September 11, 2002

[Dumpster 0]

As I watched the whole thing on TV, I was thinking this could be straight out of a Tom Clancy novel. It really didn't hit me full force until I was on my way home from work that day. I was supposed to be leaving work early to go jump, something I dont get to do very often. It made me realize just how fragile the freedoms we often take for granted can be.

Easy Does It

[billvon 2,406]

>As I watched the whole thing on TV, I was thinking this could be
> straight out of a Tom Clancy novel.

It was. One of his novels ends with a terrorist flying a fully fueled 747 into the capitol building. It wasn't a new idea.

[mouth 0]

We are having a time of silence followed by the pledge at our school. I think it's good for the kids to have a chance to remember this too, because they were in the rooms watching and questioning a year ago. Many of their questions were never answered because we have no answers as to how it could happen here.

I plan on wearing my American Airlines uniform in honor of the flight attendants that were killed. It seems fitting......

No matter what you do to show your respect...do something.

Lisa

Oh, and thought I would let you know our principal has said we will say One Nation Under God" Good for him! Those who don't like it can keep your flames to yourself as I don't wish to hear them!

--
Hot Mama
At least you know where you stand even if it is in a pile of shit.

[sar911 0]

These post show why America is Great !!!
I have somewhat of unique perspective of September 11, 2001. By 1:45pm that fateful day my partner and I were being deployed to the WTC from Homestead Air Force Base. The next 22 days would forever change my life. As we traveled from Fort Dix to ground zero, the streets were lined with people with signs of every type thanking us and hoping that we would find survivors. People from every walk of life were on West Street with everything that you could imagine to help us. From socks and food to safety equipment. Total strangers would come up to us and hug and thank us. Clergy would bless us. Even crime dropped 45% during the first week. Upon arrival our 62 member team was divided into two 31 member teams that worked in 12 hour shifts. We were assigned to the bravo (night) shift. When we arrived at ground zero it was already dark. From ground level it looked like a picture from “Independence Day”, from above it looked like Hiroshima. Our first assignment was to locate and rescue nine people that were “trapped” underground and had called for help on a cell phone. After four hours of searching it turned out to be a hoax. The days passed and the number of bodies and parts rose. Every time that we would recover a police officer or firefighter the entire site would stop working, the body was draped with an American flag, two lines were formed and full honors given as they were removed. On the fourth day this happened five times on one shift (three Port Authority Police Officers and two FDNY firefighters). As the days went on people would come up to us and show us pictures of there missing loved ones and would ask if we had seen them or if we would look for them. On day six after our shift had ended we were asked to visit staff at the command center at Pier 92. While were there a seven year old girl who was the daughter of one of the lost firefighters came up to my partner and put a “Medal of Freedom” around her neck. This pretty much did it for me. There was not a dry eye in the place. At the end of our rotation our task force had to be ordered to leave as none of us wanted to quit. During our trip home, all of us reflected back at how something so bad had brought out the very best in all of us. THIS IS WHAT MAKES AMERICA GREAT !!!
God Bless America !!!
Mike Forsythe, K-9 Search Specialist
K-9 O’Cara (My Partner)
FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) Urban Search & Rescue Florida Task Force II

[Michele 1]

Mike -

Thank you, thank you from the bottom of my heart, thank you.

To all those who were part of the 9/11 S&R, those who died and those who came after, thank you for your courage, your commitment, and your honor. Thank you for going in while the rest of us were going out. Thank you for the compassion, the tears, the hope and the promise of a future. For while we watched, you went. While we sat stunned, you worked. While we, with tears in our eyes, asked "how could it happen", you had no time for questions...you just gave. Everything you had, you gave.

And thank you to the service men and women, who continue to give, long after the dust has "settled", it is you who protect, you who serve, and you who allow us to be free.

Thank you.

With humble appreciation and deepest respect,
Michele

[jtval 0]

ok I honestly cant read all of this right now.
I am glad it is still not a complacency in the states. I have yet to be back since before the attacks. I have no idea what itll be like(different somehow but somehow the same.)

Does anyone stop and realize that there are people around this world who want us dead, just like those on September 11th, just because we are American.

I think about it Everyday, brother.I can twiat to be home..anywhere in the US. I would rather die on american soil then live the way I did for the last year...(and I got it EASY here)
There are others who do some much for so little and are glad to be there doing what they do. I think of them alot and thank God that we have a PURELY voluntary force of dedicated people who want to make a difference(all public services)

My photos

My Videos

[FreeFlyFreaky 0]

I emailed a link to this thread to a dear friend in Lower Manhattan that survived 9/11. She is also an EMT and picked up the pieces for months. She is also a pilot and wants to do her first tandem this fall. Skydivers are definitely 'her people'. All your words were inspiring to me and I thought she would appreceate them as well. Here is her response.

