9/11 ... Two years later

R

rod

Two years ago today I watched the World Trade Center attacks and their
aftermath on TV, live as they happened.

Earlier this year I visited "Ground Zero" ... "The Pit", as the site
is called by native New Yorkers.

I'd been in New York for four days ... each day trying to convince
myself that I didn't really need to see the 9/11 site ... but I
finally admitted to myself that it was something I just had to do.

I thought I was tough enough to handle it emotionally ... a good
enough Buddhist to handle it spiritually ... but that turned out to be
vanity and wishful thinking.

When I stepped out of the subway and looked across across the street
to where the WTC towers once stood, the terrible reality of 9/11/2001
hit me me like a tidal wave, and the wall of tranquility with which
I'd carefully surrounded myself collapsed in a heap around my ankles.
Fortunately I had a friend to lean on, or I would have turned and
walked away. I couldn't have handled it alone.

We psyched ourselves up and set off across the icy street. My heart
grew heavier with each step. The voices of a multitude of lost
spirits grew louder with each step. I felt much colder at the edge of
The Pit than I had on the other side of the road.

Not much to look at through the viewing windows. A huge hole in the
ground. Trucks and heavy earthmoving equipment ... mostly still and
silent. A few men in hard hats and bright orange safety vests. A few
uniformed security guards.

Most of the rubble had been cleared away. It didn't really look like
a mass grave. More like just another big city construction site.
Almost normal.

Almost.

Some withered flowers. A few cards. Burned-out candles. A couple of
ribbons. A small basket with an offering to some Hindu deity. Rosary
beads. Photos of the pre-9/11 towers in a glass case on the wall ...
reflections of the way things used to be.

Street vendors selling 9/11 memorabilia and trinkets. I bought a
laser-etched plastic cube with a 3D image of the WTC towers from a
crippled black guy wearing Vietnam Vet ID. He picked up on my vibes
and said "Don't be sad, my brother. Be angry. It ain't over yet."
He was right. A month later, the USA attacked Iraq. It's still not
over.

Around us, tourists were happily snapping photos and taking videos.
Smile for the camera.

I didn't smile.

I cried.

My friend cried with me.

We stood huddled together quietly in the lightly falling snow ...
trying to come to terms with where we were ... trying not to be
overwhelmed by the enormity of the massacre which had taken place on
that very spot eighteen months earlier.

Even though it was an unnerving experience, I don't regret going to
see the 9/11 site ... but unless I can learn how to reach out to at
least one of the tormented spirits who remain trapped in that terrible
place, I don't want to see it again in this lifetime.
 
J

Jeffrey A. Setaro

[Snip]
Even though it was an unnerving experience, I don't regret going to
see the 9/11 site ... but unless I can learn how to reach out to at
least one of the tormented spirits who remain trapped in that terrible
place, I don't want to see it again in this lifetime.

Amen...

--
Cheers-

Jeff Setaro
(e-mail address removed)
http://people.mags.net/jasetaro/
PGP Key IDs DH/DSS: 0x5D41429D RSA: 0x599D2A99 New RSA: 0xA19EBD34
 
J

Jibefan

Thanks for sharing.

rod said:
Two years ago today I watched the World Trade Center attacks and their
aftermath on TV, live as they happened.

Earlier this year I visited "Ground Zero" ... "The Pit", as the site
is called by native New Yorkers.

I'd been in New York for four days ... each day trying to convince
myself that I didn't really need to see the 9/11 site ... but I
finally admitted to myself that it was something I just had to do.

I thought I was tough enough to handle it emotionally ... a good
enough Buddhist to handle it spiritually ... but that turned out to be
vanity and wishful thinking.

When I stepped out of the subway and looked across across the street
to where the WTC towers once stood, the terrible reality of 9/11/2001
hit me me like a tidal wave, and the wall of tranquility with which
I'd carefully surrounded myself collapsed in a heap around my ankles.
Fortunately I had a friend to lean on, or I would have turned and
walked away. I couldn't have handled it alone.

We psyched ourselves up and set off across the icy street. My heart
grew heavier with each step. The voices of a multitude of lost
spirits grew louder with each step. I felt much colder at the edge of
The Pit than I had on the other side of the road.

Not much to look at through the viewing windows. A huge hole in the
ground. Trucks and heavy earthmoving equipment ... mostly still and
silent. A few men in hard hats and bright orange safety vests. A few
uniformed security guards.

Most of the rubble had been cleared away. It didn't really look like
a mass grave. More like just another big city construction site.
Almost normal.

Almost.

Some withered flowers. A few cards. Burned-out candles. A couple of
ribbons. A small basket with an offering to some Hindu deity. Rosary
beads. Photos of the pre-9/11 towers in a glass case on the wall ...
reflections of the way things used to be.

Street vendors selling 9/11 memorabilia and trinkets. I bought a
laser-etched plastic cube with a 3D image of the WTC towers from a
crippled black guy wearing Vietnam Vet ID. He picked up on my vibes
and said "Don't be sad, my brother. Be angry. It ain't over yet."
He was right. A month later, the USA attacked Iraq. It's still not
over.

