9/11 - 7 years later

[MisterSadistro]

I just looked at the time on my comp and realized today is now the anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. I was curious to what other HDC members feel or remember about it.
It seemed like the media was clamoring about it over the last few years and now it's just a byline about another small memorial stone somewhere. How far behind us have we put that day ? Personally, I remember seeing footage of people jumping from the towers and that stuck with me the most. I have a huge fear of heights and had nightmares for weeks afterwards of being in that horrible situation. All the talk of hunting down bin Laden seems to have faded into a not so pleasant memory and all is forgotten. Have we become so complacent or is waiting to see who will win the next 'American Idol' become so much of a distraction that nobody cares about closure because we can't see past the last commercial break ?
CK

[The Flayed One]

Sadly enough, it seems to be quickly slipping into the annals of history, ala Pearl Harbor Day. I remember where I was, what I was doing and how it affected me, as most people do. However, (and I can't claim to have been around for Pearl Harbor, so I can't make the comparison) this date has become so politically charged with the Bush administration that the date will most likely lose its meaning for decades.

I did this thread I think about two years ago. I'll see if I can dig it up to compare thoughts from then and now.

Thanks for starting this, though. It's always appreciated to me when people like to discuss life changing moments in history, especially the ones we've lived through.

[MisterSadistro]

It seems like many of us get caught up in whatever new DVD has the most horror to it, yet sadly enough we have become desensitized to real life horror in our every day lives.
I remember exactly what was going on that day. My alarm went off because I had to pick up my kids from school that morning and since I always woke up to the Howard Stern Show, I thought it was some kind of gag at first. It was dragging on and never an indication of being "funny" that I figured I had set the wrong station when I was going to sleep because none of it was settling in when I was waking. On a side note, Chicago was the only market that went to local news rather than broadcasting the Stern show that day. I've downloaded it since and as an avid listener, it is truly scary to listen to in retrospect.
I watched the second tower collapse on tv as I was getting dressed to pick up the kids. There was almost a stunned silence in the schoolyard because all the parents knew what had happened, but kept their thoughts to themselves. I told my oldest at the time (who was 6) about what had happened. She asked "why did they do that ?". It was one of the few times I was at a loss for words. The best I could tell her was "there are some people in the world that really hate us that much". That's when I finally felt mad and hurt because it was suddenly real to me.
CK

[Abominus]

What Bush turned the 9/11 tragedy into trivialized what happened. The war seems to be what people remember because they continue to deal with it 7 years later and the 2700(?) or so people become a monument and an afterthought.

[novakru]

My family is still deeply affected by it.
And just because I do not celebrate this horrible day, does not mean I am just waiting for the newest DVD's.


When we were in NYC , we wanted to visit Ground Zero.
They are building Freedom Tower over thousands of dead people.
I find that barbaric and disrepectful on a monumental scale.
And I do not CARE what kind of fucking memorial you put in the new building.

The whole point of moving on is not lost on me but to just build over?
Um, no, sorry- that's really fucked up.IMHO.

[urgeok2]

I remember i like it was yesterday - almost every detail.
It's something i still think about constantly.
(in fact - i dont refer to it as 911 - as to me that's like a trivializing nickname.
(like referring to Phantom of the Opera : Phantom ... or Les Miserable : Les Miz)

The overall impact for me was horror - and the realization that it was something that changed the world. And that it was something that could reoccur at any time.


but the point form items that stood out in my mind :


1) my disgust at the media - it was clear that to many of them - it was an event they had been waiting for their entire careers - there was almost a glee on the faces of these reporters - thrilled to be included and in the front lines of something so important. It made me want to puke.

2) the human race is extremely resilient. At the time i thought there was no way people would ever get past this - but they did. Not in a cold way - but a survivalist way.

3) Despite how i feel about the human race in general (a blight upon the planet) i was actually proud of the way the potential for an anti-muslim reaction was avoided.
Had this happened 40 years ago - interment camps would have set up everywhere full of muslims dragged from their homes... Like the japanese in WWII. Instead a lot of effort went into fighting this.

Part of me (i dont believe the conpiracy theorists) always felt that the only motivation for the attack was to promt an anti-muslim movement - giving the muslims all over the world cause to unite - triggering a large scale holy war.- based on what some expected would be the reaction of the americans. but it didnt come and i was suprised - and proud at how far we've come. (even though there's stilla long way to go)

it was something i'll never forget. the most horrific aspect - the unexpectedness of it.

[ferretchucker]

I remember coming back from school and seeing on the TV. My mum said this was one of the worst things I'd ever hear about in my life. I didn't understand how bad it was when it happened.

I've never forgotten it and I don't think anybody has. They just don't like to dwell on the bad past, but instead look forward to a better future. I was thinking about it often today and did my minute of silence. It's a terrible event that may seem to have died down, but certain things, a good example being you making this thread, show people still think about it. But as I said, if we spoke about it too much it would lose it's effect on us, and though I'm not saying it's a good thing to be sad, I think some things need to provoke emotion.

I too hate refering to it as 9/11. I find it makes it just a date instead of an event.

[Vodstok]

I still remember it all vividly, when i do think about it. How you view it depends largely on how it affected you. i rarely ever think about it, and when I do, it is just an unpleasant memory. There is no disrespect in this, i was not directly affected in any way, so its like Hurricane Katrina and the indonesian tsunami a few years back; it was horrific, but it changed nothignin my day to day life, so while i am aware of it, it doesnt hold any special meaning for me.


Pearl harbor, the holocaust, hell WW2 in general, cahnged the world, and there are people who still walk around with it every day, but for most of us, its just history, another event in a series of events that make up our lives. Its important to remember the lessons (if there were any), and to be sensitive of those who it IS a big deal for, but beyond that... I dont know.


Fo rthe record, I made a point to tell my family I loved them when i stopped by after work (mom, dad, sister) that day, and not one o fthem said anythign back. 7 years later, i dont speak to them any more. THAT is the one thing that sticks with me most.

[ferretchucker]

Originally Posted by Vodstok

Fo rthe record, I made a point to tell my family I loved them when i stopped by after work (mom, dad, sister) that day, and not one o fthem said anythign back. 7 years later, i dont speak to them any more. THAT is the one thing that sticks with me most.

That sucks. Is that a reason you don't speak to them anymore or something else happened, you just remember this?

[Ferox13]

I too hate refering to it as 9/11. I find it makes it just a date instead of an event.

It make you sound American too.