Thoughts on 9-11-01

Sooner or later someone is going to start a thread on this topic, so it might as well be me.

I'm probably one of the more liberal members on this forum and I don't like what we've done in Iraq, but that doesn't mean I don't appreciate the gravity of the events that occurred ten years ago this morning.

I think it would be interesting to see how folks on the forum were changed by that day.

For me, I'm an NYC native who was transplanted to the south over 40 years ago, and I spent the first 30 of those apologizing for being from New York. After seeing how that city responded to 9/11, I'm no longer apologetic -- I'm proud to claim it as my birthplace, and prouder still of how its citizens came together.

I don't think I've been 'changed' by 9/11 in any tangible way; my feeling then and since is one of great sympathy and empathy.

Having lived in London for 60 years, much of which was during the IRA bombings, I've become inured to terrorist tragedy and destruction; decades of security such as bag-checking and watching for unattended packages and luggage have made it the norm and London still bears the physical scars of the Second World War with large tracks of Docklands even now a waste-land after the intense bombing.

Even yesterday when I was at Dover Docks announcements were made warning people not to leave their bags unattended or ' they may be destroyed'.

I feel for those directly involved in New York; my partner was working for the bus company whose double-decker was blown up on 7/7 and I received several phone-calls from friends and family inquiring after his safety. In fact he'd moved on from driving by that time but........!

I think at the time it was the immensity of the single incident which had the greatest effect.

My thoughts and love to those that lost family and friends, in New York City, The Pentagon and flight 93 in a Field in Pennsylvania, 10 years ago today.

I have to say the day has been foremost in my thoughts but I have avoided the media. Let those who survived and or lost folk that terrible day remember their lost family and friends with the thought that loved ones are never forgotten.

I liken 9/11 to Pearl Harbour, it will be one of those days the perpetrators will rue from that day hence.

God bless all democratic free minded people.

I had a loved one who was supposed to be on Flight 11. I spent an agonizing day thinking I had lost her forever only to get a phone call of relief that she was alive and well having been too late to catch the flight. It had taken her hours to get a line free to call me.

Today is a double anniversary for me. Like everyone else I observe the tenth anniversary of the attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. It is also the first anniversary of my Alive Day. One year ago today two 107mm rockets slammed into my position in Afghanistan. A day I should've died but didn't. So yes, I think of two towers today, but even before that I think of two rockets.

I am a just retired Fire Fighter...... God bless us all.....the ones left behind

Bless you Tom. Hope to share many Alive days with you.

Having stood up at the top floor looking down at the surrounding buildings, how the building imploded instead of just falling over, on top of so many more buildings, which would have happened to alot of substandard buildings is a trubute to adherance of building codes by many, many contractors. give them a passing thought as well.