Around us, tourists were happily snapping photos and taking videos.
Smile for the camera.

I didn't smile.

I cried.

My friend cried with me.

We stood huddled together quietly in the lightly falling snow ...
trying to come to terms with where we were ... trying not to be
overwhelmed by the enormity of the massacre which had taken place on
that very spot eighteen months earlier.

Even though it was an unnerving experience, I don't regret going to
see the 9/11 site ... but unless I can learn how to reach out to at
least one of the tormented spirits who remain trapped in that terrible
place, I don't want to see it again in this lifetime.
 
T

Tatayoyo

How much it was terrible.
Nobody has the right to do this again.
And I hope this will never happen again.
Marc


(e-mail address removed) (rod) écrivait
Two years ago today I watched the World Trade Center attacks and their
aftermath on TV, live as they happened.
.../..
 
B

Bill

How much it was terrible.
Nobody has the right to do this again.
And I hope this will never happen again.
Marc


As long as there are Arabs, there will be terrorism.
 
B

Bill

What about Christians who bomb abortion clinics and murder the
physicians? There are all kinds of terrorist wackos.


True, But the fact remains that as long as there are Arabs, there will
in fact be terrorism. It's their way of life.
 
J

Jeffrey A. Setaro

And the difference is?

Fanatics aren't crazy... In fact they're exact opposite. Fanatics are
generally very intelligent, creative and patient. That's what makes them
dangerous and nearly impossible to stop.

--
Cheers-

Jeff Setaro
(e-mail address removed)
http://people.mags.net/jasetaro/
PGP Key IDs DH/DSS: 0x5D41429D RSA: 0x599D2A99 New RSA: 0xA19EBD34
 
N

null

Fanatics aren't crazy... In fact they're exact opposite. Fanatics are
generally very intelligent, creative and patient. That's what makes them
dangerous and nearly impossible to stop.

Depends then on your definition of "crazy" :) IMO, they're crazy =
wacko

I always liked the definition of a fanatic as one who believes immoral
or illegal means justify some ideal end. In my view that's a crazy =
wacko belief. Not "insane" (a legal term) but "crazy". Richard Nixon
believed immoral and illegal means justified his ends. In the
vernacular, he was "nuts" = "crazy" = "wacko" .... just another goddam
fanatic.


Art
http://www.epix.net/~artnpeg
 
G

Gabriele Neukam

On that special day, Bill, ([email protected]) said...
True, But the fact remains that as long as there are Arabs, there will
in fact be terrorism. It's their way of life.

The real way of life for Arabs is trade, think of caravans and oasis
towns.

Each religion has its fanatics, Zealots, Assassains, even a mainly
peaceful like Buddhism (I was told in the Eighties by some Sinhalese
that Buddhist monks lead some of the raids of Sinhalese against Hinduist
shops of Tamil people)

If you look behind the religious curtain, you will often find that the
war for the "correct" religion only hides a clash about economic
resources. Water, oil, land, access to markets, you name it.


Gabriele Neukam

(e-mail address removed)
 
N

null

On that special day, Bill, ([email protected]) said...


The real way of life for Arabs is trade, think of caravans and oasis
towns.

Each religion has its fanatics, Zealots, Assassains, even a mainly
peaceful like Buddhism (I was told in the Eighties by some Sinhalese
that Buddhist monks lead some of the raids of Sinhalese against Hinduist
shops of Tamil people)

If you look behind the religious curtain, you will often find that the
war for the "correct" religion only hides a clash about economic
resources. Water, oil, land, access to markets, you name it.

If you're saying that competition for economic resources is the most
basic cause of terrorism and fanaticism, I'd disagree. Fanaticism is
idealogically driven, whether it's religious or political idealology.
If cultural and/or racial differences are also involved, they add fuel
to the fire.


Art
http://www.epix.net/~artnpeg
 
F

FromTheRafters

Bill said:
As long as there are Arabs, there will be terrorism.

This may be the most stupid statement yet, made by you.
...though I'm sure you can outdo even this.

Do you really think that terrorism will go away if all of
the peoples currently employing it were to disappear
from the face of the earth? It will resurface just as soon
as an underdog in a conflict feels the need to equalize
the balance of power. It is a cheap and effective tool
to attempt to force your will upon others, and will not
go away ~ ever.
 
B

Bill

This may be the most stupid statement yet, made by you.
..though I'm sure you can outdo even this.


I'll try...

Studies have clearly shown that when humans have sexual intercourse
with camels it releases an enzyme in the human brain which alters the
ability to define right from wrong and thus leads to the root causes
of terrorism.

It has also been known to cause camels to start smoking.

Bill
 
F

FromTheRafters

Bill said:
I'll try...

Studies have clearly shown that when humans have sexual intercourse
with camels it releases an enzyme in the human brain which alters the
ability to define right from wrong and thus leads to the root causes
of terrorism.

It has also been known to cause camels to start smoking.

By jove he's done it!! :O)
 

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