9-11

[Rowan Bristol]

I remember you
Memory is all that's left
And my autumn tears

[IndigoMoon]

We are troubled on every side, but not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;

Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not distroyed.

-2 Corinthians 4:8-9

[ZOMBIE USER 10925]

"Wake up, and strengthen what you still have before it dies completely."
"Remember then, what you were taught, and what you heard; obey it and turn from your sins."

- Rev 3:2a,3a


flipping, I stopped here, and found:
"To conclude: you must all have the same attitude and the same feelings; love one another as brothers, and be kind and humble with one another. Do not pay back evil with evil or cursing with cursing; instead, pay back with a blessing, because a blessing is what God promised to give you when he called you."

- 1 Pet 3:8-9
(and it goes on for 5-6 more verses)
online if you wish

[W.M.Y.L.G. Joe]

Do not pay back evil with evil or cursing with cursing; instead, pay back with a blessing, because a blessing is what God promised to give you when he called you.

Today campus provided chalk for a temporary memorial for 9/11 behind the performing arts center. While many people put down messages of how great America is, I took up the chalk and made a giant graffitti piece that says "Love Your Enemies." No matter what reasons you try to give me, I can't except it as an excuse for pride. Pride will always be our downfall. Learn to be humble and love people and you'd be surprised at what God can do with it sometimes. Okay I'm done.

[TechnoTiger]

I'm sorry if I'm not the flag totin' person a lot of people I've seen today. To be honest I'm worn out on all this 9/11 stuff. I'm sincerly sorry that all those people died because of one group's hatred for America, but I would not go so far as to call all people whom die in terrorist attacks "heroes". I can see the need of Americans to look for heroes at this time but I felt it frivilous to call all victims of the attacks heroes. I also hated the way that after 9/11 patriotism became a fad. I wasn't a flag waver before hand and I wasn't one afterwards. That doesn't mean I'm an anarchist like half my class decided I was when I wasn't saying "BOMB Afghanistan, kill all mideasterners!!!!!!" I also found myself the punching bag of those who did not like it when I took a stand against the harrasment of a Pakistan girl in our class. Such hatred in the world does not bode well for the future of the world. I can only pray to God that this nonsense goes no further.
I suggest for all those with such hatred to try some Buddhist chanting to hopefully become more balanced and peaceful:
"Nam Myoho Renge Kyo"

That's my two cents.

[ZOMBIE USER 7262]

On this, the anniversary of something devastating, I'm struck with a few questions.

1) A large number of people died in the towers. I mourn for all of them, and their families. The civilian death toll is staggering, and far too high. Yes. But, in the subsequent bombings, how many innocent civilians died due to US military action? Where is the elaborate memorial for them?

2) What has actually changed? Airports are much stricter, and the [American] government is scrutinizing things far closer than before. Osama may or may not be alive. There are a bunch of holes in the ground from American explosives.

3) Has everyone forgotten the uniting spirit that occured during the crisis? I'm not talking about patriotic unity in shouting for bin Laden's head. I'm talking about the cooperation between everyone in rescuing survivors, reuniting them with family, the blood drives, the shelters. Since then, America has more or less returned to the way it was before...except that the President is watching you.

I did not lose anyone in the attacks, nor am I an American citizen. Any further comment of mine is irrelevant.

[MongooseQuarrel]

*shakes head*
I just don't get it....It's sad, yes, but.....it's gone, we can't change it....and all I must say is that- who ever did it got their aims....There is no stricker to how people think... can't we all just remember our passed with peace?
*sighs*
You bomb us- we enialate you, we bomb you- sit in a corner like a whipped dog....There's something defently wrong with this "people run" government....

Oh yes..I love yer sig Techy Tig...^^

[ZOMBIE USER 10925]

Computer games don't affect kids...If Pacman affected us as kids we'd all be running around in darkened rooms, munching magic pills, and listening to repetitive electronic music.

Oh yes..I love yer sig Techy Tig...^^

Um, not to scare you, but Ilona says that describes me some times. :) (I'm pro-vitamin supplements, spent my most of my youth living in the basement, and am told by some people that my music is just repetitive )

[W.M.Y.L.G. Joe]

I wasn't a flag waver before hand and I wasn't one afterwards.

Same here. But I learned to keep my mouth shut to avoid being treated like I'm the one who flew the planes. It's amazing how defensive people can be over this country when it's convenient.

[TechnoTiger]

Oh yes..I love yer sig Techy Tig...^^

Thanx ^_^ I love that quote!

