Remebering 9/11 (New York, York: how much, high school, live)

[Moderate Guy]

Originally Posted by john_starks

it was so weird living in the W. Village around that time. I was so used to seeing those two massive towers in the back drop whenever i crossed 6th ave. then there was nothing.

also, the days after were strange. army vehicles sectioned off 14th street. there was still dust/debris in the air. they were handing out free surgical masks..it looked anf felt like Baghdad after a bomb strike.. (ok not that bad)

You are so right, John. Coming to work in the South Street Seaport area after those events, I did feel as if I were in a bombed out Middle Eastern town. What with the army and police vehicles circling 24/7 as well as the fighter jets streaking by in the skies above in the aftermath.

[john_starks]

Originally Posted by Miles

You are so right, John. Coming to work in the South Street Seaport area after those events, I did feel as if I were in a bombed out Middle Eastern town. What with the army and police vehicles circling 24/7 as well as the fighter jets streaking by in the skies above in the aftermath.

that's right! forgot about the fighter jets...oh boy

[Retired Law 08]

Never forget...........




http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q65KZIqay4E

[Redisca]

Not to sound insensitive -- I have hated every memorial since 9/11 happened, even though I was IN the World Trade Center on 9/11/01. On the 1-year anniversary, it took me over 3 hours to get home (instead of the usual 1 hour) because of all the street and ferry closures. Every day since has been marked by public transportation disruptions, rerouting, ridiculously overcrowded trains, etc. It's regrettable that a day of remembrance has to be turned into one of annoyance.

[Futcha]

Originally Posted by Redisca

Not to sound insensitive -- I have hated every memorial since 9/11 happened, even though I was IN the World Trade Center on 9/11/01. On the 1-year anniversary, it took me over 3 hours to get home (instead of the usual 1 hour) because of all the street and ferry closures. Every day since has been marked by public transportation disruptions, rerouting, ridiculously overcrowded trains, etc. It's regrettable that a day of remembrance has to be turned into one of annoyance.

People died that day and you're worried about getting home on time? Show some repsect, I knew people who were killed, my best friend's father was killed.

[Redisca]

Originally Posted by FutureCop

People died that day and you're worried about getting home on time? Show some repsect, I knew people who were killed, my best friend's father was killed.

If my horrendous commute could resurrect your best friend's father, or anyone else who died, I would have no problem with it. But the annoying crap I have to put up with every year does not benefit those dead people in the least. I expected the knee-jerk reaction, but please step back and look at the situation critically -- there is a lot of hypocrisy here, and it does not just happen on 9/11. In general, memorials, endless ceremonies, ostentatious tomb stones, funereal art work, brass orchestras and other things of that nature -- none of it is really for the sake of the dead; those things are undertaken to satisfy the egotism of the living. The dead people have nothing to do with those events and accouterments -- NOTHING. They are merely a pretext for (some of) the living to make themselves feel all good and mushy on the inside. They are monuments to ourselves -- our generosity, artistic taste, and how good we are for "respecting the dead". Alas, the dead don't need us -- and you ought to think really well who is really paying respects to whom.

Ordinarily, I have no problem with this. But paralyzing a significant part of the city on a weekday so that a few feel-good speeches can be made -- that's just not fair. That is what ticks me off. I do respect the dead, but I wish the living would respect each other. Doing something in order to feel good about yourself does not justify subjecting millions of people to such a manufactured and totally useless inconvenience as well as spending loads of public money every year.

[Fred314X]

In a strange way, I agree with Redisca. The whole memorial thing has been manufactured. I don't think New York needs a public hand-wringing every September 11. This is not to say there isn't respect for the deaths that occurred when the World Trade Center was attacked. But there's certainly a new and different mindset now than there was, let's say, 67 years ago, when Pearl Harbor was attacked. You didn't see these kinds of "ceremonies" every December after 1941.

