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#1030 | Thursday, March 14th 2002
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I was on my way to the U.S border from Canada on a cross Canada and the States motorcycle trip that i had planed for years.I stoped at a gas station and while i was paying i got a quick view of the guys t.v,It showed the first tower burning and i thought,hey,hes watching armagedon good movie,(if you watch the movie you will see the exact same thing,the tower on the right on fire while the left is not)so i continued on my way,,not knowing.close to the border of the U.S. I exchanged my money and all the ladies (tellers) were watching t.v.So i asked one of them whats going on and they said a plain hit one of the towers,,,but no one knew it was not a accident at the time.I thought how could that have happened?Then when i got to the border, all backed up,,i followed the canadian border untill i found a small border crossing(rainy river) that wasnt busy,I tried to cross and they pulled me in and stripped my luggage,my bike,me,and im thinking what the hell is this(cause i still did not know) and two half hours later im on my way and i said the heck with this so i headed for the first crossing back to canada cause somthing felt and looked wrong?.I turned off my c.d player and turned on my radio and thats when i found out what had happened,what looked weird was there were no planes in the sky!,thats why the border guards were on their toes.My heart sank.I am former canadian armed forces and ill fight for the States any time.MY HEART GOES OUT TO EVERY ONE hurt DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY THAT DAY.Alan jacksons song says it all best,faith hope and love are some good things he gave us.BIN LADDEN,YOUR A COWARD.
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glenn | 39 | Canada
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#965 | Tuesday, March 12th 2002
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I was at work when the horrific events of September 11th transpired. A fellow IT counterpart messaged me
from Milwaukee and said the second building had been hit. I had no idea what he was speaking of since we
are a "silent" facility with no radios allowed. I messaged him back and asked him what he was speaking of. When he told me, I was speechless. I immediately got my radio out and turned it on. I cannot convey with words the feelings that ran through me. The sadness and horror cannot even epitomize my thoughts. I went home at lunch to get my little portable TV. The rest of the day I had fellow employees in and out of my office.
I cried that day. I cried for the people who were senselessly killed and hurt. I cried for the families
on their loss. I also cried because I knew now what direction our country would turn towards and I cried for fear of what the future would hold.
I actually won 100$ that day. I had bet a friend months before that something like this would happen in the first year Bush was in office and that we would be at war.
No one takes from the horrific events of the WTC and the pain that is there. But where does it end.
Does man continue to use war and destruction as a means to solve all problems? Do we continue to use
tragic events to further political, military and economic agendas.
I stand firm in my belief that there are many hidden agendas and if anyone has watched the recent events
and the Presidents press releases, the plan is slowly unfolding as to what the real design is. It was never
for Bin Laden. It just provided an opportunity to put the plan in motion and to get the backing of the American people. The next marks are slowly being leaked to the public...maybe to let us know...maybe to see what our opinion would be.
I stand firm on that yes the people responsible for the WTC bombing need to be held accountable. I stand
firm that collateral damage or sacrifice as we like to term it now, is sad but necessary is wrong. If
anyone looks back through the last 20 years, the military and economic sanctions have done nothing to bend policy or oust heads of government. In reality they have killed, maimed and harmed millions of innocent people.
By our own definitions of terrorism [FBI, DOD], we are terrorists in our own right. We are no better than those that we condemn. We just justify it better.
The FBI has defined terrorism as “the unlawful use of force or violence against persons or property to intimidate or coerce a government, the civilian population, or any segment thereof, in furtherance of political or social objectives.”
The Department of Defense also defines terrorism as, “The unlawful use or threatened use of force or violence against individuals or property to coerce or intimidate governments or societies, often to achieve political, religious, or ideological objectives.” Where does this place the U.S. in the scope of a terrorist?
Are we not by our actions in Afghanistan and elsewhere, such as Iraq, using violence and military/economic action to force and coerce civilian populations and governments for political and ideological objectives? Are we not decimating a population in the name of democracy, free will and war on terror?
President Bush has stated, “America and our friends and allies join with all those who want peace and security in the world and we stand together to win the war against terrorism.” I bow my head in silence whenever I hear this. For while our country may justify all of our past, present and future actions in the name of peace, as Albert Einstein so aptly wrote, you cannot simultaneously prepare for and prevent war.
I know our country is great. I know our country affords me the opportunity to voice my opinions without fear
of reprisals. I know our country allows me the day to day luxuries that are privilege and not found in some
countries. I know our country allows me to go to universities, hold a job and walk down the road without having to move for a man or lower my eyes. I do not dispute those facts. The freedoms and opportunities that our country allots us are intrinsic to the basis of what our society stands for.
