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The party's over.
After the fire, tears and pain of
the Armageddon-in-microcosm at the World Trade Center and
the Pentagon on September 11, 2001, and the crouching terror
of biological and chemical warfare that lurks each day for
every American ever since, things can never be quite the
same again on the American playground.
There is pain involved in growing-up;
much pain involved in learning; and the hardest lessons,
which involve the deepest suffering, can be avoided for
only so long.
It is believed that just before the
Buddha attained Nirvana, in a state of near-death beneath
the Bodhi tree where he meditated in the blazing sun and
freezing cold, he broke out into these words:
" Now I have seen You, Oh builder
of this body :
All desire is extinct : Nirvana is attained :
The rafters have crumbled : the ridge-pole is smashed!
You will not build them again."
As I watched the Twin Towers fall,
these words were seared-into my brain.
The dream behind the white American
picket-fence had started showing tangible cracks for quite
a few years now. Films such as 'American Beauty', 'Eyes
Wide Shut', 'The BirdCage', 'Arlington Road', 'The Truman
Show', 'The Peacekeepers', and many other such searing sociological
revelations of the painful truth that lay beneath the dream,
all directed by the western mainstream, had indicated that
Americans could no longer afford to keep their eyes wide
shut to the problems of the wide world.
Still, no-one had expected the terror and anger to unfold
on September 11 with such cataclysmic and unbelievable force,
and to involve the brutal deaths of so many innocents.
I must make a confession. I have
long possessed the powers of sixth-sense, deja-vu and prophecy,
and uncannily, events in my own life have usually indicated
world events with remarkable clarity.
My U.S. Visa was held-up for the first time in my entire
life this year, and I was ensconced in the safety of my
parents' home in India when terror struck New York --- where
I normally am every Fall, where I am often in the gallery-vicinity
of the Twin Towers, and where I had been till this very
March.
One evening, less than a week before Sep. 11, I called my
mother to my room, and said: "Something tells me that
New York's skyscrapers will be bombed and razed to the ground,
very soon."
On Sep. 11, it was my mother who
came down again silently to my room, and asked me to see
CNN after 7 pm India-time.
And we watched the prophecy unfold : like Maya.
I must honestly make it clear now that I have always belonged
to that fortunate segment of the world's people who have
never suffered poverty or hunger, who have enjoyed the luxury
of a liberal and cosmopolitan urban education, who have
travelled widely all over the world, and who have grown-up,
studied, and worked both in America and in other parts of
the West.
I have lived extensively in America, England and Europe.
Therefore, it would be unnatural and impossible for me not
to bond deeply and personally with the horrific tragedy
of 9-11.
I have also lived in India, and have been witness to its
extremes of poverty and wealth, sadness and joy. Still,
it would be merely an artificial and intellectual stance
for me to now coldly present all the political arguments
in favour of what many international intellectuals and analysts
now view as America's logical and deserved nemesis.
I am an artist and a writer, and
I belong to no political party.
I cherish my freedom, and while I have always been aware
of the suffering of vast majorities of world citizens who
lacked my good fortune, I am not now prepared to chuck-out
all my definitions of civilisation and freedom just because
rabid hatred and frustration, fuelled by a small band of
unhinged fundamentalist fanatics, has boiled-over with such
blind brutality.
America has been a playground for
me, as well as a place of learning and invaluable experience.
Many of my deepest friendships have been with Americans,
and I have observed them, at their best, to be touchingly
child-like, generous, affectionate, at times naive --- and,
at their worst, to be power-hungry, blinkered, rigid, insensitive
to the subtleties of older civilisations, and overly-proud
of a mere century of modern achievement. I can only hope
now that, as it always has, America will learn invaluable
lessons from this newest pain; will learn to communicate
on terms of equality and respect and humility with less-comfortable
nations; and will slowly emerge stronger and wiser.
There is really no such thing as
a good war or a bad peace.
As a valid document, I would like
to present on my website a collage of emotions that I have
felt personally after September 11, in the form of letters
and images. These speak more credibly than any intellectual
theories.
>From: DeanoKat@aol.com
>To: srimatilal@hotmail.com
>Subject: Re: From Srimati
>Date: Thu, 13 Sep 2001 09:16:16 EDT
>
>Hi from Michigan.
>It's so horrible and terrifying.
>We are lucky because all of our friends and extended family
are safe and well.
