The Anniversary of September 11th 2001

The first response of all those not directly affected by the attacks is probably to wonder audibly, 'Was it really fifteen years ago? How time flies...' and then embark upon an anecdote of where they were living and what they were doing when the news broke.

The antidote is to think of those for whom the memory is still and always will be fresh: those whose lives are filled with reminders either of their own experiences or the absence of a loved one who never came home that day; those whose dreams are haunted by faces that will never again be seen while awake.

For all our differences - both superficial and profound - the Americans were and are our friends. They were there when it was down to the Empire vs. the Nazis, and they'd be the first to send more than pretty words if catastrophe befell Blighty again.

Remember.

 

Well said TTH.
The Western world is losing on many fronts today and much of that is due to variations of the politically correct thinking which dominates our democracies.

 

A terrible day and one that should not be forgotten. However, while I respect and understand the thoughts of TTH and canuck, I have a different point of view.

I personally commemorated 9/11 by playing with my kids, drinking beer and generally having a good time with friends in the sunshine. Exercising this freedom is my way of sticking two fingers up to the small minority of nutters who want to limit my rights. That's the best way to deal with Islamic terrorists (or any terrorists for that matter). Their aim is to solicit a reaction. They want people to declare war on them and to make statements demonising the whole Islamic religion. It’s through this type of reaction that they will gain more recruits and create more chaos.

So, in my view, dealing with the Islamic terrorist threat in a measured and reasoned way is the best policy. This means the general public going about their ordinary, everyday business as usual as this is the best way to defy terrorism. We should be vigilant of course, but using inflammatory language introducing measures that severely restrict our freedoms is counterproductive. Alongside this the drones, special forces and security agencies should quietly get on with what they need to do. And of course diplomacy and building alliances is also very important.

What I have just said is not “political correctness” (whatever that is), it is just the most pragmatic way of dealing with the threat in my opinion. And remember that the threat should be kept in proportion. One hundred years ago thousands of people were dying every day in WWI. Same in WWII just over 70 years ago. We are actually living I relatively peaceful times. The only difference is that now we have 24 hour media with a vested interest in fostering hysteria.

 

"The only difference is that now we have 24 hour media with a vested interest in fostering hysteria."

No argument with that assertion. Only time will tell as predicting the future is an impossible pursuit.
The thirties likely would not have been as peaceful if our leaders had any inkling of the cataclysm which was about to befall the world. Some threats are obviously worthy of hysteria, the difficult question is identifying which ones are legitimate. In hindsight, it would have been highly prudent for a western intelligence service to have assassinated Hitler in the thirties. The world would never know what had been averted and this website wouldn't exist. Goodwill, diplomacy and concessions were clearly ill-advised at that time.
We will only know that our respective governments are being vigilant if the next 9-11 never occurs.

 

The photo is from the 9/11 Museum.

Todd Beamer's ID and wrist watch.

 

My sister's friend was killed on her first day back from maternity leave.

 

Too depressing to think about.

 

A contact of mine works in the insurance sector and told me that the asbestos/respiratory related illnesses from 9/11 are steadily coming home to roost. So the casualty toll continues to rise even after all this time.

 

9/11 service held in New York

 

I visited the twin towers in April 2000 and stood on observation deck. It still gives me the shivers every anniversary. I always light some candles in a church in their memory.

 

Like the many premature deaths among the FEPOWs who came home with their health ruined.

 

A very true comparison TTH.

 

Jeremy Glick - Wikipedia

 

A high school classmate of mine put this on Facebook. 8th Street is about 2 miles north of the World Trade Center.

These are my brothers words about 9/11/01 .. I thank God every day that his plans changed that day. I am also saddened for the friends and acquaintances that I lost.

