Sept 11th 2003

[azsnowman]

With the second anniversary of Sept 11th just a few short days away, how has your world changed and do you have any special plans to remember that terrible day?

First off.......I have become more aware of my surroundings, my faith has become a lot stronger......I have more compassion for my fellow man. We have not taken our vacation in Rocky Point Mexico in over 2 years in fear of the border crossings and resentment towards Americans in Mexico.

As far as a memorial to the victims, we will continue a tradition that started at the Pot Belly Stove 2 years ago, light a candle in the window and say a prayer for the families that lost loved ones in the attack.

Dennis

[Lindaloo]

It is hard to believe that it has been two years already. Seems like it just happened.

I am also more aware of my surroundings. Nothing could shake my Faith, even though it feels stronger than ever!! Sept. 11th re-enforced my theory on never flying either, at least on a commercial airliner.

I will never forget the day the world stood still and all the people stopping in the streets, getting out of their cars and bowing their head in prayer. All the people around the world uniting and waving the American flag praying for us. All the candles being lit around the world.

It has been a long road to recovery from the hatred I had. All I could think about was those children on those airliners. I am sure alot of you can relate to the anger of that day. It was an emotional roller coaster ride.

[j]

The feeling I will never forget is the fear I felt for my son who lives in Manassas, Va. Although its 25 miles outside of DC, I frantically tried to call him all day and into the night. The frustration of not being with my son and my family in Mass. was eating away at me. It was definitely a slap in the face to what really matters.

My whole perspective on life has changed, and I find myself more in tune to what is going on around me. My TV is always on Fox News, which prior to 911 would have been anywhere but on a news channel. I'm much more knowledgeable and very concerned about Foreign Affairs.

I remember the first time I heard Alan Jackson's song, and thought to myself...this is a song that I will always remember. I cried.

There's so much more...but I'm anxious to read everyone elses thoughts.

[JetMaxx]

Just as the day my mother died...September 11th shall forever remain a very sad day in my life; a day on which I'll reflect and remember all the innocent men, women, and children that lost their lives that horrible morning....and I'll shed tears for the loved ones left behind

[Miss Mary]

I can't believe it's been almost 2 years now also. Like all of us, I can clearly remember that day, almost minute by minute/hour by hour. And the weather too! Upper 70s, clear blue skies, white puffy clouds. Heard NYC's wx was the same. A day you woke up and thought - oh what a beautiful day. How ironic it became our country's saddest day ever, IMHO.

I've changed. I too have the news on frequently through out the day. If I'm away (on an all day field trip with my kids for example) I check the news when I return. Or tune in an AM channel at the top of the hour. Just in case. That's what 9-11 did to me - I want to be in the know. And I don't want it to ever happen again. Like you Linda, I could not get the image of those poor innocent plane passengers and the children most of all, out of my mind. The horror they must have felt in that last instant......so many memories like that for me. Workers jumping from the towers......handicapped workers on duty high up......a blind man walking down 80 flights with his seeing eye dog. Stories like that, that I will never, ever forget. Finally, the heroic passengers of Flight 93 - bound and determined not to let a fourth plane attack occur. That story did touch your heart on a day with such utter despair. You wanted to hug these passengers and say thank you.

If I could say one thing to the world it would be this - this American citizen will never forget what we all lost on September 11th. Never.

[bfez1]

I am very much more aware of my surroundings and watch cable news nightly listening to the lastest news on the war against terrorism. I personally will light a candle on 9/11 in memory of all who so tragically lost their lives that day, the day America changed forever!

[isobar]

Do you guys ever notice a date on something, anything, that says August or early Sept, 2001 and think ... this was BEFORE 9/11 ? My next thought, of course, is wishing we could somehow turn back the clock and prevent it.

[streetsoldier]

All I can think about is that we have a worldwide enemy, intent upon our destruction, and not just the United States, but Western civilization in toto. They are relatively small in numbers, but well-funded, fanatical, suicidal, and must be stopped and wiped off the face of Terra before they succeed in doing so to US.

