On writing on 9/11, on and on
I’m not going to lie: I have a hard time writing about 9/11.
This is (for the most part) a political blog, but politics seems like a very small topic for a day like today. 9/11 is a messy day, not just because it’s still full of sorrow and anger for so many people who lost loved ones that day or any of the hard days that followed, but because still it is not a closed case.
On a micro level, there are still discoveries, such as the note that a Connecticut man dropped from a window on the 84th floor of Two World Trade Center that day, and which reached his family just before last year’s decennial remembrance, and which finally made it into the press this week. A fresh wound for them and, albeit on a much smaller scale, for the rest of us, too.
On a macro level, there’s a war in Afghanistan that began shortly thereafter and continues to this day. There are still tens of thousands of Americans fighting in that war, being shot at by our enemies and our alleged friends. Their mission, their fate, are still deathly important to them and their families, and should be to the rest of us, too. But to talk about those things today feels off-putting, because it invariably means diving into the politics involved in making decisions about the war and thus getting away from the unity of the day, and it feels cheap, because it’s too easy to talk about those things today and ignore them for the other 364.25 days of the year. (I am far too guilty of that myself.)
On a personal level, I feel like most people are out of things to say by now, myself included. I was working in a carpet mill that day, a month away from starting my job with the Associated Press, and didn’t even hear about the attacks until someone from the office part of the building told me in the break room at lunchtime. I still didn’t comprehend what had happened for another four hours, when I finally got a chance to see a television and the images of what had happened and was still happening, images and events that were nearly impossible to imagine before 9/11 and impossible to forget ever since.
What I remember most is the visceral reaction I and everyone else had, and that was best captured by people who spent that day capturing it instead of shuttling rugs around a mill. To this day, I prefer re-reading what was written then to almost anything written more recently. If you’ve never read Dan McLaughlin’s eyewitness account from back then, today’s the day to read it. For a longer treatment, Tom Junod’s 2009 exploration of the “falling man” photograph is haunting. Feel free to share others in the comment thread.
And feel free to share your own memories and thoughts, even the political ones. Heck, this is still a mostly free country. Just because I had to get this off my chest before getting on with the rest of my day doesn’t mean you have to do the same.
– By Kyle Wingfield
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263 comments Add your comment
@@
September 11th, 2012
9:31 pm
…can’t you losers just dial the political rhetoric down a bit on this day?
As if……
AmVet’s illusions distort the reality of what’s been going on around here.
Lil' Barry Bailout - Vote American
September 11th, 2012
9:38 pm
JamVet, you sphinctermonius phony!
Linda
September 11th, 2012
9:43 pm
Dr. Boag, Thank you from the bottom of my heart for your lengthy answer to my question.
My premise is that health care in the US will need to be reformed so that patients pay cash to their primary care physicians for routine care & a percentage of the cost of emergency/illness care.
Health insurance needs to be the same as hazard insurance for homes & auto insurance.
As far as our homes, we pay for our utilities, our repairs & replacements & improvements for appliances carpets, roofs, paint, etc.
As far as our vehicles, we pay for our gas, our tires, our brakes jobs & our windshield wiper blades.
Health insurance needs to work the same way as hazard & auto insurance for the USA to ever creep its way out of the fiscal cliff that we face, specifically with Medicare, Medicaid & private health insurance.
What do you think?
Tiberius - pulling the tail of the left AND right when needed
September 11th, 2012
9:47 pm
Linda and Dr. Boag – really?
Your conversation on health insurance can’t be delayed one, stinkin’ night until tomorrow?
Really?
@@
September 11th, 2012
9:48 pm
I just dropped in on the neighbor’s blog.
Seems like AmVet’s been dialing UP some political rhetoric of his own on this, of ALL days. AmVet’s usual stuff.
AmVet, the phony one trick pony.
thbbpppbt
Splavistic
September 11th, 2012
9:49 pm
I remember everyone united behind this tragic event. Thanks to Bush, that was short-lived…
Lil' Barry Bailout - Vote American
September 11th, 2012
9:52 pm
Americans remained united after 9/11. It was the Democrats who decided that, for political reasons, they had to attack their Commander In Chief, label our troops as Nazis, and root for them to lose.
Tiberius - pulling the tail of the left AND right when needed
September 11th, 2012
9:53 pm
Where is Brosephus’ face palm graphic when we need it?
The Deafness Before The Storm
September 11th, 2012
9:57 pm
What did Bush know and when did he know?
Did Condi Rice drop the ball?
Did Condi Rice lie to the 911 widows?
Is a guilty conscience more honorable than regret?
@@
September 11th, 2012
9:58 pm
Tiberius:
Last time I saw Brosephus’ face palm, it was lookin’ pretty skimpy. A major fade-out.