>I feel terribly sad for all the people who have suffered
through this attack
>and who have lost family members in such a violent way.
>Life in America will change to be sure.
>I was glad you were safe in India!
>Peace,
>Kathy
I am astounded by the devastation and carnage since the 11th
in New York and the Pentagon, and its massive impact on all
the rest of America.
My prayers go out to you for peace and solace during this
incredible trauma. May you find the wisdom and meditativeness
to see beyond the obvious and find all the answers within
yourself.
New York and America are like a second home to me, and I can
feel your shock. I can see all the events here on CNN hour
by hour.
Please stay in communication with me.
With prayers for peace from me, my friends, and family in
India ---
Your friend,
Srimati
>From: "William F. Cipolla"
>To: "Srimati Lal"
>Subject: Re: From Srimati
>Date: Fri, 14 Sep 2001 11:08:01 -0400
>
>Dear Srimati,
>Thank you so much for your thoughts. Life in New York
is a living
>Hellright now. There are still people wandering in a daze
holding up
>pictures of their loved ones last seen somewhere near
the disaster area.
>Everyonehas been touched by this. Finally yesterday we
were able to go
>shopping below 14th street. As you probably know from
the web and
>television, the city was closed below 14th street and
it was necessary to carry a
>photo-i.d. in order to get back into the downtown area.
Today I am
>in my office and trying to live and work normally. But
it is very
>difficult. One of the passenger lists on one of the planes
included
>the name of my cousin: he is unmarried, has no children,
and no one has
>heard from him. We don't even know if it was he, or someone
else. It is
>unbearable not knowing! And in the midst of the disaster,
my father
>was stricken with a grave attack of asthma undoubtedly
brought on by the
>news of the tragedy. Since telephone communication had
practically come
>to a complete standstill, I didn't find out until long
after he had been
>admitted to hospital, and now he is out of danger. For
a few hours,
>though, all seemed black.
>
>Again, thank you for your kind thoughts and please remember
me to
>your parents.
>From: MarieBL1@aol.com
>To:
>Subject: Re: From Srimati
>Date: Fri, 14 Sep 2001 13:14:41 EDT
>
>Dear Sri, Just a note to let you know that I am safe.
I am not "okay" because I saw the horrific events
from 6th Ave. and 10th St. where I was shopping for a food
job. Every face that I see in NY shows the impact of the devastation
we have faced. Obviously the impulse to maim, murder, rape
and destroy innocents is in the human psyche as well as the
depravity of certain individuals but the majority of us on
this tiny planet want only to work, raise our families and
go to sleep happy. The acts of a tiny minority of fanatics
will not sway the rest of us to their cause. There is nothing
as important as working for peace and a peaceful resolution
to these horrific events. My friends who lived in the area
and those who I know who worked in the area are safe. Apparently
there are several more buildings which may have to be demolished
due to instability. From Canal St. down to the southern tip,
there is access only if one provides adequate identification
or if you are an emergency worker. I hope those who live in
Battery Park City (west of the former towers) can get in as
soon as possible to find pets that were left behind inadvertently
when evacuations took place. I am proud to be a New Yorker
and there are many of us who have not stopped volunteering
in many kinds of ways, as well as praying. What I love about
NY is the absolute love we have for our city and the way we
rally behind and for certain things. I have been helped by
strangers and have helped others. That is what is so great
about this town. Our mayor has been inspirational; you might
not know but he was trapped for some time in one of the towers.
He has personally overseen all the things that are being done
to rescue, restore and safeguard the lives of all New Yorkers.
I have been praying nonstop, and have shed many tears. I am
afraid. I rode to Brooklyn on the 4 train on Wednesday. The
train rode through the City Hall station and 4 stations south,
they were filled with dust and deserted. Last night on the
stairway out of the 86th St.
>subway station, there were lots of posters, color xeroxes
of people, names, dates, which floor they worked on. We are
all crying. Thanks for your prayers. Lots of love, Marie
>From: Pamarj@aol.com
>To: srimatilal@hotmail.com
>Subject: From Jan in NY
>Date: Sat, 22 Sep 2001 14:27:53 EDT
>
>Hello Sri,
>Thank you for writing. It is all crazy & not getting
less crazy, in a way,
>as we see the 1001 repercussions spreading out in all
directions. Mark was
>in Peru. I was supposed to go to the Dominican Republic
to teach but I
>didn't want him landing here alone, so I changed my ticket.
