Absolute ignorance.
Comment by scott — September 12, 2009 @ 6:57 pm
"There are plenty of Christian Terrorists too."
Unfortunately, you can't name one.
There are plenty of gay Terrorists too.
Comment by Henry — September 12, 2009 @ 9:39 pm
How about Eric Rudolph for one Henry? or Guy Fawkes who famously tried to organize Parliament's destruction. Don't tell me I can't name Christian Terrorists!
But still that really wasn't my point.
My point is that people who think the only terrorists in the world are Muslims or practice the faith of islam is incredibly ignorant and shortsighted. Terrorism in the name of religion happens among almost all faiths and cultures. So, it's time to get off the moral high horse.
Comment by scott — September 12, 2009 @ 10:57 pm
Eric Rudolph was a lone wolf nutbag, not a concerted terrorism operation. Acts of violence are not necessarily terrorism.
Scott,
If you knew of current non-Muslim operations, you would have named them. But you and I both know they would pale in comparison to the Muslim terrorist movement. Not all Muslims are terrorists. But for now, all terrorists are Muslims. Even the IRA is a political terrorist movement.
Comment by Henry — September 13, 2009 @ 8:27 am
Scott
I think I now understand your confusion. Republicans have been describing terrorists as "People who want to kill us in huge numbers in order to terrorize us". Democrats have been defining terrorists as "people who oppose the current government". So I can see how you are having trouble with the definition.
Comment by Henry — September 13, 2009 @ 8:40 am
yes and there are eco terrorists as well, however, THE ONES THAT MADE THE MOST DAMAGE TO THIS COUNTRY WERE ISLAMIC ,you cant hide that...even that child that ran away from her parents and had converted to christianity states that it is in the koran to kill infidels...nice calm peaceful religion, just liKe they say...yeh
Comment by pammala — September 13, 2009 @ 10:18 am
Pammala makes a good point. Eco-Terrorists are terrorists as well (Earth Liberation Front) And If you think the IRA and the situation in Northern Ireland is strictly political, you'd be dead wrong Henry. For years its been protestants vs. catholics. They have been killing each other for ages. Sure it's political, but its also about religion and power. The Political angle is much more easily translated into our society than say the issues in the muslim world. (Mostly because people on this side of the world couldn't tell you the difference between Sunni and Shia Muslims)
Your argument is weak at best, and even contradicts itself "all terrorists are muslims" That statement is hilariously wrong.
and Pammala, I challenge you to find a reputable theologian with expertise in the Qur'an and have him explain where it says plainly to kill the infidels as you believe. I think you'll find that the meanings are not so clear, just like the verses in the bible that talk about smiting and killing non-believers are not quite meant to be taken as literal.
Maybe when you open your mind, you might learn something except the small little world in which you've been living.
Comment by scott — September 13, 2009 @ 7:57 pm