Linda
September 11th, 2012
10:00 pm
JamVet@9:27, Ditto to you what I said to mike@8:54..
The Deafness Before The Storm
September 11th, 2012
10:07 pm
@Lil’ Barry Bailout – Vote American
September 11th, 2012
9:52 pm
It was the Democrats who decided that, for political reasons, they had to attack their Commander In Chief, label our troops as Nazis, and root for them to lose.
*********************************************************************************
Hitler once said, the big lie works and the little lie does not.
“It was the Democrats who decided” – Big lie
“they had to attack their Commander In Chief” – Big lie
“label our troops as Nazis” – Big lie
“And root for them to lose.” – Big lie
David R. Boag, DDS
September 11th, 2012
10:10 pm
Sorry, Tiberius. I wasn’t defaming liberals. I wasn’t going after anyone personally. I wasn’t posting to be argumentative. Honestly, I was posting to share my experience with someone who asked about it.
If that exchange somehow offended you, for that I do apologize.
Linda
September 11th, 2012
10:14 pm
Tiberius@9:47, Excuse me! It is rare that any doctor would take his time to go on a blog like this. It is an opportune time to ask questions of him & listen to his answers.
When has Dr. Boag ever been on this blog? Why should any of us wait for anyone like him to come back?
There is absolutely nothing that he & I have discussed that diminishes the horror or memorial of 9/11.
Linda
September 11th, 2012
10:22 pm
Dr. Boag, Thank you for your contributions on this blog. I hope that you will again share your thoughts with us. Conservatives have to put up with being called every name in the book, but we are not intimidated in the least. Hope you are as tough as we are.
The Deafness Before The Storm
September 11th, 2012
10:23 pm
@Lil’ Barry Bailout – Vote American
September 11th, 2012
6:48 pm
Interested Observer
September 11th, 2012
6:29 pm
———-
Still waiting to hear about the specific threats the CIA uncovered, or the actionable intel we had.
Didn’t think so.
Your BDS can’t be healthy.
********************************************************************
President Bush was told in the months before the Sept. 11 attacks that Osama bin Laden’s terrorist network might hijack U.S. passenger planes – information which prompted the administration to issue an alert to federal agencies – but not the American public.
CBS News National Security Correspondent David Martin says the warning was in a document called the President’s Daily Brief, which is considered to be the single most important document that the U.S. intelligence community turns out. The document did not, however, mention the possibility of planes being flown into buildings.
NY Times
On Aug. 6, 2001, President George W. Bush received a classified review of the threats posed by Osama bin Laden and his terrorist network, Al Qaeda. That morning’s “presidential daily brief” — the top-secret document prepared by America’s intelligence agencies — featured the now-infamous heading: “Bin Laden Determined to Strike in U.S.” A few weeks later, on 9/11, Al Qaeda accomplished that goal.
Gina522
September 11th, 2012
10:29 pm
I was at work, and my husband called to say a plane had hit one of the towers. My company told everyone to go to the conference room, where they turned on the TV for us. In horror we watched as a second plane crashed into the other tower. We then heard that a plane had crashed into the Pentagon, and later that a plane had crashed in Pennsylvania. A coworker from NYC cried, she had once worked in the World Trade Centers and her brother was a NYC fireman. She later found she had lost friends who where working there that day. A few days later, the VP of our department learned one of her friend’s daughter had been on the plane that crashed into the Pentagon. Our company told us all to go home early that day. We were also told we could come in late the next day. I went home and sat with my husband, watching the TV for any news of survivors.
I visited the World Trade Center Memorial this summer. It was very beautiful and peaceful.
Today, I emailed my NYC friend to let her know if was thinking of her. She has sinced moved away, but we still keep in touch. I still feel the horror and sadness of that day.
cc
September 11th, 2012
10:35 pm
Del @ 7:52 pm:
The only problem I have with Bookman’s cheerleaders is that they tend to migrate to other blogs!
AU Liberal in ATL @ 8:15 pm:
Classy comment . . .
Del @ 8:55 pm:
Bernie’s ALREADY here!
David R. Boag, DDS @ 10:10 pm:
You owe no apology to anyone. You answered the questions forthrightly and honestly. It was a good post from a professional’s viewpoint.