Um, not to scare you, but Ilona says that describes me some times. (I'm pro-vitamin supplements, spent my most of my youth living in the basement, and am told by some people that my music is just repetitive )

Scare me? Why? A LOT of what I listen to is repetitive, but that's what I get for listening to techno >_< D'oh

Same here. But I learned to keep my mouth shut to avoid being treated like I'm the one who flew the planes.

W.M.Y.L.G. Joe, I can understand why you would keep your mouth shut at times like those. That would be common sense which, at times, I am thankful for not having. I often find myself unable to sit back idly and allow injustice happen. To permit it to happen would make me feel like a coward. This is when I like not having common sense, for if not so then one mugging victim would not be alive today. (details unnecessary) This it times like these that I become mad at so called Christians There are people who preach the Bible yet do not practise it. Since when did "Thou shalt not practice what thy preach" become the standard. From what I learned when I used to be a Catholic, rosary beads and prayer are what the world needs, not molotov cocktails and hate speech. The world has become a frightening place to live in and sadly it is from within our own country that most of this fear is created from. From gang wars to school shootings I fear what mind-frame the youth of today is going to grow up with. All I can see (from my pessismistic view) is a future of intolerence if this trend continues. Already government officials have blamed innocent Americans for the attacks. One official (whose name I do not remeber) pointed the finger at Pagans, gays, lesbians, and abortionists for the desecularization of America. At least none of my gay or wiccan friends suffered backlash from those statements.
I miss when P.L.U.R. was widespread, prolly the reason I attend so many raves ^_^ lol

I did not lose anyone in the attacks, nor am I an American citizen. Any further comment of mine is irrelevant.

On the contrary, I would find any input from an outside source a refreshing viewpoint that holds as much value as my own.

*throws 2 cents in the bank*
P.S.
On a lighter note, I find it strange that I could write this easier than my essay that's due tommorow.

[W.M.Y.L.G. Joe]

Things are admittedly different at college. I can speak up more often without the fear of being attacked and ostracized. The reason I say I kept my mouth shut and "let injustice happen" as you said is because back at my high school, opening my mouth did nothing but make people hate me just as much as they hated anyone remotely arabic. My high school was filled with so many slow witted zombies it's pointless to hope to change minds. The media and whatever they preached on MTV dictated their lives already. And once again quoting the wonderful Calibretto 13... "But nobody will stand up, if you do then you're a jerk. Cuz' MTV's a culture, does fighting even work?" Such was my case "back in the day."

[TechnoTiger]

"But nobody will stand up, if you do then you're a jerk. Cuz' MTV's a culture, does fighting even work?" Such was my case "back in the day."

Sadly that is the case today as well.

I can speak up more often without the fear of being attacked and ostracized. The reason I say I kept my mouth shut and "let injustice happen" as you said is because back at my high school, opening my mouth did nothing but make people hate me just as much as they hated anyone remotely arabic.

I'm glad you found college easier, high school certainly can be hell. I don't blame you for keeping your mouth shut and I hope you didn't think I was. I know that I can be a little more opionate than other people so don't feel bad because you logically looked at the situation and realised that the outcome was none too good.
Oh, I'm so jealous of you! You get to be at college and I don't. lol good luck with school


"The true sign of extraterrestrial life is that it has not contacted us yet"

[Rowan Bristol]

One year ago, I was working for a small computer firm in downtown chicago that was half pakistani, half indian, and all muslim. We had heard about the first plane on the radio, and thought it was an accident. By the time we reached the television in the conference room, both were on fire. We watched in horror until the first tower fell. My employer cancelled work, asking us all to go to our place of prayer and then find our loved ones. Teams were set up to get the female muslim employees home safely.

St. Peter's cathedral was around the corner from my office. There was already a line to get in. I prayed briefly, but all I could do was look up at the sears tower, and hope.

Right next to the sears tower is the building where my spouse works 39 floors up. Ambitious, driven, determined to make the world better. And should the sears tower fall, right in range.

Phone calls eased my fear, but I thought of all the people I knew in the sears tower and the cigna building, and the thought of losing them struck me. In that moment, I felt the fear and sorrow I still carry to this day. The thought that for countless people the fear could not be allieved. Mothers, sons, daughters, fathers...All dead in the dust. People like my spouse who were massively driven and hopeful, or people like me, simply working to support the dreamers in my life. All gone.

Even amongst the rescuers, people who were trained to keep us safe, to pull us from danger. They were lost. There was nothing but dust and pain.

My spouse still watches coverage obsessively, searching for a why. I cannot bear to watch it, for I know in my heart there is no real why. People decided to kill other people. In this world, not only is it possible, but easy. And all that remains of joy and ambition and hope is dust.