I go tomorrow.
>Then they cancelled his flight & he can't get back
til the 27th, so he lands
>here alone anyway. He was supposed to have auditions for
his Nov-Dec season
>Sept 17, but he couldn't get back, & the theater is
very close to the towers
>so it is closed. The postcard printer for the Picasso
play I am producing
>Oct 4 went to the towers to volunteer for a week, so our
publicity is late.
>Because my office was by the towers until June, I went
close to them on
>Tuesday, then out on the Manhattan bridge to try &
comprehend it. Then my
>apartment filled with smoke the next day (& again
this morning) so I had a
>bad cough all these days. Little things, of course, compared
to those who
>died. But it's to say, the effects are everywhere. Many
petitions to sign
>for peace, many memorial services to go to, anywhere you
walk you see shrines
>to the dead with American flags, flowers, & candles,
& photos of the
>disappeared. It is sad, & of course the natural thing
for the cowboys in
>Washington to do is declare war. Amazing, when they couldn't
find the
>training camps for the terrorists in New Jersey, San Diego,
Florida, &
>Minnesota!!!! Amazing! I got my personal photos back yesterday
that I took
>from the roof of my building. It hurt again, because personal
photos do not
>vibrate the same way as a newspaper photos does, because
it touched your eye
>too personally. I have gone down to the site twice, &
it is too big to
>comprehend. The mind still says "No." Mark is
at markdegarmodance@aol.com &
>having a hard time being stranded in Peru so if you have
a moment to say
>hello to him, I know it would help.
>Good news! After many months of battle, Mark & I got
permission from our
>Quaker meeting in Hudson NY to get married. We meet with
them Oct 6 to plan,
>& will probably do it next May or June.
>Thank you again for your concern.
>Warm wishes,
>Jan Hanvik
>From: Dwceva@aol.com
>To: srimatilal@hotmail.com
>Subject: Re: from Sri
>Date: Tue, 18 Sep 2001 11:59:52 EDT
>
>Srimati:
>
>Thank you for your thoughts. Things are slowly coming
back to somewhat
>normalcy. It seems that everyone in this city has been
touched by this
>disaster and all are still walking around in a daze.
One positive thing
>through all of this is that it seems that the hardness
of the people has been
>softened. People have become more compassionate.
>
>I have not heard word from Francis.>
>I will notify Francis as soon as I hear from him.
>
>Regards,
> Dave
>
>From: Dwceva@aol.com
>To:
>Subject: Re: From Srimati
>Date: Thu, 13 Sep 2001 12:56:34 EDT
>
>Srimati:
>
>Thank you for your thoughts. Things really are quite
surreal right now. I left NY the other day to just get away
from it all and watch from a distance.
>
>Waiting and praying to hear some news about some friends.
>
>Regards,
>
>Dave
>From: MarieBL1@aol.com
>To:
>Subject: Re: from Sri
>Date: Sat, 06 Oct 2001 12:07:34 EDT
>
>Dear Sri, I have been downtown to the disaster site
twice. Yes, there is still fire. I read recently that under
the towers were boilers or whatever that had fuel, to power
the heating systems. That might be burning and the debris
is still burning too. When material is taken off the top
of the piles, oxygen goes in an fuels the fire. It's horrific
and awesome. Cleanup is expected to take a year. There have
been over 320 people identified so far. So many systems
have been disrupted. The 1 and 9 trains will not be running
for at least a year. The Holland Tunnel has water in it.
There are people who lived in Battery Park City that still
don't know when they will be able to return home. Some apartments
are inhabitable. Some contain airplane parts. This is a
crime scene. The air is bad. The rescue workers/construction/emergency
personnel work 24 hours a day. The psychological toll is
unbelieveable. Mark De. won't be able to perform at BMCC--on
Chambers St. because they lost 40 classrooms and the theatres
and gym have been taken over. The arts administrators have
had their offices commandeered by emergency personnel. We
may not perform this fall at all. They still don't know
and probably won't for a while. I am not sure if "our"
money was from a general fund or a special one. I meet with
Mark on Tuesday.
>I will not be receiving a paycheck in Dec. because of
this. Other than this, the cats are well. They have no idea!!!!!