Linda
September 11th, 2012
10:38 pm
Hey, Democrats, Al-Quida & Osama Bin Laden attacked the World Trade Center in 1993, on Clinton’s watch. Was it anyone’s surprise that they attacked it again in 2001? Everyone around the globe knew that Al-Qioda & OBL planned to attack the WTC again & finish their job. Everyone knew Al-Quida & OBD planned to attack the WTC AGAIN.
cc
September 11th, 2012
10:43 pm
Linda @ 10:38 pm:
President Clinton was otherwise occupied. He had just received a fresh shipment of new cigars and was making plans for the future . . .
td
September 11th, 2012
10:47 pm
Linda
September 11th, 2012
10:38 pm
You can not present facts like these to the programmed worshipers of the messiah and chief. You will only get personal attacks from that type of logic.
td
September 11th, 2012
10:48 pm
Kyle,
Excellent piece. Great job.
David R. Boag, DDS
September 11th, 2012
10:59 pm
Linda @ 9:43,
Out of respect for Tiberius and others who may share his sensitivity, I’ll hold off on further opinion on the issue until tomorrow. If they perceive that discussion as somehow attacking them, we can wait.
Do me a favor and ask me again to remind me. I may forget otherwise.
Linda
September 11th, 2012
11:08 pm
td@10:47, Don’t care. Can handle idiots. Does anyone who gets trickles up their legs from the Messiah deserve to get welfare from Thou to pay for said Depends?
Linda
September 11th, 2012
11:18 pm
Dr. Boag@10:59, Don’t worry about those on this blog who have no respect for anyone other than themselves & their ilk. Conservatives need to get tough or we will never save our civilization. It’s not just if we are better off than we were 4 yrs. ago. It’s whether or not we might survive as a country.
gm
September 11th, 2012
11:33 pm
The scum bags at fox uninformed news attacking Obama while he tries to comfort the families of 911, this shows what a bunch of scum buckets we have on the right, these people are the same as the terrorist that bombed our nation, both of them are filled with hate for Americicans especially the President of the United States.
For all the hypocrites on the right, you are using pell grants, va, ssi medicare, femma for disaster, corporate welfare for your company, when are you going to confess to the free stuff you are getting, what a bunch of scum bags.
gm
September 11th, 2012
11:38 pm
Linda
Another mental rep women, who hates all women rights because bubba and the right wing nut jobs keep them in their place, Thank God for liberal women or these people will still be running around barefoot and pregnant”””’
Bruno
September 12th, 2012
1:31 am
On writing on 9/11, on and on
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XzCk3qiybnA
Bruno
September 12th, 2012
1:37 am
I’m gonna fly like an eagle……
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6a6lAwbE1J4
How come there aren’t any show like “Midnight Special” anymore???
Lil' Barry Bailout - Vote American
September 12th, 2012
6:32 am
The Deafness Before The Storm
September 11th, 2012
10:23 pm
———
Wow, earth-shattering stuff…people might try to hijack planes. I guess that’s why we only started searching folks, x-raying stuff, and created air marshals only AFTER 9/11…
Still waiting to hear about the credible threats and actionable intel.
And you should do something about that hate that’s eating you alive.
David R. Boag, DDS
September 12th, 2012
6:48 am
Linda (and Tiberius et al),
You will note that I didn’t apologize for WHAT I said. I’m apologizing for WHEN I said them. As I wrote my response, I really didn’t see it as argumentative political banter, but after Tiberius’ response, if I was someone with his worldview, I might construe it as that. And, out of respect for the day, my opinion on the subject of healthcare can afford to wait 12 hours.
There is a difference between being tough and being an a-hole. I prefer to remain the former and continuing to respect others’ right to disbelieve the truth while still standing up for it. I would call on ALL my conservative and liberal cohorts on here to do the same.
Tiberius - pulling the tail of the left AND right when needed
September 12th, 2012
7:07 am
Dr. Boag, my issue was that you and Linda were having a discussion on a blog written regarding 9/11 ON 9/11. I understand your desire to be polite and respond to Linda’s questions, but I was simply pointing out that out of respect for the day, that answer could have waited. I didn’t see it as an attack, but just incredible insensitivity towards those who still mourn after the events of that day.
Sadly, the political nature of too many liberals on this blog (and a couple of conservatives as well), is such that they can’t turn off the vitriol and blame game for one minute, let alone one day.
Lil' Barry Bailout - Vote American
September 12th, 2012
7:21 am
Perhaps you should have just taken the entire day off the blogs, Tiberius. I’m pretty sure you were the only one offended by a discussion of health insurance yesterday.
Tiberius - pulling the tail of the left AND right when needed
September 12th, 2012
7:24 am
Perhaps you should develop a bit of morality, LBB.
It is pathetic that you can’t shut down the political crap for one stinkin’ day.
Lil' Barry Bailout - Vote American
September 12th, 2012
7:26 am
As for the discussion of politics on 9/11, I’ll say this: Every day we’re not working to defeat Obozo, the terrorists win (the liberal fascist ones within our borders).
