Where Were You?

As everyone knows, tomorrow marks the ten year anniversary of the attack on the twin towers.

Where were you? Did you recognize the impact that attack would have on our country and the rest of the world?

I was 14, the second week as a freshman. The first plane hit when I was on the bus going to school and I had no idea what was going on. I witnessed the second plane hit when I was at school. It was terrifying.

I spent a week in DC and New York six months before, had my picture taken in March 2011 for a school trip at the trade center. It was insane to see that when I just saw those buildings earlier.

It's definitely made more of an impact on my life as I've gotten older and more politically involved.

What say you?

Mm, I actually don't know..

This 11/9 tragic day has so much conspiracies and vague plans that no citizen can know its political dimensions what-so-ever!

so complicated.. :/

Yes, a lot of conspiracies around, but it doesn't change that nearly 3,000 people lost their lives that day. America hasn't been the same since.

Yup Rip to the 3000 Brave Americans that died that day, and to the and 1.5 million Iraqi people who died because they were wrongfully blamed,
Iraq hasn't been the same either

anyways. what happened in 9/11 was brutal
my prayers to every single american family who lost a member, or was that damaged in that horrible incident.
propaganda or not, it was wrong on all levels, and for all i care, who ever did it will be burning in hell for all eternity =-)

on a side note, i'd love for you to know that your 9/11 horrible experience, is our 24/7 daily life experience in Palestine, so we know the kind of pain that has been inflicted , and we don't wish it on anyone, not even our enemies.

peace, love, and happiness.

It's really a shame that within mere hours this thread turned into what it has. I'm saddened by that.

I was born on September 11, never knew that my birthday date would end up being one of the most recognizable dates in history :/

Happy birthday tomorrow!

Thanks sweetie :)

Edited.

Mods please lock this. It clearly is going to turn into drama, which was not my intention here.

Let me rephrase what i have said, after all, we're on the same page, aren't we?
RIP to every single person who have lost their lives in 9/11, i hope you're smiling down on your families from up above in heaven, utter most respect, and love to anyone who have suffered,

what saddens me more though, is that lots of people do not acknowledge the brutality and measures our governments have taken regarding this issue.

I'm sure i speak about a lot of people when i say that =-), + it's always a good thing to open the past,
discuses where things have gone awfully wrong, to provide a better future for your kids and mine,
and that my friend, is the freedom of speech =-)

This has nothing to do with anyone's government in my opinion.. I disagree with almost everything that has been done in the past 10 years or so. This is about 9.11 and that tragic day... the lives lost and the affect it had around the world. I don't give a crap about the governments right now lol

The lives lost and the affect it had around the world......

^^^^^^^^
But that is Directly connected to what the government has done no?

10 years, 2 wars, 919,967 deaths, and $1,188,263,000,000 later, and they supposedly killed a man named "Osama Bin Laden"... Do you really think it was worth it?

and that my friend, is the outcome of it all.

please don't misunderstand where i'm coming from,

that is what i think, and if there is the slightest chance, that i'm saying something that isn't true then please point it out, perhaps i'm misguided?
and i need to be appointed in the right direction =-)

My entire point was this wasn't supposed to be a.political debate about the wars. I've never said I back them. I understand there may be more pain around the world than in America, but it shouldn't and doesn't lessen the affects we feel directly at home.

Alan Jackson wrote the perfect American response to this crisis.
http://youtu.be/AW8puRqE4Sc
Governments and religions should never promote hatred and in the purest forms they would not

Many believe there is a world in never never land where there is no drama, others believe it is healthier to accept the things they cannot change and try to change what they can

Is that the Where Were You When The World Stopped Turning song? I heard that and it was what prompted me to write this.

I don't think there is a world with no drama, I just think its ridiculous that every thread somehow turns sour.

Yes it is the Where were you when the world stopped turning song

However great the darkness, Light refracts and should be reflected by religion and governments. My friends are just sharing a perception

John Lennon dreamed of a world as one, but I believe goverments and religion can be strengthened by faith ,hope, and love.