I perform with Nancy tomorrow at the Botanical Garden in
the Bronx. Fall is here. Cool weather comes tonight. Lots
of love, more later. M
>From: "James Cook"
>To:
>Subject: Re: From Srimati
>Date: Thu, 13 Sep 2001 11:15:23 -0400
>
>Dear Srimati,
Thank you for your kind expression
of condolence. Both David and Christopher are fine. (Chris
was in Washington about two miles from the Pentagon at the
time of impact.) David was producing a program and was outside
about a mile from the WTC. He saw the first tower come down.
> Barbara and I are thinking about
coming to India in February to administer polio vaccine
to village children in Maharashtra state. Naturally, if
the Calcutta Lals will have us for a few days, we'll extend
our stay to call on them.
> Perhaps, under the circumstances, it's just as well
that you are not in New York.
>
>Stay well, Uncle Jimmy and Aunt Barbara
>
> >>> "Srimati Lal" 09/13/01 09:00
AM >>>
>
>From: Isha Ray <isharay@socrates.Berkeley.EDU>
>To: srimatilal@hotmail.com
>Subject: happy birthday
>Date: Mon, 24 Sep 2001 09:13:48 -0700
>
>Dear SL:
>
>Happy birthday -- though these are uncertain times for
the world and still
>very sad times for your other city, New York, I hope
you have had good
>thoughts today and been able to celebrate a little.
I rang your NY number
>yesterday in case you were back but there was no reply.
What is your visa
>situation? I'm keeping all my fingers and toes crossed
for your speedy
>return. Have you been in Calcutta, has Seppo been over?
Do let me know when
>you can.
>
>Here in Berkeley, as everywhere, we are all slightly
jittery, knowing that
>something has to happen in retaliation for Sept 11,
but hoping that it
>won't be hasty and indiscriminate. This can only breed
more violence in the
>end. But who knows. The rhetoric of war is in full swing
right now.
>
>Everyone I know in NY is OK -- what I mean is, they
are not dead, missing
>or physically hurt -- but of course they know people
who are "missing". NY
>is the kind of place where you can be only one person
removed from a
>personal loss when such a thing happens.
>
>I am wrapping-up with Hewlett & preparing to teach
in January at Berkeley.
>
>Lots of love, and if you are still in Calcutta, my warm
regards to your Ma
>and Baba.
>
>Isha
>
>
>---------------------------------------------------
>
>Isha Ray
>Ciriacy-Wantrup Postdoctoral Fellow; Geography Department
>From: Jonathan Hoyle
>Reply-To: Jonathan Hoyle
>To: Srimati Lal
>Subject: Re: from Shri
>Date: 12 Oct 2001 11:43:09 -0400
>
>Hi dearest,
>
>My apologies for being so long between writings, as
i have been (as you might expect) exceptionally busy here
at work. Ever since the World Trade Incident, we have been
ramped up here with a great deal of work.
>
>How goes your trip abroad. I know that you were trying
to come back to New York, but perhaps this is a blessing
in disguise. As we go to war on this, it is a time for us
all to come together, so I hope all is well with you.
>
>More soon,
>
>Love,
>Jonathan
>
>From: "James Cook"
>To: Srimati
>Date: Tue, 13 Nov 2001 07:59:40 -0500
>
>Dear Lals,
>
>We are just back in Albion after three weeks in Italy.
These are trying times for everyone. Language is a two-edged
sword; it enables us to say words that have no reference
in the real universe: words like "god": and to
ascribe to such fictions whatever characteristics our madness
or desire for power may inspire.
> How sad for everyone! Scientific rationalism and the
empirical method may be bleaker, but at least they permit
an ethic based on shared interests rather than on dubious
inspiration.
> David was near the World Trade Center, shooting for
a film on Sep. 11, as terror struck. And Christopher was
in the vicinity of the Pentagon in the capitol, on work
Both are safe. Amazing! Ah well! Onward.
>
> I forward this via Srimati.
>
> Love and good health to my Kolkata kindred family.
>
> Jim and Barbara
'America the Beautiful' (a slide-show
with music), 'Day-O', (animation & music), & 'If
I Knew' (a poem): all available on the site: www.jonhoyle.com/journal
>From: Major William L. Gamble
>To: Srimati Lal <srimatilal@hotmail.com>
>Subject: from a U.S. AirForce Pilot, about the War
>Date: Tue, 18 Dec 2001 08:23:09 -0800 (PST)
>
>I know I'm here for a good cause.