Lil' Barry Bailout - Vote American
September 12th, 2012
7:30 am
Those Libyans sure are grateful to the U.S. for helping liberate them. They’ve killed our ambassador there in a rocket attack on our embassy. Perhaps NASA can reach out to them and raise their self-esteem so they aren’t acting out like that in the future.
gm
September 12th, 2012
7:32 am
Lil’ Barry Bailout – Vote American
3500 Americans dead on GW Bush watch plus he had several warnings, end of story, please right wing nut job, stop trying to rewrite history”””’
Lil' Barry Bailout - Vote American
September 12th, 2012
7:36 am
gm, who do you blame more for the 9/11 attacks–the Islamofascist hijackers, or Our President Bush?
gm
September 12th, 2012
7:44 am
President Bush had several warning this attack was comming go and read the memos, Are Americans better off now then 4 years ago? ask bin ladin and the rest of the terrorist group, you can spin it all you want 3500 Americans died under the Bush administration.
Could you imagine if this had of happen on Obam watch? the wing nut jobs would never stop, fox mis information would have been working around the clock.
Tiberius - pulling the tail of the left AND right when needed
September 12th, 2012
7:55 am
If you want to continue the blame game, gm, then wouldn’t you be intellectually honest and blame Obama’s Libyan policy for the death of his ambassador and 3 others yesterday?
Just checking to see if this goes both ways.
Lil' Barry Bailout - Vote American
September 12th, 2012
8:09 am
Can’t answer my question, gm? Your silence is quite telling.
Finn McCool (The System isn't Broken; It's Fixed)
September 12th, 2012
8:11 am
Haven’t flown since, and barring some family emergency, never will again. The over-reaction of so-called Homeland Security is not my cup of tea.
ummm, apparently the Homeland Security is the only over reactor out there. If you see a car wreck on TV you won’t be able to get into a car again?
Finn McCool (The System isn't Broken; It's Fixed)
September 12th, 2012
8:13 am
There was no single memo preceding the attacks. They had been warning the W administration for months.
And Dusty says “W kept us safe.” Ummmm. No clue?
Tiberius - pulling the tail of the left AND right when needed
September 12th, 2012
8:14 am
Finn, I’d suggest you grow up, but that would e a wasted effort on my part.
No Constitutional rights to unlawful search and seizure are violated with a car wreck. It is a principled stance you cannot possibly hope to understand.
Finn McCool (The System isn't Broken; It's Fixed)
September 12th, 2012
8:14 am
For the Cons, 9/11 is Clinton’s fault and economic collapse of 2007-2008 is Obama’s fault.
No reprehensibility whatsoever. Remember, when you deal with conservatives, you are dealing with children.
Tiberius - pulling the tail of the left AND right when needed
September 12th, 2012
8:26 am
Objectively, 9/11 might not have happened if Clinton had decided to take Bin Laden when offered to us, but as with the arguments about what might have happened to the economy or GM if McCain had been elected, we’ll never know.
Did Bush treat the warnings of a possible attack lightly? Maybe. Only those in attendance in his security briefings know for sure, and that certainly doesn’t include any poster on this blog.
Was the U.S. government setup regarding information sharing to blame as well? Probably. To say that if this government would stop interfering with an Amish farmer’s ability to sell milk and focus on one of the first roles of government – national security – would be an understatement.
There are far too many people, organizations and policies to blame for 9/11.
Finn McCool (The System isn't Broken; It's Fixed)
September 12th, 2012
8:27 am
Tib wants me to grow up? I’m not the one who saw an act of violence and was too afraid to ever get on an airplane again.
I suggest you avoid any documentaries about the history of Ireland.
Finn McCool (The System isn't Broken; It's Fixed)
September 12th, 2012
8:29 am
Did Bush treat the warnings of a possible attack lightly? Maybe.
Children. Sigh….go watch Fox News and leave reality to us adults.
gm
September 12th, 2012
8:31 am
Lil’ Barry Bailout – Vote AmericanTiberius – pulling the tail of the left AND right when needed
Obama’s Libyan policy for the death of his ambassador and 3 others yesterday?
So do we blame Nato also? they along with the United States helped changed libya, thats the different between this great President and the last idiot, we have allies who work with us and share the blood sweat and tears, unlike the last President where we lost over 4,0000 Americans troops in Iraq.
I Report (-: You Whine )-: mmm, mmmm, mmmmm! Just sayin...
September 12th, 2012
8:31 am
Aahhh, I see that the world loves us with our fuzzy little obozo in charge
U.S. AMBASSADOR TO LIBYA, 3 OTHERS, KILLED IN ATTACK
It’s the Moonbat Spring.