Directly adds to my point Britt, The Common factor we have here is the Pain felt by mine and yours =-)
we relate to it, hell, we still live it every day.

as to your original post, i remember it like it was yesterday,was around 12 years old, it was almost afternoon to our timezone and we all saw the 1st plane hit the tower, thinking it must be an accident or some sort of mistake, I remember the silence we shared around the home when the 2nd plane hit the tower, I remember the look of disappointment the family shared knowing this will directly ruin our already ruined reputation as Muslims/Arabs to the eyes of the world the minute we knew who hijacked the planes. Didn't really feel it all nation wide because we are thousands of miles away, but i remember the next day at school, there was a moment of silence.

Yes, but I'm sick of hearing so and so has of worse. No matter who you are and what you're going through, someone will always have it worse. Does that instantly pull you out of your pain or slump and make you feel better? Of course not.

I was a civilian DOD employee and was sent home because all bases were in Delta Threatcon. A new security gate was added that I had to pass through daily

I was 11. That was the first day I learned about terrorism. I remember turning on the TV and thinking I was watching a movie...it didn't seem real.

Yes, but I'm sick of hearing so and so has of worse. No matter who you are and what you're going through, someone will always have it worse. Does that instantly pull you out of your pain or slump and make you feel better? Of course not.

^^^^^^

Beautifully said britt,
but it's never wrong to share the knowledge with those who don't know or might not know,
especially when Those people have the power to change the world, within their grasp

I'm not trying to compare my pain to yours, God knows what you've been through =-), so think of it as
a reach out, Aint nothing sour or drama worthy about that.

XOXOXOXOOXOXOXOOX...

"Did you recognize the impact that attack would have on our country and the rest of the world?"

The way you phrased this question Britt, you cannot blame anyone for stating their opinions on how it affected them and their part of the world.

What does bother me about some earlier posts is the use of the words "propaganda" and "government conspiracy." You cannot say on one side of your mouth that 9/11 is "propaganda" and the other side of your mouth say that it was so terrible. It has to be one or the other.

9/11 really happened. The violence in Syria and Gaza and Libya are really happening. The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are really happening.

9/11 was one of the most evil and heinous acts ever perpetrated. Unfortunately America's response was ill-conceived in my opinion, which cost the lives of untold numbers of innocent people.

I think what made the attacks so shocking for we Americans was because we felt so untouchable. We're this giant, powerful country separated from most of the rest of the world by a pair of oceans, and we felt invincible. Horrible things could happen in other places, but not on our own turf. Apart from the inherent tragedy of the event, I think a lot of the shock came from the realization that we could be hurt. It's definitely changed the way we think about ourselves, as a nation.

I was in 8th grade. My best friend had been home that morning for a dentist appointment, and saw it all unfolding on TV. She told me about it before any announcements were made. I didn't really get the significance until all of our teachers dropped what they were doing and turned on the news.

I remember seeing the towers collapsing; I think we saw it live. And all those streets covered with dust. It's horrible that some people live their daily lives in countries where attacks like this as much more commonplace.

Thanks Sib, that's a really good perception of many Americans. We felt invincible. That "it won't happen here" mentality.

Good idea Britt-

I was just in kindergarten I think, but after hearing at school everyone's account of it in my grade, it was evident that as children we really were happy in our world.....we didn't understand this new taste of fear until it was later explained- and that is when the images just stuck with us, and I began to know more history of America and not take for granted those who keep fighting against the violence. I honestly feel like the more my teachers and parents talk about it, remembering back, the more I have a desire to always think of it and the people involved, it gives a lot more meaning of prayer for me and to really care what is going on in the world and not be afraid to understand more you know?

Thanks Britt....
God bless those who have lost their lives, have had families, or any firefighter/volunteer that has sacrificed or is still sacrificing.
We will stand united and will never forget this day.

Of course, it's really devastating to witness such an event live.. enormous towers collapsing and deaths of thousands.. people running to save themselves.. I saw it all! I do remember, and I saw some interviews with the people on the site. They were about to collapse..