>
>We've a real problem in this world with radical groups
>and terrorists, I'm doing my part to help eliminate
>those scum.
>
>I have not qualms about helping these fanatics meet
>Allah. Then, they find out first hand if they were
>following his teachings.
>
>Unfortunately, this event has worldwide implications.
>I'm sure you hear it in the news. Many groups are
>using this turmoil to stage other events. Look at the
>Irish - Protestants vs. Catholics, Palestinians vs.
>Isreal, Fanatical Islamics vs. Western Democracies.
>It would not surprise me if the attack in India wasn't
>a group trying to get India engaged in war with
>Pakistan since they are helping the USA.
>
>I don't know where this is going next. But, countries
>that harbor and provide safety to these groups are
>about to get smacked. It could Syria, Iraq, Sudan,
>Yemen, Somolia, somewhere in South America. I hope we
>get backing of the recognized government and then we
>provide all our technology and fire power to augment
>their own military or police force. But, it won't
>surprise me if walk into a country like Sudan and or
>Libya and smack some heads.
>
>You know how it is in America. It can the most gentle
>and giving folks in the world. But, let the political
>climate change and those who were a friend yesterday
>are turn away the next. You would think it would be
>possible to replicate the model of free markets and
>capitalism that enabled the USA to get as strong and
>wealthy as it is. Look how many organizations they
>uncovered in the USA which collected millions of
>dollars that went to directly or indirectly to groups
>such as Hamas, Islamic Jihad, and even Al Queda. When
>I left, they had a list of about 30. People in
>America will donate to any cause if you say you trying
>to help underprivileged youth somewhere in the world.
>
>Anyway, I'm getting a rant and I bet you aren't
>interested in that.
>
>I hope you hear some good news from Jonathan soon.
>
>Larry
> >
> >
>Subject:
Fw: --CBS News Transcript: Those first minutes of 9/11
>Date: Wed, 26 Sep 2001 06:28:13 +0530
>
> > This is the official transcript of the first mention
by
> > CBS Television News of "terrorist attacks on
the World
> > Trade Center and the Pentagon," a CBS News
Special Report
> > beginning at 8:48 AM ET on Tuesday, September 11,
2001--
> > the morning the attacks began--as anchored by Dan
Rather.
>
> >---------------------------------------------------------------------------
> > Copyright 2001 Burrelle's Information Services
> >---------------------------------------------------------------------------
> >
> > CBS News Transcripts
> >
> > SHOW: CBS News Special Report (8:48 AM ET) - CBS
> >
> > September 11, 2001, Tuesday
> >
> >
> > Special Report/Newscast (4317 words)
> >
> > Terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and
the Pentagon
> >
> > Anchor: Dan Rather
> >
> > Reporters: Scott Pelley, David Martin, Russ Mitchell
> >
> >
> > DAN RATHER, anchor:
> >
> > We're going to rerack that videotape and show it
to you again. As we do
> > the reracking, we say that we don't have any confirmed
figures on the
> > number of people killed at the Pentagon or the number
of people wounded
> > there in Washington, where a hijacked plane hit.
We have no idea of--of
> > the New York fatalities. Here again is this photograph.
The building on
> > the left is about to be hit by the hijacked incoming
plane.
> >
> > Unidentified Woman: What the hell is that!
> >
> > Unidentified Man #1: Holy fuck!
> >
> > Unidentified Woman: Oh, my God! Oh, my God! Jesus
fucking Christ! Oh, my
> > God!
> >
> > RATHER: A ball of flame envelops the second of the
World Trade
> > Center towers, untold death and destruction, because
after being hit by
> > the second plane, the second tower eventually collapsed
after the--both
> > of these twin towers collapsed. Now Building 7 of
the World Trade Center,
> > after being evacuated, we're told, collapsed. In
the der--debris below,
> > people still trapped. This is new videotape that
had not been seen
> > before. Dateline: Washington. The Pentagon now says--and
we've checked
> > and double checked this--100 people believed killed
or injured--there's
> > no differentiation. We still don't know how many
killed, how many injured
> > at the Pentagon, but the Defense Department says
its best available
> > information is 100 people believed killed or injured
at the Pentagon. And
> > while the Pentagon symbolically was one of the two
targets today, that
> > the death, the wounding and the damage at the Pentagon,
nothing to
> > compare with what's happened with the World Trade
Center complex.