Thanks,
Whit

_________________________________________


Whit,

Thanks for sharing the DZ thread on 9/11 with me. I suppose I've come a long way. I can read those messages and be so very grateful there are real people in the world. I was talking with Heather, her b'day is Monday and I asked her what she wanted - she still says "I'm just glad to be alive". A conversation missed by 5 minutes, a whimsical desire to leave the office at 7pm (early for me) - I miss the conversation, Heather and I end up not being on the 106th floor at 8:30am. When you're born with someone you're called twins. When you die like that, they can become your blood brothers and sisters. That's what they are for me. I choose to make them that.

As I write this I hear the F16's flying overhead at night, I know we're on the highest alert since - I'm watching Labor Day very carefully. But, I no longer sleep on the floor, with my clothes on, balled up in a fetal position half way under the couch. I no longer jump at loud noises. I no longer instinctively scramble for cover when airplanes approach. The fire engine sirens are no longer a pucker factor. I no longer need to be in Lower Manhattan to "feel safe", because that's the only place people understand what really went on that day. I no longer fall back on a diet of taro chips and red wine for dinner, or kahlua, cornflakes and vodka for breakfast. I eat red meat whenever I want, without forcing myself.

I choose my memories of the tourists to be the ones in uniform I took out of line and escorted to "10 house", at the center of GZ. I will always remember the marine about to ship out to Afghanistan - I still see him there, standing on the roof of "10 house" saluting the site, with tears running down his face, and the silent prayer he said. And as he prayed for them, I prayed for his safety.

So you see, for me I choose it to be a huge incredible chain of empowering memories. The site itself has so much power. When you crossed the control zone into the space of GZ, the first thing you feel, naturally, is to be quiet, and then, before you know what's happening a feeling of love and compassion rushes over you. And then you get it, it *really* is hallowed ground. You look around, and there are people quietly watching and slowly smiling at you, because they know you get it. Then, you feel a moment of triumph - that those who left us so horrifically - well, they didn't really leave, because they left the best of themselves here, the love. The ground we frantically dug to reach for them, their horrible mutilation, was just their bodies - their spirits stayed and soothed that ground into the purest love. Ground Zero - a compass point for the center of the best of this country.

As 9/11 approaches, I look past the day to day WTC rebuild wranglings and terrible EPA failures, and choose to see just that, for them. I'm not anguished, it's my joy to remember. I know there will be tears, but they won't be traumatic.

A friend said despairingly of me a month ago he never thought I'd get over the trauma. But look, each day I'm doing so well. Yesterday I went to the memorial site to print out the pix of the 48 I knew to put them on the wreathe. You see, I'm throwing the wreath in the river on 9/11, letting it ALL go. But the pix were still hard to look at and some tears were still there. That's not trauma, that's just appropriate sorrow. So it's 48 tiny flowers.

Their DNA dust is probably still on my as yet unwashed windows. They are welcome. If their spirits need a place to dance, they can do so in my heart. It's for them, but more importantly, it's for the rest of us that I do what needs to be done on this terror issue. And that's how I know I'm over the worst - I'm doing things for we the living, first and foremost - I've let them go. The day I let them go, the wreath turned brown. I know their consciousness survived death, and I know beyond a shadow of a doubt, they are the ones leading me into doing my part to correct this terrible wrong.

Indi

[rhino 0]

Mike,

Thank you for sharing this.. Thank you very much.. I deeply appreciate it and I know it must still be very difficult for you to deal with today.

Rob

[jfields 0]

Quote

By 1:45pm that fateful day my partner and I were being deployed to the WTC from Homestead Air Force Base....

In a weird kind of reverse similarity, I understand the feeling. I flew from Fort Bragg to Homestead Air Force Base right after Hurricane Andrew. I was deployed there for a month helping with the various recovery efforts. I did not play nearly the type of crucial role that you did in NYC, but I understand the emotions between disaster survivor and aid worker. Being able to help was a great experience, amidst a tragic scenario.

[rhino 0]

Thank you for sharing.. I thank your friend too.. I don't know what to say other than I will never forget.

God Bless America...

Rob

[Muenkel 0]

Freeflyfreak,

What your friend Indi writes is incredible. It is raw emotion. I have heard similar stories from countless people.

Sadly, there are still people in this world who think these innocent victims deserved it. Many, many people were deeply affected that day...for what? I still find it chilling, the hate the human race is capable of.

