A new aspect of 9/11

[Baal]

All right usually there are topics every year about this time with a lot of the same questions. Where were you at the time? What were you thinking at the time? What do you think about the way things are handled now? And generally we get the same answers. So I would like to try something else that is somewhat different.

Did September 11th change you completely in any way or do you know anyone who completely changed as a result? September 10, you were one way and then the attacks occurred and you made a sudden change for yourself or perhaps a friend did so. Obviously you had to make changes if you lost any family or friends, though for those that didn't, what changed about you. Were you inspired to do something perhaps? Did you make any personal sacrifices?

Please realize that this is not a debate and do try and keep any political grievances to another topic.

[LightningTopaz]

I began watching the news more often, so I could stay informed on current events.

[super saiyan]

I don't think it's changed me as a person so much, but it's definitely something that stuck with me and affected me pretty deeply. I was in biology class at the time, only a week into my freshman year of high school. From where I was sitting, I was actually able to SEE the WTC from my classroom. We were all just in shock and disbelief. But the most unfortunate thing was that none of the staff would tell us what was happening. But as the day went on, more and more people were being pulled from class and brought home. Halfway through my day, I just walked out and went home to see everything for myself.

I didn't actually know anyone, but a lot of friends of mine did, so it all felt very unreal to me at the time it happened. And I still look at the empty space where the towers once stood every time I go into Manhattan. I think that even though the reality of it all has long since set in, it still feels surreal at times to know these tall buildings I'd been in dozens of times as a child was no longer there.

[Serebii]

I started to take a more cynical view of the way the government does things...but other than that, nope...hasn't phased me a bit. But I was always brought up knowing bad things happen

[eX.A.K.R.]

At the moment 9/11 happened (it was shown 'live' around the world, remember?), I did not and could not realise nor comprehend the immense awfullness that it was - you would be forgiven for calling me a retard at that time. It wasn't until at least a few days later (I can't remember things well from before or around that time) that I started comprehending the scale of the tragedy; even then, it took a lot of changes inside me (nothing related to 9/11, but my contact with reality - I used to be almost totally disconnected with reality), and while I'm better at comprehending 9/11, I'm still learning how awful that day was.

I still remember during that period, a few days after the event happened, that I became rather emotionally upset while watching reports of 9/11; I looked to my mother for help; she just told me to pray, like what everybody else seemed to be doing at that time (it happened that the television was showing a Christian congregation praying for the victims of 9/11 at that moment - and mind you, we are a family of Buddhists).

[Evil Figment]

It began my fall from an idealist to a jaded cynic.

Every September 11 since then has made its worse, with its bevy of wholly predictable, entirely repetitive and rather less than impressive threads, discussions, and "Woe is America"-ism on every forum, news channel, and so forth.

Some days, you get the feeling that for a lot of people, there never was a September 12, 2001 - or any day after that, and that September 11 has stretched into eternity.

(And to be clear : I'm excluding the New Yorkers who got to watch it real time, and those who knew victims. It's the other 275 millions I mean)

[Snake Bandage]

I don't think I really understood what death was all about until then. I've been obsessed with death and things from beyond the grave since I was nine, from the day I discovered that even the sun wasn't forever, but I didn't really understand how it made people feel. Not until September 2001.

It's... a bit silly, but on the morning of 9/11 I was upset from watching an episode of my favorite show the previous day, where my favorite characters died. I never really experienced the death of someone I loved before (my grandfather died when I was nine, but I was incredibly oblivious at the time and didn't know him very well), so I was incredibly distraught. 9/11 really brought it home. No one I know was there and no one I know knew anyone who was there, but... it was still humans, getting hurt and dying in real life. And I understood that if I felt so strongly about the death of purely fictional characters, it must feel about a million times worse for those who knew people who were inside WTC at the time.

I'm a lot more sensitive to death now. I'm a lot more sensitive in general, actually. I'm also a lot more ornery as soon as September rolls by because of all the bad memories associated with that month.