> >
> > Paramedics waiting to be sent into the rubble today
were told that once
> > the smoke clears, it's going to be "massive
bodies," quote-unquote.
> > That's Brian Stark, an ex-Navy paramedic who volunteered
to help. Stark
> > said paramedics were told that, quote, "hundreds
of police and
> > firefighters are missing from the ranks of those
sent in to respond to
> > the initial crash." Now, mind you, this is
only one person speaking. New
> > York police and firemen rushed to the scene this
morning. As is their
> > destiny when they volunteer for such work, they
place themselves in
> > harm's way. And it has been thought throughout the
day that certainly
> > some police and firemen would turn up missing, and
according to this
> > paramed--medic, he says he was told, quote, "that
hundreds of police and
> > firefighters are missing." Let me caution you
we do not know that for a
> > fact.
> >
> > As we've said repeatedly and I say again now without
apology, sometimes
> > the first information you get from a scene turns
out to be wrong
> > information. We do our best to nail down the facts.
We'd rather be last
> > with information than be wrong. We try to give information
to you as
> > quickly as we can get it. In this kind of situation,
I know you will
> > understand when I say there's no way that we can
do it perfectly. We do
> > our very best. And our number one job, the number
one job here is
> > accuracy.
> >
> > Now among the other facts we know is that the president
is on his way to
> > Washington, and I have to say I don't in--really
know that to be a fact.
> > But that's been officially announced, that he's
on his way to Washington.
> > The president will be addressing the nation tonight
from Washington,
> > we're told. Will he be speaking from the White House?
We do not know
> > that. Now we are, in effect, handling all kinds
of hot information and
> > material here. We have, I'm told, more videotape
that's never been seen
> > before today--that you saw a minute ago about that
s--second plane
> > hitting the World Trade Center not seen before.
We have additional
> > videotape now of what happened here in New York
early this morning. Watch
> > this. This is--I haven't seen this before. I'm seeing
it for the first
> > time, as you do. The first building hit that high--high
floor by the
> > first plane is in smoke. The second building has
just been hit by a
> > plane.
> >
> > Unidentified Man #2: The whole building's gone!
> >
> > RATHER: I beg your pardon. As you--it was the collapse
of the first
> > tower. Now let's go back over this videotape we've
not seen before. The
> > tower that was hit by the first plane is still standing.
It won't be for
> > long. Remember, this all happened this morning between
9 and 11 AM. And
> > the second building you saw--we'll show these videotapes
to you in
> > sequence. First you have the videotape of the plane
coming, and it was
> > coming at pretty high speed, much greater speed
than the first plane that
> > hit. We have videotape showing the building hit,
and then this second
> > videotape taken from some distance of the first
of the towers to
> > collapse. Perhaps we can rerack that videotape at
some point. Strange,
> > eerie. I used the word, if it is a word, Dante-esque,
earlier in the day,
> > how instead of a ball of flame going up and great
billows of smoke going
> > upward, they came downward into and toward the earth
itself. But that's
> > because the building collapsed.
> >
> > Now this is the collapse--the first of the towers
to collapse. We just
> > secured this video.
> >
> > Unidentified Woman #2: Oh, my God! oh, my God! Oh,
no! Oh, no!
> >
> > Unidentified Man #2: The whole building's gone!
> >
> > RATHER: The whole building's gone, indeed.
> >
> > Unidentified Man #2: Holy fucking Jesus!
> >
> > RATHER: We do apologize for the language on the
videotape. Yeah. One can
> > understand people seeing this incredible sight,
and when you see this,
> > you're reminded why everyone in authority saying
we should be prepared
> > for eventually finding out many dead, many seriously
wounded. And at this
> > hour, as night has not yet fallen, but begins to
creep in on New York
> > City, there are people trapped in the rubble. And
when that third
> > building collapsed, World Trade Center Building
Number 7, people who were
> > making efforts to save those people in the rubble
who were trapped in
> > there, some of those people were in peril as that
Trade Center Building
> > Number 7 collapsed within the last hour, hour and
a half.
> >
> > Now what you're going to see next is videotape of
the second World Trade
> > Center building collapsing from a different view
than you've seen it
> > before. This is, again, new videotape. One of the
World Trade Center
> > buildings has already collapsed. The second, the
actual first one hit by
> > the plane, is still standing. It is a smoking ruin
in its upper floors.
