Quote:
Originally Posted by Boreas
I agree, Dave, and Noone, my already great respect for you has increased measurably. Given your personal experience on 9/11, it couldn't have been easy to retain your objectivity and humanity. You're a far, far better person than those who were driven to blind hatred by the images they saw on the tube.
John
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don't misunderstand I was blinded with rage when I saw Arabs celebrating on the news (as we all did) in my hometown of Paterson NJ and I actually asked the
officer at the Journal Sq Path to have his tank (which was deployed there) to drive it up the street and park it in front of the mosque (where they planned the first attack on the WTC)
I just think there is an obvious difference between someone who conspires to attack us and someone who looks lossy similar to someone who attacked us.
What was interesting about 911 was the level of threat felt. Two hours later when I got to my mom and dad's house I found a stark contrast to what I had just left. People were slowly coming home, stopping at the supermarket etc. My cousin was working in the yard with the radio turned up so he could be aware but going about his business. I learned allot that day and the months immediately after. As great a communicative tool as TV is it just can't translate emotion effectively.
One thing that I did scoff at (and still do) is how everybody gets homeland security monies. I remember seeing the St Louis Arch on the news, all shrouded in security. I'd sleep like a baby at the top of the thing with no security. Not just folks in the Mid west over reacting but also right there at home. My buddy told me how he had spent the day (fire department) inspecting the Bayonne Bridge to be sure it had not been tampered with by the "terrorists." There is no one in a cave trying to figure out a way to take down the Bayonne Bridge. (I didn't have the heart to break it to him)
We need to get serious and practical with homeland security but those dollars make profits and every county in this country wants some of it. But it's just a waste.
and most of all we can't let people "use" our losses on 911 to promote an agenda of social stagnation or anything else