[Satoshi Ketchum]

At the exact moment it happened I was watching 'Me, Myself and Irene' on Sky Box Office. When it ended I remember my Mum switching over to the news and all I saw was two giant towers with smoke bellowing out of them, i was really young so i had no idea what was going on or where the twin towers were, but my Mum was totally distraught by it, she was gobsmacked.
As of now it's almost forgotten, it's never really brought up and hasn't really affected me the slightest.

[Sceptile726]

I don't think I changed any from that particular day. At the time, I just couldn't believe that someone had destroyed the WTC. I find myself more irritated at what this event has been blown into in subsequent years. By now, I wish for it to only be a memory. Another part of history that I have experienced.

[GrnMarvl13]

September 11 had...no effect on me. Kind of hard to be affected by a terrorist attack half a country away when you've had one in your own backyard. THAT one had a profound effect on me.

[Bp.]

The shielding bubble of ignorance my parents and my education had me so pleasantly wrapped up in was broken and I began to be more aware of the world and its realities; that this was in fact no accident, that it had been intended, and that even the glorified United States can be penetrated.

[The Big Al]

I started to take a more cynical view of the way the government does things
That happened to me when Bush was appointed by the Supreme Court as President.

9/11 changed my view of what America could be. The "war on terror" became the perfect excuse to beat us down into submission.

[Zeta]

It's been incredibly blown out of proportion, and has become an excuse for America to constantly pity itself and play the world's victim - when many, many other countries suffer attacks like this monthly or even weekly. Yes, it was a tragedy - but people should stop treating it as the only bad thing that ever happened and "woe is us, because the terr'sts are out to get us." Get over it, people. We can't let something like this define the mentality of the country for the next century, for chrissake. Check out what happens daily in Africa and then come back and tell me it was the worst crime to humanity we've seen in the past 20 years.

[Serebii]

That happened to me when Bush was appointed by the Supreme Court as President.

9/11 changed my view of what America could be. The "war on terror" became the perfect excuse to beat us down into submission.
One way to rule a nation...rule by fear

Edit: Before I get jumped on, by this I am not insinuating that they plotted this like many people believe, but rather the government manipulated it to keep themselves in power and to get whatever the hell they want

[Evil Figment]

Oh God...

I...I...No, I just can't say that! But...IagreewithJoehere.

*Scrubs mouth out* ;-)

[The Big Al]

It's been incredibly blown out of proportion, and has become an excuse for America to constantly pity itself and play the world's victim - when many, many other countries suffer attacks like this monthly or even weekly. Yes, it was a tragedy - but people should stop treating it as the only bad thing that ever happened and "woe is us, because the terr'sts are out to get us." Get over it, people. We can't let something like this define the mentality of the country for the next century, for chrissake. Check out what happens daily in Africa and then come back and tell me it was the worst crime to humanity we've seen in the past 20 years.
To put it in perspective 1 out every 100,000 Americans died in 9/11. That's less likely than dying from lightning, tornadoes, or flood seperately.

But it's all about the fear. A people that are afraid and stupid (Bush already has us afraid and he's working on making us stupid with "No Child Left Behind" and the like) are easily controlled. Satan made flesh Rove probably pissed his pants when 9/11 happened. He couldn't have asked for a better opportunity.

Then when a Hurricane kills close to 2,000 people it's practically swept under the rug except for late August. Hello, you can arrest terrorists, you can disarm bombs. You can't stop a Hurricane.

[Serebii]

Oh God...

I...I...No, I just can't say that! But...IagreewithJoehere.

*Scrubs mouth out* ;-)
Seems to be a common thing on BMG lately :p

[Evil Figment]

So I saw in the PPN thread, yes.

[Crystal Clair]

I was in biology class at the time, only a week into my freshman year of high school. From where I was sitting, I was actually able to SEE the WTC from my classroom.

......
what high school did you go to.... if you lived on SI when you went to high school and you could see it from your classroom, you may have gone to my highschool... either that or the one on the other block.

Well I was affected very little aside from not watching Pokemon anymore. The towers had the antennas for everyone who got regular tv (back then we didn't have Time Warner).... but I really figured out what the word "terrorist" was and I began learning a lot about the middle east.

[super saiyan]

......
what high school did you go to.... if you lived on SI when you went to high school and you could see it from your classroom, you may have gone to my highschool... either that or the one on the other block.

