September 11th anniversary, what does it mean to you?

[krcit]

I get that people don't understand how some of us still grieve on this day. I get that others didn't run for their lives like I did. I get that people in other parts of the country watched this unfold from the comfort of their living room instead of live and in person. I get that most people didn't have their spouse and their parents waiting to hear if their wife or daughter was alive. I get that. I get that most people don't know someone (or many someones) that died. Hell, I even knew one of the terrorists that was on the Pentagon plane. You try living with the thought that this person you spoke with on a regular basis hated you enough to want to kill you. And then rack your brain to try to remember if there were any clues to this.

I wish I didn't grieve once a year for innocence lost. But on one day a year, I'm in bad shape. Sorry if that disturbs some of the people on this thread.

Thank you to all the brave men and women that gave their lives that day in rescue attempts and to those that continue to fight for our freedom.

I think 9/11 is like anything else. If you weren't personally affected then you tend to forget. It's unfortunate but it's human nature. I , like you, will never forget the horror of that day. Never.

 

[CaliforniaDreamin]

This year, I realized that September 11th marks how ignorant I was. Before I get flamed, I was 8 years old when we were attacked. My mom tried her best to explain what happened, but I could not wrap my mind around the concept. I remember saying, "But mom, you can't fly planes into a building." I even went to the local bay area to see what the skyline looked like that day. It was ablaze.

I was 28 and could not wrap my mind around it, either. And I know I'm not the only adult who felt that way. I grew up only knowing America as a super-power. Untouchable. A country who prevailed in the cold war, brought the Soviets down, had only known Pearl Harbor as the only foreign attack on our soil. Back then, school shootings were way more on my mind than any threat from another country. The thought of America being attack..well, I just never considered it. I was used to watching other countries being attacked and dealing with war overseas. We didn't even have a problem like England did with the I.R.A. I was ignorant. Even after the 93 bombing. And the US Embassy, and the USS Cole.
I haven't read anyone suggesting kumbaya or anything like it. This will always be a part of our lives. No, I wasn't there. Nowhere close to D.C., NYC or PA. Didn't know anyone who was there. But it still hurts to think about it. If someone has an issue with anyone rehashing, I'm really sorry. Some people aren't done grieving. I would never tell anyone how they should feel. People just feel. If you care too much, you can't help it. If you don't care at all, you can't help that either. You can't make someone care less or more. It doesn't work that way.

 

[Nancyg56]

Why is this day any more important than then 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami that killed over 200,000 people? Or Pearl Harbor (2,402)? Hurricane Katrina (1,836)? Or Oklahoma City? Or Waco?

Meanwhile, every day 2700 people died from Malaria. That is a disease pretty much eliminated in the United States.

About double that die from AIDS every day.

I don't see one single post that suggests that those who died on 9-11 are any more important than any others who have died from an illness, another war or a natural disaster. I believe that most of us feel that a death due to an illness, no matter how horrendous that illness is, or a deathd caused by a natural disaster matters. But we do feel that those deaths are different than a death caused because our Nation was attacked. Why must I negate the one to mourn or remember the other?

I hope that we continue to take a day to remember this date. I think that if we continue to remember and honor those first responders who serve under those terrifying conditions, those people who gave their lives while under attack, and those who serve in the military to try to keep that evil at bay , perhaps we do nto need to have a National Holiday. Holidays in this country mean time off from work, time to shop, linen and car sales .

Please realize that soem of us have had gfamily who have been affected by WWII, Vietnam, the Lorean Conflict, Katrina and aids. We can make room in our hearts to honor others.

 

[CaliforniaDreamin]

perhaps we do nto need to have a National Holiday. Holidays in this country mean time off from work, time to shop, linen and car sales .

AMEN. Ask some people what Memorial Day is about? The pool opens. I don't want 9/11 to become another reason for a car sale or three day weekend.