But while I love our country and think America is great, I will not totally and blindly believe everything
that our government says nor will I absolve them of any culpability in the ill feelings that some nations
harbor against us.
President Bush states that we must rid the world of the evildoers, root out all evil. I often wonder if he realizes the context of that remark. For if one looks for the evildoers in all affronts for terrorism, one must also look to those within the US and the US government. For decades the United States has befriended, funded, trained, armed, worked along side of and supplied those they now deem worthy of this life’s expulsion.
While we are still reeling from the horrific tragedies of Sept. 11th, we should not let it blind us into unilateral decisions that affect a world population.
I do not have the answers as to how to govern a country or a world. But I know in my heart that if we all do not come to other means aside from death, there will soon be no world on which to look upon. The world will be void of that which we deem capable of intelligent thought.
Since man begot man, the thirst to conquer, control and to covet have led him on a quest to destroy all that is.
If all governments, including ours, truly wish for a peaceful world, actions other than the bombing and destruction caused by machines of war will have to be used.
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susan | 39 | North Carolina
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#948 | Monday, March 11th 2002
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On the morning of 9/11, I was at work, in a long-term care facility where I have worked for over 20 years.I'm a dept. head there, and our maintenence man came to get me and told me a plane had just hit Trade Tower 1. I went to the T.V. and everyone was frozen in front of it. The residents were dazed. Then the second plane struck the other tower. We all cried and felt the loss of all those people who had lost their lives. As the day progressed, it was very sad at the facility. These old people had seen so much in their lives and now this! They had endured and survived wars, losses due to those wars and also the depression. Now they were sure another war was forth coming for them to watch. They ladies started telling us "young people" what kinds of things to go buy at the grocery. It was just like clock work to them, they seemed to be immediatly transported to the past, reliving their wars as if it were. They have seen so many changes in their lives. The total number of people lost that day is equal to the number of people in my home town in West Central Illinois! I fully support our Military strike and search for this cowardly man we have all come to know so well. My first grandchild was born just two weeks prior to 9/11. Before he was born I wondered what the world may be like when he reached the age of 21, 31, 41. I hope it is a world like I had the priviledge to grow up in. Being strong and free and above all free from fear. This is why we must all support our Military, Police forces and the brave dear Firefighters and rescue personel. It is a day I will never forget and hope to keep my presence of mind to be able to recount it for all of my future grandchilren and great-grandchildren someday. I feel such sadness for all the families who lost loved ones that day. Especially all the pregnant women who gave birth since. I read their stories in People Magaine the other day and just cried like a baby. I didn't know these women or their husbands, but I cried for them. I'm sure the children will grow up strong and follow their fathers steps. They have to be strong for they havr been born from strong people. Both, their father and mothers strength are in these children. I think we should follow some of these children into adulthood. I think they will grow to do great things. May God bless us alland keep us safe from harm. United we stand, divided we will not be driven.
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DeeVon | 39 | Illinois
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#775 | Tuesday, February 19th 2002
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I was at work when a friend called at the same time someone instant messaged me "a plane flew into the WTC". I was dumbfounded. Had to be an accident. Had to be. So, a few of us went into the gym, where there are tv's. There is was up there on the screen. There had to be 30 to 40 of us in there. Then as we watched in total horror, the 2nd plane hit. How could this be. Now there had to be about 100 of us in there. Crying, hugging. No one could believe what they saw. Then news that the Pentagon was hit. No one could work. No one could believe this could happen. The things that were so important at 8:40am suddenly did not matter one bit. Then as time went on, news that 3 of our technicians were on the 100th floor of Tower 2. No way. This is a bad dream. Disbelief turns to dispair. But, it would not end there. They next day news that friends were on flight 11. This is just too much. I will always remember where I was and who I was with. It feels like yesterday. We will never forget. And we shouldn't in memory of those we lost.
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T. | 39 | Massachusetts
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#773 | Tuesday, February 19th 2002
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I received a phone call from my sister telling me that the United States was being attacked around 9:15 on the morning of 9/11 and spent the rest of the day wandering around praying and not quite believing what was happening. My thoughts kept focusing on Sadam and bin Laden...in my heart knowing that it was the beginning of major changes, not just in the USA, but worldwide.
One thing we can be thankful for is that we have a man in the office of President who is strong morally and willing to take a Christian stand on issues...thank God for George Bush. God Bless you, President Bush, and God Bless America.
Sadam...bin Laden...you can't break the USA, nor can you put an end to those of us who are Christian and willing to stand for what we believe is right.
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Sandy | 39 | Arkansas
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