Well I was affected very little aside from not watching Pokemon anymore. The towers had the antennas for everyone who got regular tv (back then we didn't have Time Warner).... but I really figured out what the word "terrorist" was and I began learning a lot about the middle east.

tottenville. you could BARELY see it, but it's hard to miss smoke and fire. later that day i had to pick up a friend who went to curtis - being on bay st/richmond terr that day was definitely one of the scariest sights of my life.

[Crystal Clair]

tottenville. you could BARELY see it, but it's hard to miss smoke and fire. later that day i had to pick up a friend who went to curtis - being on bay st/richmond terr that day was definitely one of the scariest sights of my life.
Tottenville?
O_O that's very far from my school
however, your friend went to my school.
^_^

[Pianoplaynfool]

I was in 5th grade and we all knew something was up, we just didn't know what. It happened around 8:30ish and school started around 7:30 so, yeah. We went to lunch and then everybody was getting checked out and all the teachers were worried and when we asked about it, they said they couldn't tell us. As we were coming back from lunch, the television was on in the front office and we saw the towers and the rest is history.

As for whether or not it had any effect on me, yes, it did. After that I became a "Proud to be an American" 5th grader, but since then I've realized how blown out of proportion the entire thing really is, and I've gone back to disliking America.

The shielding bubble of ignorance my parents and my education had me so pleasantly wrapped up in was broken and I began to be more aware of the world and its realities; that this was in fact no accident, that it had been intended, and that even the glorified United States can be penetrated.

Yep, exactly.

[Ralli]

I'm almost always very bitter about the fit people always make 9/11 to be, ESPECIALLY since it's used as an excuse and a ploy by so many politicians. There are few things worse than power playing on fear and grief, because so many innocent people die every minute for the same reasons (hatred, fear...) and other reasons (disease) and in often in more agonizing ways.

It just hits me as a blow sometimes when I really read into it- not what the government did afterwards and anything, just what happened then, and in other places, and around the sites that they happened- WTC, the Pentagon, Flight 93's crash. I'm especially affected by the latter.

And I guess I can't ignore it too well since it's always force-fed to the people in the US, and alas, I am stuck there, and it did change me, and I suppose for the better. I was in elementary school (yeesh, what grade, I'm a highschool junior now...) and we watched the news and when I heard other kids going "Wow!", "Woah, cool!", I snapped. I guess that's when I started hating humanity. XD I don't think I'd have been as keen and critical of people, particularly in the government, had I not been in the situation of being with other kids and realizing "what the hell this is happening". I'd much rather be cynical than totter around to the whim of someone else like I generally did before.

[betagold]

I was in fourth grade, and suddenly in the middle of class, kids were being taken out. We were eventually rounded into a classroom, and they put a movie on. All the adults were scared, because we live a few miles away from a military base. I was taken home around noon, but it wasn't until Sevenish until I was actually told the whole story. And 10 years from now, there won't be any more 9/11 ceremonies or anything. If you check the front page of any American newspaper, The article is probably small and in the corner, or along the top. Life sucks.

[Pianoplaynfool]

September 11th on a more comedic scale? (This is put in spoilers so if you don't want to see it, then you don't have to!):

http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k315/brianljack/valentines-1-1.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y271/Thealmightylingling/1189522825696.gif

[Baal]

^ D: Um... yeah... that was... odd

Anyway since I got a number of responses, I shall answer my own question. I was changed and began appreciating many different sources of news. Before 9/11, I used to just watch the evening news on NBC and CBS. After 9/11, I started listening to talk radio where I discovered a far more different view on a variety of subjects.

[The Dude]

I began my steady slide towards cynicism and general misanthropy very soon afterwards, but it wasn't really 9/11's fault.
I didn't see what the big deal was, back then. It made no sense to me.
Just explosions, and buildings falling down.

[Someone without Imaginati]

I heard somewhere that the 9/11 was planned by USA, so they could had an excuse to invade Irak, sound very stupid, I know, I dont really think its real, but some proof I heard is:
-The Twin Towers where made out carefully, 2 planes should be supposed to destroy them
-The Towers Owner paid an Insurance just one week ago before the attack
-The planes didnt hit to destroy the towers completly.