I think it became very normal to me to witness such events... the war on Iraq, Palestine, Afghanistan, and even here in Lebanon.. millions of missiles and thousands of deaths.. devastating it is --

--
iDon't feel lik going into political debates.. They have no ends.

In my opinion..

It doesn't matter where you live in the world (I live in Australia) 9/11 has changed the way we view each other! be it your next door neighbour, somebody sitting opposite you on the train or different races and religions, nobody knows where the next attack is going to come from or for what reason, Trust no longer exists in the world and thats whats changed. Yes there are wars going on all over the world and people die heinous deaths every day and yes innocents get caught up in that, but in most cases you knew your enemy, you could look him in the eye.

Now you can't and that's what's changed...and that's what Al Qaeda brought to the world and that what makes 9/11 so significant.... certainly to the West, We lost what innocence we had left.

To those that don't understand the significance it has to many, its not about a tit for tat..and i mean that in a most respectful way..

As to where I was, at home in Melbourne, I got up to put on the Tele Tubbies for my daughter only to see this guy covered in white ash walking through a billowing cloud of dust and debris, I didn't move from the TV for hours and when I did I was a different person.

LOL Yaki

Sibs, can I disagree with you?

I am with every single opressed person around the world whether they be American, Jewish, arabic, whatever! and I think I have written an ode to all american people saying that you are great but your government sucks and nobody can disagree with this, the government kills kids and mothers to balance its economics....however this is not the point..

(Try to stay on topic, please. - Sibyllene)

Kiko, I definitely agree with you. You are always right, why? ;p

As to where I was, at home in Melbourne, I got up to put on the Tele Tubbies for my daughter only to see this guy covered in white ash walking through a billowing cloud of dust and debris, I didn't move from the TV for hours and when I did I was a different person
^^^^
I agree
rabea agrees
BUT Rabea only said that he is living this every single DAY every single moment, I always see debris and corpses on tv.....and oh we can't talk about it, yeah we are arabs....sure thing.

why can't we become different people after watching the news and watching how our people die!?

I understand there may be more pain around the world than in America, but it shouldn't and doesn't lessen the affects we feel directly at home.

^^^
You should have added to your word this: "And our government is the reason" ;)

anyway, I'm going now to some faraway place and maybe not come back till tomorrow and I perhaps see this thread locked, many offenses for me, so feel free to answer me with so much brutality, I don't care, byebye wish me luck ;D

Postess i don't think you understand the point of this at all! everybody all around the world sees bodies and corpses on TV, is news, world news, we all get that almost every night of the week, we all hate it as much as you.

What you and Rabea are saying is welcome to our world, but I don't think thats the crux of the matter, To say that Britt is immature is incorrect and inflamitory as much as saying. "your government sucks and nobody can disagree with this, the government kills kids and mothers to balance its economics" which is way way out of line and a ridiculous thing to say and has no place in this conversation. As i said its not tit for tat...

As you and Rabea have told us many times you know your enemy, he is over the border, it has a name, Israel! For the West its called terrorism, it has no face, and it can take any form, it has no reason, its only goal is to kill as many innocent people as it can. And that is what is being discussed you just don't understand which is unfortunate.

Britt wanted this thread closed because you and Rabea have turned this thread on its head and i dont really blame her...

Poetess, dear, this isn't the way you should approach matter my dear, our goal here is to debate, and the way you approached this was wrong =-)

Nicko,kiko, my friends, in the spirit of keeping this Debate respectful i'm going to address you both in a different matter, allow me to speak my mind, and in this case in particular, ask questions and answer them, I recommend you to correct me if you see me saying something unfamiliar or untrue,

the 1st and far most important question to be asked here, is, what should have america done Post 9/11

one could argue, one would argue that it should have responded the way it did, concerning the threats from al Qedaa, since al Qadeaa didn't and had no intention of turning those who did the calculations for 9/11, therefor the outcome was inevitable, can you say the same about Iraq though?

