posted on September 12, 2001 04:42:12 AM new
To all of you post to these boards.
I have watched since the beginning the events of the last day unfold in New York.
I have for the first time in my life never been so totally lost for words on how to describe my feelings about the utter evil of the attack and my sorrow for all those directly and indirectly who are suffering.
In the last few hours I have forced myself away from the television and have got back to work, but I feel a terrible sadness for everyone.
I am also feeling the most immense feeling of rage beginning to build up inside me.
In my lifetime I have lived through and seen tradgedy before, including terrorism, but never have I felt as I do now.
It is not just up to the USA to seek out these vile people but the whole right thinking world must also help to rid us of this scourge to humankind.
Today the world has new widows and widowers.
Children have lost their parents and parents their children.
People have lost bothers and sisters, nephews and nieces, aunties and uncles.
It has gone too far to "turn the other cheek" and retribution has to happen.
To all of the victims and survivors, May Your God Go With You.
Bob.
posted on September 12, 2001 05:15:45 AM new
Thank you for your well wishes, Bob. I was going to post this to a new thread, but this will do fine:
I woke this morning with a very heavy heart. My world will never be the same. I'll never forget yesterday's images. I'm sure none of you will either. I almost feel guilty going about my life today, but I will.
What I want to do is sit glued to my phone and wait for a call from a dear friend who lives on East 3rd St. in Manhattan. I'm fairly sure she's physically ok, but she's a gentle soul under all that New York brashness, and I'm worried for her.
What I want to do is sit in front of the tv and keep abreast of the situation.
Twenty-five percent of our embassies around the world have closed for business. Military planes fly over our major cities. While most of us usually rebel against the police or military watching over us, I think many of us are comforted somewhat that they are doing so today.
I rejoiced last night when I heard that there are people still alive in the basement of one of the towers - they had cell phones and called out!
I rejoiced last night when I saw posts here that posters were ok, husbands were ok, that a friend was ok, and others. And again when I knew that a friend's niece who works at the Pentagon was ok.
Today some people will be calling 800 numbers to find out if loved-ones are among the dead.
Some people will donate blood.
Our government will open again for business.
The last I heard, 300 firefighters and 78 police are among the dead. I believe the final tally will be, as NY's Mayor said, "...more than some of us can bear."
I thought I carried around some anger because there are things about this country that really tic me off. But I get angry because I love this country. I am a crazy patriot. The anger that I carry now - the thought that some foreign psychotics wreaked this havoc in my home - is something so powerful that I manage it on a minute by minute basis. I know from the posts here that I'm not alone.
Mixed with this anger are some fear and great sadness. I'll work hard today, as I know many others will too, to not let my sadness paralyze me.
The response from the citizens of this country has been overwhelming.
I'll never forget the fireman's choked voice as he recalled what he'd seen. I'll never forget the lines of people waiting to give blood. And images I won't recount here.
We will go about our business today, but it will be anything but, "business as usual." We'll go on because we ARE a strong nation. An amazing cultural experiment, with a huge diverse population, who somehow manages not to have small wars constantly going on - there isn't another like us anywhere.
posted on September 12, 2001 05:33:14 AM newBob you said that so well thank you.
This is a truly vile act and I understand what you are saying about the rage building up in you. Today I had a cry for all of those poor poor people trapped inside that building, for those who have lost there lives and for the living, the ones' who have to remember what has happened, and also for the emergency service people having to deal with this horrific event. This has touched the heart of the world and god it makes you feel useless in such a trying way. Everywhere you went today people were talking about this atrocity, it seems to be in the forefront of everyones minds even an ocean away from America, we none of us can get it out of our minds.
Sadie my thoughts are with you and everyone here at the AW family.