Still, very, very, very stupid, its only a streets tale.

[The Big Al]

It's more like they sat on the intel knowing the attacks would serve their purposes more than a massive terrorist arrest.

[Rayne]

I recall my experience was quite similar to super saiyan's far removed from the danger, but close enough to feel the impact and watch the chaos unfold. I was a freshman in high school at the time and I remember first accounts of the whole drama unfold just as our PE class was wrapping up. It was in my next class, biology where we further learned of the events taking place [we just had the news on all throughout class]. It was then the third plane had struck the Pentagon, and instantaneously every other person in the class had become a victim. Not outright mind you, but every student seemed to know someone that knew someone who worked in the Pentagon. It's that fear, uncertainty and doubt that guts you all at once leaving you in suspense, not knowing what's yet to come. Since the extent of the damage to the Pentagon area was unclear, news of the attack made everyone pretty edgy. Our rush-hour extends almost into lunchtime so anyone within the vicinity was worried dead, and phone-lines being jammed who really knew how to react?

I couldn't see what was happening over by Arlington, but being situated at the heels of Andrew's Airforce Base, no one needed a reminder that something terrible had happened. It was made obvious that there was something real sinister abound with the tons of jets circling about. I realize that most people had stayed at their schools during the whole ordeal, but they made us evacuate home.

My friend's dad and our carpool driver [at the time] works at the World Bank. He filled the two of us in on what happened on the way home, much better than any of the news sources could.

I can't remember the details chronologically as time had repositioned itself into this warped like state. Things were happening on this end yet elsewhere time ceased. The things that permeated audible space really felt disfigured, all of it being received at once, yet none of it being absorbed at all. I just remember all news accounts coming up with weird theories and what may happen next. I remember false news reports of things suddenly happening in other parts of the US. And I also remember him clearing all the details putting those false accusations to rest. The WTC towers and the Pentagon had been hit, yes. The WTC towers are no more.

no more...

I have to be honest, this was when it really took my mind for a spin and realized the day it had become. Everything to that point had just been 'attack attack attack' and then I was alerted to utter destruction.

I wasn't sad or angry, just dazed. This seemed to be already in the minds of others as we were leaving school, the familiar blank stare took root in everyone's visage. I could tell there was panic, but an internal, quiet panic. Everyone understood it did no good to cause any more commotion and disorder than was taking place.

Even though I realize how close this was to me, I had no reason to be sad or disfigured. All I could do was empathize, if that since I didn't know anyone personally caught up in the Pentagon attack, but consoling others just seemed to be the right thing to do at the time.

While that's past now, I have to say it may have been the perfect setup for the sequential years of panic. About that time next year were the sniper shootings and then in fall of 2003 we had a nasty brush of hurricanes [no where near as bad as Katrina, sure, but the DC area isn't known to react to bad storms pretty well. The area is pretty clumsy when it comes to weather.]

I'm almost sure everyone was bracing for something to happen in fall 2004, but I don't remember anything too noteworthy. Not to downplay those events, I don't think our class would have been as close as we were going into senior year. But needless to say, that made my high school career all the more memorable.

So yes, 9/11 may have actually done our area some good in the sense we were emotionally hardened enough to not let catastrophic events disturb our lives. Life goes on.

Some days, you get the feeling that for a lot of people, there never was a September 12, 2001 - or any day after that, and that September 11 has stretched into eternity.

(And to be clear : I'm excluding the New Yorkers who got to watch it real time, and those who knew victims. It's the other 275 millions I mean)

Well, around here that lasted for exactly a month before the clockwork of things seemed to get on track. I don't think our area can compare to how badly devastated New York may be, but from what I can tell, the DC area has certainly moved on.

But I also agree. There are people in some areas of the nation that are still caught up in this perpetual existence every time 9/11 rolls around and really need to get over it. I admire patriotism, and honoring the victims, but there's no need to make it a year round basket case.

Check out what happens daily in Africa and then come back and tell me it was the worst crime to humanity we've seen in the past 20 years.
Well I have no articles to prove this point, but I remember people in every pocket of the region, and generally throughout the country trying to make some sort of restitution out of the troubled event.