> > These World Trade Center towers have absorbed tremendous
shock of
> > fast-flying airliners, highly inflammable aviation
fuel. The one building
> > has collapsed, and once it starts to go, how quickly
it went.
> >
> > These home videos taken from across the way from
a place that once had
> > the spectacular view of a spectacular New York skyline.
And the smoke
> > told the story.
> >
> > Scott Pelley, who brings us up to date on the situation
in Lower
> > Manhattan. Scott, it's an unsettling moment to see
again different views
> > of those buildings collapsing and, indeed, the aircraft
hitting the
> > second building. But what's the situation down there
right now?
> >
> > SCOTT PELLEY reporting:
> >
> > Dan, the smoke that you see rising behind me now
is from World Trade
> > Center Building Number 7, which collapsed about
15 minutes ago. This is
> > a--a very large building. It's 47 stories tall,
at least half a block
> > wide. This would have been a catastrophe in its
own right, Dan. The
> > building has been on fire all day since the initial
attack. About an hour
> > ago I was down there with a CBS News camera crew
and we were talking to
> > firefighters and police officers. Building Number
7 was completely
> > involved in flame. Flames were shooting out of the
building. Large panes
> > of glass were falling into the street. The firefighters
explained that
> > there was nothing they could do to try to put the
fire out because it was
> > just simply far too dangerous. And they warned us
an hour ago that the
> > building might collapse, and indeed, that is what
has come to pass.
> >
> > Apparently some of the city's emergency operations
were located in that
> > building. The fire department is telling us now
that they have lost some
> > of their communications at this point. The building,
of course, being on
> > fire, being at the scene of the attack, had been
evacuated much, much
> > earlier. There was no one in the building at this
time that it collapsed
> > about 15 minutes ago. However, I will tell you that
when we left there an
> > hour ago, there were several New York City police
officers and
> > firefighters down there making sure that no one
else came into the area.
> > Dan.
> >
> > RATHER: Scott Pelley on the scene reporting live
from Lower Manhattan.
> >
> > Now we're going to show you again videotape of World
Trade Center
> > Building 7. This is the one that just collapsed
within the last hour and
> > a half, two hours at the outside. This was a 47-story-tall
building. This
> > is the scene on the ground just after this building
came tumbling down.
> > And yet, new bellows of the horrible smoke and the
stench from the smoke
> > began to fill Lower Manhattan all anew. We're gonna
rerack this videotape
> > for you because we're--what we intend to show you
and we have on
> > videotape is the collapse of that World Trade Center
Building Number 7,
> > which housed Salomon Brothers and Smith Barney.
> >
> > I look away because our friend here who's an eyewitness
and worked in the
> > building--and by the way, let's get a picture of
another--you know, he
> > wouldn't call himself a hero, but here's a man in
our studios giving us
> > some eyewitness reports here today who calmly got
together, led people
> > out of the building. It was his responsibility,
he took it upon himself
> > to get people out and then get himself out. Was
there actual panic as you
> > did that?
> >
> > Mr. PATRICK ANDRE (Morgan Stanley): There were panic
among the staff,
> > yes, but the important thing, everybody got out
in time before...
> >
> > RATHER: Well, you won't say it, but I will. You
got everybody out.
> >
> > Mr. ANDRE: Yeah.
> >
> > RATHER: David Martin is outside the Pentagon. David.
> >
> > DAVID MARTIN reporting:
> >
> > Dan, the--the US is trying to do two very different
things here
> > simultaneously. One is to hunker down and button
up and protect against
> > the possibility of still another attack, and that's
why the Pentagon has
> > put all of its bases on the highest state of alert.
And the State
> > Department has put all American embassies around
the world on the highest
> > state of alert. But at the same time, the US wants
to create an
> > impression, at least, of a quick return to normalcy,
and that is one of
> > the reasons why the president is coming back to
Washington tonight. You
> > know, he spent the day moving about from military
base to military base
> > as much as he would in the event of a--a nuclear
war. That now has ended
> > and they are bringing the president back to Washington
to try and create
> > this impression of a return to normalcy. But obviously,
as you can see
> > behind me, we are a long, long way from normal.
> >
> > One of the obvious questions here is: Who did this?