The Israelis have the right idea...in 73 A.D., after a three-year siege, Masada, a mountain fortress in the south of Palestine, finally fell to the Roman legions...but not before the 900+ Jewish Zealots in the fortress committed mass suicide, handing the Romans a "Pyrrhic victory"; no prisoners, no triumph.

Today, every Israeli soldier ascends to the ancient fortress and says, as his oath of enlistment in Israel's Defense Forces, "MASADA SHALL NOT FALL AGAIN".

We, as Americans, should at least be able to say "NO MORE 9-11'S" with equal resolve; my question is, have we the "stomach" to say it, mean it, and do what we must to see this through?

[Stephanie]

Thank you Dennis for posting this topic.

I think that I'm more aware of my surroundings and probably more spiritual due to what had occurred. I feel much more vulnerable and distrustful of people and their motivations.

[JCT777]

I will take some time on 9/11/03 to remember what happened that day - and to remember those who lost their lives. As far as my world changing, I was always leery about getting onto an airplane even before that day. Since then, I have surely had no desire to do so. Plus it seems when anything terrible happens (i.e. the sniper shootings that started around this time last year in MD and VA, the blackout in the Northeast last month, etc.) I immediately suspect terrorism and wonder what is going to happen next.

Dennis - I actually saved a copy of the thread you started on that "other board" last year - regarding where everyone was on that fateful day and how it had affected their lives. I just read it again and I thought that maybe others would like to see it. Since you originally started that thread, what do you think of me posting it here?

[isobar]

Wow John, good job! That would really be something special to read.

[Miss Mary]

John - I'd like to read it again. So if you're gathering opinions, I wouldn't mind if you posted it. Thanks in advance, if you do run it again. There are many topics from the other place that got lost in the shuffle, if you ask me. And I can't even read them anymore..... .

[Lindaloo]

I would like to read it too, John. Please post it if the admins and mods do not mind.

Miss Mary... the one thing that sticks out in my mind today is the image of those children. Some of them were flying for the first time and had received an award for school excellence. They earned it only to have it taken away from them. That is what haunts me to this day, two years later!!

[azsnowman]

"YES" by ALL MEANS John, post it! Wish I had the foresight to save something like that!

Dennis

[GalvestonDuck]

On a slightly more negative note (depends upon who you are, I suppose), I'm way more intolerant of illegal immigrants. Not that I supported them before. But 9/11, in addition to getting snowed by someone here in TX who is Hispanic and told me she was a citizen which she wasn't (hard to tell here), completely changed me in terms of how I feel about immigration.

And ever since 9/11, I've been armed.

[JCT777]

Dennis, Mary, Linda and Donna - since you all replied saying you want to see it, I will go ahead and make a new topic containing last year's 9/11 rememberance thread from the "other board". Thanks!

[David]

Do you guys ever notice a date on something, anything, that says August or early Sept, 2001 and think ... this was BEFORE 9/11 ? My next thought, of course, is wishing we could somehow turn back the clock and prevent it.

Yep, I got a repceit on Sept. 10th. It's freaky.

[nystate]

9/11 made me want to fly more...I know many people in the airline industry, and some of them have lost their jobs due to the effects of 9/11. Now, whenever I get the chance, I fly...

[Miss Mary]

9/11 made me want to fly more...I know many people in the airline industry, and some of them have lost their jobs due to the effects of 9/11. Now, whenever I get the chance, I fly...

Nystate - now there's the spirit!!! Did a double take when I first read your post. I know of some people who didn't want to fly after 9-11. Have to hand it to you, turning something very negative, into a positive.

[therock1811]

Great thread az... I will always remember 9/11... next thursday I will stop whatever I'm doing at 8:45am EDT and reflect on that horrific day... I changed too, I always listen to a news station on the radio... always watching news on TV... and will do so for as long as I live.