For a moment in time, people were aware of the world woes. There were grassroots efforts to collect blood, donate and offer works of charity eventually spreading to the few capable of leaving the country and providing that world aid.

Unfortunately those good deeds were quickly moshed into greed where false organizations took advantage of people's sudden good nature. With news of devious plots to gobble up people's donations, a time when everyone was just beginning to reach out, the rest of world seemed so foreign again and it was time for Americans to retreat back into the oblivious bubble. Yeah, people would like to care, but not when it can hurt their pockets. That eventually led to 'I can help you on my time' and back to the state where everyone does what they can when its best for them and finally the few who hardly care and if anyone had a problem, well that's their problem.

[Turbo]

Now, I call Bin Laden (who should be in HELL), "Kisama" (Japanese for "bastard" instead of "Osama"

[Kthleen]

I didn't see what the big deal was, back then.... Just explosions, and buildings falling down.I remember that after a classmate told me a plane crashed into the WTC, I said, "Cool!" They were like "OMG no it's not!"

...Then it occurred to me that there were people in those buildings.

Afterwards, it felt surreal, though it didn't affect me too much emotionally (at least at first), being on the other side of the country.


As for changing me, I think I started to think about things slightly more critically (or at least more practically; seriously, "tall buildings in a big city=people, and lots of them" really shouldn't have been lost on me O_o ). I think I became more aware of reality. I also became more cynical and am with TBA, Zeta, and Serebii.

[Ralli]

For a moment in time, people were aware of the world woes. There were grassroots efforts to collect blood, donate and offer works of charity eventually spreading to the few capable of leaving the country and providing that world aid.



I remember that feeling in the atmosphere even as a kid when it happened. Funny, it only happens when there's a disaster that is caused by an attack. I've never seen as much action put into aid, or at least the feeling for it, as then. I guess people think an attack is scarier than people suffering slowly day-to-day or a sudden natural disaster leveling a city or another wiping out hundreds-thousands of people. ._.;

[Platina Berlitz]

It just gives us US citizens another circled date on calendar to mourn. Beacuse those terrorists wanted to take us out, due to us being a superpower, so our power was our downfall (and our planes, too)


WHY DIDN'T THOSE FLIGHT PEOPLE REALIZE THOSE PEOPLE WERE TERRORISTS ??

[The Big Al]

I want to know why the transponders could be turned off. That was just plane stupid.

[the gadfly]

I had taken the day off and was sleeping in late. A dear friend of mine in Pennsylvania called about 9:30AM my time (12:30 Eastern), waking me up. She told me to turn on the TV because the World Trade towers had collapsed.

I turned on the TV and told her "what are you talking about? I'm watching the news and the towers are still standing. They're on fire, but they're still standing."

It became clear a few minutes later I was watching video taped earlier.

I spent the rest of the day pretty much in haze, glued to the TV, trying to figure out what the hell was happening.

I didn't really realize the world had changed until the next day. The skies were quiet! I live pretty close to an airport and airplanes taking off always pass to the south of my house. There was nothing but silence. I thought, wow!, this is different.

And then I argued for a month or two against my friends and neighbors who wanted every single Arab and Muslim arrested and shipped off to God knows where as a terrorist or sympathizer or just driven away from the community.

[DalekMan]

The only thing I think has changed about me personally since then is an increasing annoyance and disgust at people who tried to convince me of something outlandish related to politics, and then have nothing, reliable or otherwise, to back up their claim on the issue. And to make things even more annoying, half of those people were college professors.

[Platina Berlitz]

And we still relected President Bush, and how many uyears have troops been over there in Iraq/Afanganstan ? 6 years ? It's a good things Bush is cutting the troop amount over there, pretty soon no, one will be over there anymore....

[the gadfly]

Nope, in a year we'll be back to the troop levels we had there before the surge began.

[eX.A.K.R.]

I can't remember the details chronologically as time had repositioned itself into this warped like state. Things were happening on this end yet elsewhere time ceased. The things that permeated audible space really felt disfigured, all of it being received at once, yet none of it being absorbed at all. I just remember all news accounts coming up with weird theories and what may happen next. I remember false news reports of things suddenly happening in other parts of the US. And I also remember him clearing all the details putting those false accusations to rest. The WTC towers and the Pentagon had been hit, yes. The WTC towers are no more...