_________________________________________
Chris

[rhino 0]

Quote

Sadly, there are still people in this world who think these innocent victims deserved it.

Sad but true....

[GrumpySmurf 0]

"Debt of Honor"
First thing I though when watching the news that morning just as the second plane slammed into the building was, "I guess either ATC got some serious communication and direction issues, or somebody's been reading a bit too much Clancy lately".

[billvon 2,406]

>Sadly, there are still people in this world who think these innocent
> victims deserved it.

No one deserves to die like that, no matter what country they live in, what nationality they are or what religion they are (or what religion they aren't.) I keep hoping for the day when everyone around the world realizes that.

[Muenkel 0]

Bill, you're hoping for Utopia. Not that there's anything wrong with that.

The problem is, we have several billion imperfect people living on this planet. These imperfect people come up with imperfect ideas and build imperfect governments. Egos, greed, lust for power are all involved. The people who actually do some good don't get enough attention. The media rather give airtime to the psychos. Also, truly good people don't go around bragging about the good that they do. They just do it quietly, looking for no praise.

Look at Mother Teresa. She never really preached, she just did! I think the only reason her death got as much coverage in the media is because she died right after Princess Diana and the media was kind of shamed into giving her the coverage they gave Diana.

_________________________________________
Chris

[billvon 2,406]

>The problem is, we have several billion imperfect people living on
> this planet. These imperfect people come up with imperfect ideas
> and build imperfect governments. Egos, greed, lust for power are all
> involved.

I agree. I think we're getting better, though. As far as basic human rights go, I think the US has done a pretty good job balancing governmental powers vs individual rights, socialism vs. cutthroat capitalism. Compare that to the 1600's, when most people, in the words of Thomas Hobbes, lived a life of 'No arts; no letters; no society; and which is worst of all, continual fear and danger of violent death; and the life of man, solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short.' He argued that that's how 'men live without a common power to keep them all in awe'. Not sure if our government quite keeps us in awe, but it does seem to do a good job of keeping us out of Hobbes' world.

Our history has been one long progression of small, nasty, oppressive governments merging (sometimes violently) into larger, less oppressive governments. I think we have one last step to take - a world government with just enough power to keep the peace between Israel and the Palestinians, the Serbs and the Croats, and yes, even the Americans and the Arabs. It will be a painful step for us, because we like being the world cop and doing pretty much whatever we want, whenever we want. At some point we have to make that final step and start supporting a worldwide government instead of trying to _be_ a worldwide government.

[rhino 0]

We will never see a world government.. Uncle Sam has to keep his stick..

[billvon 2,406]

>We will never see a world government..

We will if we want one.

>Uncle Sam has to keep his stick..

He can; he just can't use it on a whim any more outside the US. Over two hundred years ago we managed to take thirteen independent and free states and unite them under one government while maintaining a lot of their rights; we can do it again if we choose.

[rhino 0]

Maybe another thread should start about a world government..

[Muenkel 0]

Quote

At some point we have to make that final step and start supporting a worldwide government instead of trying to _be_ a worldwide government.

Bill, how do you see a worldwide government coming about. I assume you would want a democracy. Which type of government would be chosen? The Chinese have the largest population, would that mean they have the largest vote? And how do you get the Polish to figure out what a hanging chad is? (That last statement was a joke. Definitely no offense to the polish people.)

_________________________________________
Chris

[freeflir29 0]

Quote

At some point we have to make that final step and start supporting a worldwide government

Ahh...yes....and lets go for Bar codes on babies.....and tracking chips under your skin.....and thought police....and and.......
Some steps forward ARE NOT progress......When there is a world governement I'll be first in line to start the revolution.

[billvon 2,406]

>Bill, how do you see a worldwide government coming about. I
> assume you would want a democracy.

No, a republic, which is what we have (in general.) Elected representatives from each country.

>Which type of government would be chosen? The Chinese have the
>largest population, would that mean they have the largest vote?

Dunno. Our system of two houses seems to work pretty well. In one house it's one vote per country, the other is based on population.

[rhino 0]

We are ruining a great thread.. Let's start a new one..

[Muenkel 0]

Oh shit, I have to agree with Clay. In a perfect world, one world government would be ideal. Actually in a perfect world, we wouldn't need a government. But that's not gonna happen anytime soon. Instead, with one world government right now, you have too much at risk.

_________________________________________
Chris

[Muenkel 0]

I agree with Rhino also...oh shit again. This thread is about September 11th and should remain as such. Of all threads, this one should not be hijacked...no pun intended.

_________________________________________
Chris