No, the reasons for Afghanistan were much more clear cut then it was in Iraq.

in my honest and humble opinion, what the united states should have done @ the time is search for these Terrorists, Punish them in an open court of law, as what happens when a terrorist group attacks any other country, and an example of that would be how the Britain government reacted against the IRA( Irish Republic Army), they did not bomb places in the Irish Republic where these people took Refuge, i think that way of handling it should have been better, instead what we've got, is a 10 year long war, and the group of people who were directly responsible for that attack fled that country two weeks prior to any american troops landing there in the 1st place. as was expected.

a 2nd question would be, if this was a crime, what did going to Iraq have to do with anything that took place in 9/11

i think the day of 9/11 was a day of a sad shock in the world, but also a day of incredible unity,
what i would have liked to see, is that the american government would lead a drive in 2 areas

1st, there was a possibility to issue an alliance between the West and the Arab nations(people)
2nd, and most importantly, it needed to dedicate itself to use that miss fortunate opertunity to build the kind of rules based international order which is the only hope in the modern world

my opinion, the worlds war on terror should have never been uttered, why? because they unified a series of desperate grievousness under osama binladn's banner
it glorified the people who did 9/11 as warriors and ALLOWED people to argue that it was in fact, the West Vs the muslim world and that my friend is very dangerous.

on a 3ed matter, i don't understand how the best way to deal with violence, is to instruct more violence, that is no constructive way to deal with terrorism Period

Here is the excuse to American forces entering Iraqi soil provided by your Elected Politicians and that excuse to me is as sick as an infant with Leukemia:
9/11 made the american officials responsible for their citizen's safety, being acutely conscious of the danger
that another attack with weapons of mass destruction could dwarf 9/11 in terms of Causalities,
they made up a list of all the places where weapons of mass destruction can be obtained, and Iraq
of course was on that list, it turns out that your officials were wrong , we know that now =-)
how sad is that? 1 million lives lost

and the fact that Saddam Hussein was on violation of 19 UN resolutions,

In fact, I find it quite staggering that in this day and age someone could still argue and bring up weapons of mass destruction, even at the time, there were many people within the american and Britain intelligence arguing that there was no weapons of mass destruction, and they were told to find the evidence so this war can be fought, which ended to the result of a breach of sovereignty, up to 1 million people died, and according to the Iraqi government up to 5 million orphans, and no one
cares, we've talked about the casualties, but we don't care, we are desensitized to these deaths.

was this a criminal war?
i wouldn't go far to call it to that extent in the case of Afghanistan, it was a very clear, and legal response to what happened back in NYC, because the US has been attacked, but can you say the same about Iraq?

and Irregardless of the weapons of mass destruction to begin with, it stands to be true that Saddam violated 19 different resolutions of the security council, how will the UN ever remain relevant if it doesn't stand to these resolutions?
in order for people to understand the depth of my question, you have to explain why the UN exists in the 1st place, and what is it's purpose

The UN is a whole bunch of people who decided to come together, to hold peace and to promote that in the world, The role of The United States of America in this community was to make sure that this organization was able to do just that together,
the question here, has the United stated done its role?
i'll leave you to answer that.

Poetess, I don't really see your post as relating to my post...?

As for the others... I don't think there are too many Americans who actually like how things went after September 11th. I remember that initial sense of unity. Ten years later, and our government's started a couple of wars, nobody trusts each other, and the American people are anything BUT united, on pretty much any topic. We had such a shock, and we definitely took one extreme.

I will say, though, that I think people should be respectful of the fact that 9/11 was a big tragedy, even if there are other tragedies. At least on the anniversary, right? You don't go to a funeral and say "yeah, big deal - I've had three funerals in my family." Let's keep this thread cool.

Adding up to my post, because this subject opens up lots of horizons

have we ever considered Bin ladn's grievousness? and can we address them? wouldn't that be a better way forward?