It's why I choose to remember this day, and why no matter what action is taken, it will not end the pain. Nothing will wash away the dust.

I'm sorry this statement is so long. I'll speak again in my 'voice' another time.

[IndigoMoon]

I understand how you feel, Rowan. I have a second cousin who used to work in the World Trade Center. His office was moved a while back, but when everything started happening, I couldn't help wondering if there would be any reason why he or any of his family would have been nearby. Thank God they weren't, but his daughter was in school a block away. They evacuated the school and my cousin had to go downtown on his bicycle to pick her up because of all the hysteria. I can only imagine the kind of gut-wrenching terror all New Yorkers felt that day.. and I can't erase from my mind the images of the days to follow, of people with printed flyers bearing pictures of loved ones not yet found. There was an unprecedented sorrow cast over the entire country (and many outside its borders) that day, and that is why we can't forget.

On the other hand, I don't think this entitles us to become crazed, gun-toting "patriots". Or that the people who died in WTC were all necessarily heroes (though some most definitely were). But I think the day deserves reverance out of respect for those who were left behind. Healing takes time.

[Tek Roo]

I also hated the way that after 9/11 patriotism became a fad. I wasn't a flag waver before hand and I wasn't one afterwards.

Perhaps the "flag wavers" are simply trying to hide their own pain, and pretend that the events of that day don't still bother them deeply to this day? Perhaps these are the very people that are in need of a bit of compassion and understanding?

It can be very traumatic to find that the enemies that you thought lived far away, seperated from you by oceans and continents, are actually right there among you.

[TechnoTiger]

Perhaps the "flag wavers" are simply trying to hide their own pain, and pretend that the events of that day don't still bother them deeply to this day? Perhaps these are the very people that are in need of a bit of compassion and understanding?

What I meant was that people were making money off of this tragic event to further their own greed. $5 fr a 3x5 flag? That is horrendous that people, of this country that was attacked, would use their fellow men to become rich. That was one of the worst things I have ever seen. That to me would be like selling t-shirts to jews saying "I survived the Holocaust"

[Rowan Bristol]

On the other hand, I don't think this entitles us to become crazed, gun-toting "patriots". Or that the people who died in WTC were all necessarily heroes (though some most definitely were).

I never said or supported either position. As I said, nothing will remove the pain. I don't believe in the current batch of patriotism. It's not only a foolish reaction, it's being murderously exploited to create and enforce policies that will destroy the america we're supposed to be believing in.

As for heroes. Every person who kept life going, even at the expense of their own was one. Many, as I said, were like my spouse and myself. Just people who had lives and hopes and dreams which were simply stopped. They're simply dust. That's why I'll remember this day. It's a reminder of my own fear and sorrow, and the real proof I had that there is nothing in the world I have that death cannot instantly take away. I will remember it for all those who watched the footage from their window, or on television and thought: "Someone I love is gone forever."

[IndigoMoon]

That to me would be like selling t-shirts to jews saying "I survived the Holocaust"

Dude. So tragically true. I agree wholeheartedly.

[One beautiful loser]

This it times like these that I become mad at so called Christians There are people who preach the Bible yet do not practise it. Since when did "Thou shalt not practice what thy preach" become the standard

I think its always been a standard. Most of us do it everyday. I know I do. and every night its the same. I tell myself that tomorrow will be different, that I'll be a better person. but nothing changes I still say silent when something needs to be said.
All through Jr high I tried to follow the crowd, and it tore me apart inside because that wasn't who I was. Now its a little different. Im happy to be different, But I'm still a hippocrite and I'm ashamed of it, but I do nothing to change it.

Something bothers me is the people who dont think for themselves. They let their lives be run by the media and by the "popular" kids. I miss alot of the pop culture by not having cable/satillite t.v. and by the lack of radio stations around my area, but that is a good thing. It doesnt allow me to be warped into as Joe said a slow witted zombie run by the latest trend.

Most schools have a variety of people, mine doesnt. they're all the same Mainstream trend followers

[TechnoTiger]

Most schools have a variety of people, mine doesnt. they're all the same Mainstream trend followers

Mine too I used to have my best friend, but he decided to get his G.E.D. so now I'm the only kandy-clad kid wandering the halls of my small school, getting those oh-so-familiar looks from people thinking, "What the H3LL is wroong with him?" Oh well, school isn't where I live so I try to not fret about it. Although it does kinda stink not having any friends at school, it is my last year so I don't care. All my friends have either graduated or gotten their G.E.D.s so at least I can always count on their being there when I get out.