Weird theories?

Now you made me jog up something from the dredges of my memories - I remember my local news channel reporting early on during the attack about someone calling saying that the attack was a revenge on the U.S. for what happened at Hiroshima and Nagasaki - you know, nuclear bombs and all that jazz.

[Rayne]

Exactly my point. Total opinion here, but in my eyes, Americans were enjoying an era of naivety that was utterly sublime. People were just really pleased with themselves and seemed entirely disconnected with the outside world. And with most people quite oblivious to any world-events, no one would ever have expected a terrorist to skirt our borders. Caught off guard, no one could give a real stab at finding 'reasonable' offenders which lead into those weird theories I mentioned.

The problem I saw as the destruction was taking place were these side stories and possibilities of who our enemy could be and that involved looking at every enemy we've ever had or any country suspect of subjecting US stature. I've heard people blaming Canada and some blaming China. [Obviously mild rumors at the time]. If I remember correctly, it took almost a week to sort out who the 'mastermind' was. Americans wonder how we became so unpopular in the world scene. I think this short stint in time playing the blame game certianly led into that.

[the gadfly]

Jeez, do I have to be the voice of reason here too?

Well, what can you expect from an American populace who can't find Aghanistan or Iraq on the map, let alone Pakistan where Al Qaeda and the Taliban are regrouping and regaining their strength?

Sorry Rayne, please step aside. My bile is boiling up inside me.

[PikachuTrAiNeR]

Back then I was in Grade 3 or 4, so not much, but I've really changed since then.
I thought it was cool back then too, until I realized the devastation. :<

[Evil Figment]

No, I don't think any Canadian who remember has quite forgiven Mrs. Clinton for her statements regarding the terrorists "obviously" coming through Canada to attack the twin towers.

[the gadfly]

Excuse me. When did Hillary Clinton blame Canada?

[Evil Figment]

In the days immediately following 9-11.

I don't have the exact quote on-hand.

[the gadfly]

There were lots of statements being tossed around then. None of them substantive. Lots of us flailing in the darkness looking for people to blame.

[Evil Figment]

Yeah, well. Given that we had rushed int o help you guys, particularly taking in the planes that weren,t allowed to fly the whole way back home, and making sure that the passengers were properly treated...

I think you can see why the accusations weren't particularly appreciated.

[GrnMarvl13]

But there WAS basis for it, however unfounded. Canadian terrorism is rampant. (http://www.militia-watchdog.org/Terror/tu/tu_0401_canada.asp) Her comments were probably based on the guy in 1999 who tried to cross into America from Canada. Combine facts with worry and you get outrageous accusations. And, dammit, that's what America was FOUNDED ON (that, slaves, and manifest destiny).

C'mon, we're America. France rushed to our aid following 9/11, yet they wanted to sit out the Iraq War and we gave them a big finger. Because we "saved their asses in two wars." America forgets the times we've needed help. We only remember the times we've GIVEN help (though what "help" we provided in World War I is certainly debatable).

[The Big Al]

I don't know why but Americans as a group tend to be stupid. I blame the failures in the education system (which I think were intentional).

The worst part of all this is this is the first war to benefit corporations. Is it helping us? No. It's help the defense contractors and oil companies who are making billions with a "b" on our troops and innocent Iraqis dying. This is the greatest insult to humanity ever.

It only serves to reinforce my beliefs after 9/11 that the shining 21st century was dead. It was replaced by a century of death just like the 20th was. Except now people are making money off it so they have no reason to stop it and every reason to continue it.

[Bauer]

My cynicism grew greatly as a result of September 11th, 2001.

I wouldn't say that I grew increasingly distrustful of the government but I certainly became more of a watchdog. It allowed me to keep an eye out for corruption and wrongdoing in our government while I still saved the other eye for seeing the remaining good.

Personally, I did my best to stand up and take greater risks in my own life. I also saw this in many of my other friends, we all took greater understanding in what it means to live life to the fullest while still embracing our changed reality.