Binladan had his grievousness, and they were that his world (The Arab World), was occupied by your troops,
the question is, many Arabs have these grievousness, but this is not the way to fight them, there are many other ways to do it, so yes, it is the fact that these grievousness were there, and it's not
even the case that these grievousness were recognized, because we have people that talk about
the UN and how they passed resolutions on Sadam,
The UN has passed resolutions to other countries as well, including Israel, against India, so which resolutions are taking up is actually determined by the united states which is why i say that this form of selective vigilantism doesn't work, it ends up badly as we saw in Iraq and as we see now in Afghanistan
and probably will see in Libya too, keeping in mind the moral equivalence, no sort of grievousness is it to fly airplanes into heavily populated building, It was a savage viscous murder done by people who had no right what so ever,but, what do we do now that Revenge was served?
10 years of war and Afghanistan is in ruins.

another question
have the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan ensured the safety of the ordinary american citizen ?

yes it did, magnificently but, only in the cost of the soldiers that were sent to do the job of your officials
who where sent in unequipped because of a war between republicans and Sadam, it wasn't a war for mass weapon destruction, these didn't exist.

Are you really Safe Post these wars?
another question here is asked, who are we? if you're a Muslim in the United states, then no, you were not safe, and please correct me if i were wrong, it's almost a dirty word in the united states,
one of the major problems that Barack Obama had, @ the beginning, people thought he was Muslim,
did anybody question the fact that you're using the word Muslim as a vagurative? Muslim equates violence, the holy religion of Islam is seen as something that has some kind of inherit core of violence in it, that's the legacy of what has happened, you almost cannot be a Muslim, it's very difficult to be them, and that to me, when we talk about are we safe? i'm talking about who are we? Muslims are not safe.

and Nicko, exactly where have I insulted anyone?
enlighten me =-)

Peace, love, and happiness!

All I can say is that America is and will forever be one nation under God....and we can try to act and volunteer and pray to be warriors for our nation, united as wholly as we can, for God is our freedom and He will help us find the strength we need to remember all those who continue to suffer.

Let there be peace on earth.
God bless America
forever and always

There is no fear where there is Love.
WE will have the strength to remember and keep fighting for our nation's unity

If there was a like button, i'd be liking,To stay the above two posts were anything but magnificent is a complete under statement, god bless you for the sense of nationalism you have!

Wow, this really wasn't up for debate. No where did anyone push opposite views of what you're saying both Rabea and Poetess, but thank you for being completely disrespectful. If you want to start your own thread regarding debate of who has what worse, who did what, and what our government did (who here is backing them? Nobody), then feel free to by any means. This was supposed to be in remembrance on the 10th anniversary, not a bunch of hate spewing. Sometimes you have to unite in peace.

You're putting words in my mouth now, i <3 that,
anyways, after giving this some thought,
it wasn't my place to post here and I did, regardless,

Yeah it was both unnecessary and unappropriate to post here to begin with because it seems that this thread is a tribute to those who have lost their lives,
and for that i sincerely apoglize to you britt, Sibs, Mich, Kiko, and Nicko.

it's easy to see that after all, we all have things in common, for sure we are very patriotic, and we've all felt the pain from losing loved ones, hopefully we use these things that we have in common to build a better understanding for different kind of views

britt, The next time you try to make a tribute thread, make sure you don't ask for the insight of the world, because, quite frankly, the world might just not agree with you, That doesnt mean we're spewing hate, or being disrespectful on purpose,
I'd think you'd know better.

I will not be posting back to anyone, whether they agree or disagree with anything I've said, and for all i care, any Mod should feel free to delete/edit any of my posts.

apolgies again.

Had I not included the rest of the world, I would've been accused of being arrogant, thinking it only had an effect here. People already say American's are only about themselves and selfish -- I made it a point to ask how that day felt for those elsewhere, because the Trade centers weren't full of just "typical white people born and raised here". It was a melting pool of everywhere, many countries were represented there. It was never an intent to debate to discuss the wars - again that can go into another thread and I'm sure you'll have 100 posts by the end of the day there. :)