[Jungle George]

Originally Posted by Redisca

If my horrendous commute could resurrect your best friend's father, or anyone else who died, I would have no problem with it. But the annoying crap I have to put up with every year does not benefit those dead people in the least. I expected the knee-jerk reaction, but please step back and look at the situation critically -- there is a lot of hypocrisy here, and it does not just happen on 9/11. In general, memorials, endless ceremonies, ostentatious tomb stones, funereal art work, brass orchestras and other things of that nature -- none of it is really for the sake of the dead; those things are undertaken to satisfy the egotism of the living. The dead people have nothing to do with those events and accouterments -- NOTHING. They are merely a pretext for (some of) the living to make themselves feel all good and mushy on the inside. They are monuments to ourselves -- our generosity, artistic taste, and how good we are for "respecting the dead". Alas, the dead don't need us -- and you ought to think really well who is really paying respects to whom.

Ordinarily, I have no problem with this. But paralyzing a significant part of the city on a weekday so that a few feel-good speeches can be made -- that's just not fair. That is what ticks me off. I do respect the dead, but I wish the living would respect each other. Doing something in order to feel good about yourself does not justify subjecting millions of people to such a manufactured and totally useless inconvenience as well as spending loads of public money every year.

I agree...but to a point. It just seems a bit off-center to hear someone complaining that all this "hoopla" is "useless" even though it may be helping thousands of people to heal the emotional scars they have from that day including relatives & friends of victims, police, firefighters, medical personnel, military personnel & others that unselfishly helped throughout the aftermath, as well as those who truly want to honor the dead!!

Calling these ceremonies something to "satisfy the egotism of the living" sounds a bit strange when reading your post because it seems kinda "egotistical" to me that you would rather deny these thousands of people these ceremonies based on the inconvenience of your commute 1 day out of 365 a year!! Could it be that if someone's human they have an ego???

Like "Flo" on the Progressive TV commercial says...."SURPRISE"!!!!

[Rudbeckia]

Originally Posted by FutureCop

People died that day and you're worried about getting home on time? Show some repsect, I knew people who were killed, my best friend's father was killed.

Totally agree with you FutureCop.

Even if a ceremony is "manufactured", as Fred says, who cares?. The 9/11 ceremony holds much meaning for many people, and if you would deny people this just to make your commute faster, you are very selfish.

Originally Posted by Fred314X

In a strange way, I agree with Redisca. The whole memorial thing has been manufactured. I don't think New York needs a public hand-wringing every September 11. This is not to say there isn't respect for the deaths that occurred when the World Trade Center was attacked. But there's certainly a new and different mindset now than there was, let's say, 67 years ago, when Pearl Harbor was attacked. You didn't see these kinds of "ceremonies" every December after 1941.

What if we did have ceremonies every year honoring the people who died in Pearl Harbor? That would not be a bad thing. I do not know the history regarding the amount of ceremonies held after Pearl Harbor, but I guarantee you people had them.

[Moderate Guy]

Originally Posted by Redisca

If my horrendous commute could resurrect your best friend's father, or anyone else who died, I would have no problem with it. But the annoying crap I have to put up with every year does not benefit those dead people in the least. I expected the knee-jerk reaction, but please step back and look at the situation critically -- there is a lot of hypocrisy here, and it does not just happen on 9/11. In general, memorials, endless ceremonies, ostentatious tomb stones, funereal art work, brass orchestras and other things of that nature -- none of it is really for the sake of the dead; those things are undertaken to satisfy the egotism of the living. The dead people have nothing to do with those events and accouterments -- NOTHING. They are merely a pretext for (some of) the living to make themselves feel all good and mushy on the inside. They are monuments to ourselves -- our generosity, artistic taste, and how good we are for "respecting the dead". Alas, the dead don't need us -- and you ought to think really well who is really paying respects to whom.

Ordinarily, I have no problem with this. But paralyzing a significant part of the city on a weekday so that a few feel-good speeches can be made -- that's just not fair. That is what ticks me off. I do respect the dead, but I wish the living would respect each other. Doing something in order to feel good about yourself does not justify subjecting millions of people to such a manufactured and totally useless inconvenience as well as spending loads of public money every year.

When next my family gathers to mourn our lost loved ones, I'll try to remember that this is all about me not about the ones gone. Hey, why don't we all wipe out funeral processions too as your car might have to wait at a stop light for a few minutes as the mourners try to make themselves feel good on the way to the burial ground.