“It was a beautiful day and I remember walking into the office to pick up materials for the day ahead of me. The job was simple, an air filter on the compressor that served the pneumatics throughout the space. I remember being excited to spend the day downtown and greeting everyone throughout the account we spent so much time throughout the years.
Inside the building you couldn’t help but feel impressed as everything was immaculate and there always seemed to be a great deal of energy. The line to the 79th floor twisted and turned and the people watching was always entertaining. Everyone with a purpose and the professionalism was almost intimidating for a 23 year old kid. Every floor you were greeted with a smile and all seemed grateful to be there.
My lead technician entered the office and always seemed serious with the task at hand. I waited at the desk with the dispatcher and greeted him with a smile. As always, he smiled back and immediately looked past me, asking “whats on the schedule for me?”. I cut the dispatcher off and happily laid out our day with a smile on my face. He looked at me with disappointment then moving straight through me to address the dispatcher. He seemed to take a breathe then stated with his always calm voice “We are going there tomorrow for a PM, why are we wasting time today with this?”.
I remember being furious with him for screwing up a perfect day in his need to be efficient. The dispatcher said “there is a compressor on west 10 street that you can change”. He immediately said yes and handed me the job sheet. As I lifted the compressor into the back of his truck, I couldn’t help but feel resentment. He approached his truck and we entered the front cab. He immediately asked me “Why didn’t you ask for something else to do?”. I really didn’t have an answer but a million responses swirled around in my head (99% of which would have ended our great relationship. lol). I answered with silence and he just looked at me and replied with his catch phrase whenever I seemed pissed “Chillll ouuuut”. I laughed and off we went..
I was engaged to be married in March and remember all the plans ahead of me. Saving every penny to entertain my closest friends while maintaining a pretty eventful social life. Things were perfect, the women I loved, friends I enjoyed and a company I knew was going to fulfill all my dreams.
We arrived to the job and waited on the stairs of the brownstone. As the customer greeted us around 8AM, she seemed relieved for us be there. We walked through the residence and every step reminded me of how exhausting my day was about to be as I counted the flights. On the roof we lay-ed out the logistical plan as we always did.
I unloaded the compressor and proceeded throughout the residence making sure not to interfere with their morning. Everyone was busy getting ready for the day and I was eager to get on the roof and out of the way. Do you want some coffee asked the women “NO we are perfect” the lead said as I looked at him again in disgust. A good cup of joe would have been perfect but not for someone who prefers green tea.
With our backs to the south, he pointed and directed my next moves. In that moment, a loud bang surrounded our job site, one like I have never heard before. Before turning around I remember feeling every hair on the back of my neck immediately raise as if it knew things would never be the same again. The city crept to a whisper immediately as we watched in horror.
That day will live in my memory for the rest of my life and as I look at my wife a kids, I realize my life was spared because of the leads need to do what is right. I never thanked him for that and honestly it never occurred to me until later in life.
Thank you Eddie!”

 

Tom Burnett - Wikipedia

 

Four years since this post and nineteen years from that terrible day. Ron has never returned to full time work and likely never will.

With the passage of time we forget that, for several days after 9/11, the threat of further attacks was uppermost in peoples minds. Even in Toronto, all major office towers were evacuated by noon that day and people did not return for several days. As it turned out, my schedule called for multiple business trips in the 4 weeks afterwards to Chicago, Dallas, Washington, Miami, Baltimore, Virginia and North Carolina. The almost empty flights, deserted major hotels, restaurants and a huge military presence in all airports was disconcerting. What amazed me most was just how shaken Americans were. Among my business contacts, the normally confident, self assured and even brash personalities were quiet and subdued. I have not seen anything close to that, before or since.

Ron DiFrancesco
 reflects on the events and impact of 9/11

 

No politics
Just remembering nearly 3000 people from America and the world who died 9/11

 

While I was watching football game between University of Texas and University of Arkansas today it occurred to me that USS Arkansas and USS Texas were both at Normandy. I wasn't sure when USS New York (sister ship of Texas) was laid down so I looked it up. Sept 11, 1911

USS New York (BB-34) - Wikipedia