9/11

[kiltedwolfman]

I was walking into a gym and getting ready to teach a martial arts class. As I watched the news unfold I realised that things were going to change dramatically, and quickly all around North America and the reprocussions would be long lasting. At this time I was enjoying a stint as a civilian having wrapped up almost 17 years in the forces, but by the time I had finished teaching that class I had decided to re-up and informed my students that this would be the last class for a while. I knew there was going to be fighting, I knew that I was still able enough to do it, and I knew that I had enough experience to be useful to the throng of new recruits that were quickly heading into the recruiting offices eager to go to war.

I went to war, and the road there and back takes a great toll as anyone who has been a combat soldier can tell you. I am now retired again but this time for good and enjoying a civi's life ( still getting used to not having to shave everyday though ). Would I go again if I had to? Sure. Would I ask anyone to go in my stead? No. Do I wish no one had to go at all? Abso-friggin-lutely.

[EagleJCS]

I remember being at work and hearing that a plane had crashed into one of the towers. We quickly went down to the company cafeteria (where the only TV was located) and I remember watching as the second plane crashed into the other tower. The rest of the day was spent listening to the radio between trying to do some work.

I also remember how eerily quiet the skies were for the next couple of days (was it 2 or 3?) while the no-fly was in effect and how loud the jets seemed once they started flying again. It's interesting the things you get accustomed to hearing that don't conciously register until they're no longer there.

I still can't look at the footage or photos of any of the events of that day, but particularly of the towers.

I also get a little misty-eyed when I watch the You Tube footage of the Changing of the Guards at Buckingham Palace on 9/12, when the Coldstream Guards played "The Star-Spangled Banner" (the first time another nation's anthem was ever played for that event). I periodically look that up - I can't explain why.

[True Blue]

I was woken by a friend calling telling me to turn on the TV. I turned it on in time to see the second plane hit the tower.

A Police Officer, I went to work that night and saw many frighten people not sure how to react. I was part of the first and second group of volunteers my Dept sent to aid in the rescue effort. I still cannot describe what that was like. I will say this. I saw many people brought together in an incredible effort to aid in the recovery.

Already a Veteran, I enlisted in the Army National Guard on returning home and deployed as part of Operation Enduring Freedom.

I would argue against the hardening of hearts. While that may be true for some, I saw a country that was attacked, send troops in to protect itself and instead of simply destroying the enemy try to change and help those people in many ways.

Left the service to raise a family. Would I do it again? Yup!! The wife has to talk me out of re-uping evey Veteran's Day.

"Every man whom I have admired in history has willingly and courageously served his country's armed forces in times of danger. It is not only a duty, but honor, to follow their examples as best I know how." -Nile Kinnick. Heisman winner, who died serving his country in 1943

[Jock Scot]

Well that dreadful day certainly changed things. Although how much for the better I am not so sure.

Now this may be hard for America to understand, but there are people in the UK, and possibly in Europe who, whilst being appalled at the loss of life, (don't forget that many nations contributed to the list of the dead), and stunned at the actions of fanatics, thought well at least America now knows what the rest of us have suffered, one way or another, in the last 100 years.

Harsh though that sounds , I do think that the appalling event of 9/11 has brought America, as a whole, into an awareness that they did not have before. That can only be for the good.

[Phil]

Harsh though that sounds , I do think that the appalling event of 9/11 has brought America, as a whole, into an awareness that they did not have before.

The same attitude that prevailed back in 1939 you think Jock? We're OK over here, nobody can touch us, so we'll just let those pesky Europeans get on with their never-ending squabbles. Didn't last though and 9/11 brought a harsh reminder that nowhere can live in isolation from the rest of the world.
Having visited there before and after the event I noticed a marked proliferation of flag-flying afterwards so it obviously had a profound effect on nationalist sentiments.
My personal experience was facing redundancy shortly after the event from my then American employers due, in part, to the financial uncertainty that followed it.

[ForresterModern]

I was working when, between cases, I was told that a plane had hit one of the WTC towers. REmembering the previous decade's failed attempt to drop one of them with a truck bomb, my heart sunk immediately. I watched the burning first tower on the waiting room's TV, watched in what seemed like slow motion as the second plane fireballed through the second tower, then stood in horror as I watched each tower drop in a massive cloud of dust. All scenes burned into my visual brain forever, along with all the various angle amateur shot views that followed on the news over the next few days and weeks. And the many documentary replays that have been generated and shown over the last ten years. They all still live in me every day.

I have never been to New York but I am sure that when I do go, and I will visit the Ground Zero site someday, I will likely cry like a small child as I did the first time I saw my cousin's name on the Viet Nam war memorial wall in Washington, DC, for the first and only time at age 40 or so.

Life is what happens around you as you move through your own path in time. Some things are fleeting like a bothersome mosquito, others define distinct points or large swaths of that time. 9/11 falls into the latter category for me, and I am sure for a lot of americans and other citizens of the world. The fabric of the world will never be the same, rent and soiled irreparably for all. My life goes on, albeit changed significantly, but I compare it not to the lives of those lost or more profoundly affected by the events of that day, and of other similar disastrous days the world over caused by wanton terror, and the wages of wars which have been the result. There are simply not enough tears to go around.

"And that's all I have to say about that." (quote from Forrest Gump).

[Jock Scot]

The same attitude that prevailed back in 1939 you think Jock? We're OK over here, nobody can touch us, so we'll just let those pesky Europeans get on with their never-ending squabbles. Didn't last though and 9/11 brought a harsh reminder that nowhere can live in isolation from the rest of the world.
Having visited there before and after the event I noticed a marked proliferation of flag-flying afterwards so it obviously had a profound effect on nationalist sentiments.
My personal experience was facing redundancy shortly after the event from my then American employers due, in part, to the financial uncertainty that followed it.

A bit of that Phil, I am sure, but we did invent radar and develop a communications system and fighter defence---just in case and thank goodness we did!

Terrorist attacks are notoriously difficult to predict and counter. Although since 9/11 we, the world, are getting rather better at it. Sadly, perfection in countering these terrible things is, realistically, an unobtainable possibility.

[Joshua]

Terrorist attacks are notoriously difficult to predict and counter. Although since 9/11 we, the world, are getting rather better at it. Sadly, perfection in countering these terrible things is, realistically, an unobtainable possibility.

And at greater cost to the liberty, privacy, and lifestyle of the civilians, to boot.

[Jock Scot]

And at greater cost to the liberty, privacy, and lifestyle of the civilians, to boot.

I forget who said: "The price of freedom is eternal vigilance." He was right and it is expensive in so many ways. It is a fine line to follow, I grant you, but the alternative does not appeal to me much.

[Bill aka Mole]

On that day, I was at work (had been there since 0645). I had retired from the U.S. Navy three years earlier. I had been a member of a volunteer Fire department for almost three years. We were preparing to go on break when the plant stopped production completely. Various mangers and supervisors were taking employees into their offices to watch what was happening via the internet. We had a plant meeting at about noon with the plant manager and attempted to resume production.

When I got home that evening, I contacted the Navy and asked if they required my services. I was told that no decision had been made at that time but they did take my name and number, just in case.

Many firefighters volunteered to got to New York to fill the ranks for as long as they needed. I was informed that the company I was working for would fire me if I left to do this. seeing that I needed a job, I didn't go. Later, the plant manager let me know off the record what he thought of the company's policy.

When the "Patriot Act" was passed into law, I wept at the loss of liberties that the population was requesting. In my honest opinion, that was where the terrorists won. The lasting loss of liberty.