And the early
> > suspicions are focused on Osama bin Laden, the terrorist
who has--seems
> > to have made it his life's calling to attack Americans
around the world.
> > And in this case, I think in contrast to previous
cases, there is very
> > little doubt that there will be some form of military
retaliation. What
> > form it will take and when it might happen, I think
it's much too early
> > to tell, but I think it is all but inevitable.
> >
> > RATHER: David Martin, two questions. The last quote
we had from any
> > official at the Pentagon was that 100 people were
believed killed or
> > injured. Any later information about that?
> >
> > MARTIN: The only number I've heard, Dan, which is--is
20 dead, but no one
> > expected it to end there. The services that had
offices in that part of
> > the building have asked all of the people assigned
there to call in so
> > they know who made it out. And there are still,
among all the services,
> > hundreds of unaccounteds for, but you don't know
if that's because they
> > didn't make it out or simply because they haven't
called in. But if you
> > just take a fully loaded commercial airliner, you
know that the--the
> > death toll is going to go much higher than 20, no
matter who was caught
> > in the building.
> >
> > RATHER: Well, that's a good point. And the belief
is that American Flight
> > 77 headed from Dulles Airport near Washington to
Los Angeles, a Boeing
> > 757, this is--the plane's believed to have crashed
into the Pentagon had
> > 58 passengers and six crew. And while one might
hope and pray that
> > somebody among those 58 passengers and six crew
survived, it seems highly
> > unlikely. So there, right there, you would have,
you know, in the 60s the
> > number of people dead, killed at the Pentagon.
> >
> > And the wife of US Solicitor General Theodore Olson
was aboard the
> > jetliner that crashed into the Pentagon. She called
him as the plane was
> > being hijacked. She twice called her husband and
described some details
> > of the hijacking, including--now this is Barbara
Olson, an attorney, very
> > intelligent woman, wife of the US solicitor general,
the new one,
> > Theodore Olson. She said that the attackers were
using knifelike
> > instruments, and that when she called her husband,
she said the
> > attackers--this is on the plane, that would have
been the American
> > Airlines Flight 77--she said that the attackers
using knifelike
> > instruments. Now the officials who quoted thi--this
conversation to the
> > woman's husband declined to give any further details
of the conversation.
> > In a brief telephone interview from his home, Theodore
Olson said his
> > wife was on the plane and that it crashed into the
Pentagon, and he said,
> > 'I wish it wasn't so, but it is.' Olson argues President
Bush's cases
> > before the Supreme Court.
> >
> > We're going to go back to David Martin at the Pentagon.
David, I
> > understand you have some additional information
or insight, and then I
> > have an additional question for you, please.
> >
> > MARTIN: You were--you were talking about the plane
that crashed into the
> > Pentagon. Someone made the point to me that all
of these planes were
> > cross-country flights that had just taken off, meaning
they were all
> > carrying full loads of fuel, which would obviously
increase the
> > destruction that they cause when they crashed into
a building. Whether
> > that was part of the plan or whether it just worked
out that way, we, of
> > course, don't know, but it would certainly indicate,
at least initially,
> > that considerable thought and planning went into
this attack.
> >
> > RATHER: Indeed, Devid, in--David, including that
they hit the World Trade
> > Center at the height of morning rush hour, right
at 9:00, first one
> > building, then the other, right at the very height
of rush hour here in
> > New York City. David, stand by because I have some
questions about
> > possible US responses. You say, you know, the US
will respond. The how
> > and why of that I'd like to discuss with you.
> >
> > But first, we want to go through a sequence that--of
pictures of what
> > happened here in New York today at the World Trade
Center, including
> > s-- two pieces of videotape that CBS News obtained
exclusively and we've
> > shown only in the last half-hour or so. So the sequence
of events will
> > not necessarily be in order, but this to review
for you and give you the
> > latest picture information we have is the way it
was this morning between
> > 9 and 11 AM New York time, Eastern time. One plane
has hit the upper
> > tier. But watch the left-hand corner of your screen.
The second World
> > Trade tower has not yet been hit. It's about 9 AM.
Here comes the plane,
> > very high speed, cuts almost through the building.
Great balls of fire,
> > tremendous billows of smoke. The voices you hear
in the background are
> > the people in the home, place where these pictures
were taken. So the
> > second building was hit. Now note the plane went
in at about--that
> > aircraft hit that tower at floor about 71. The first
building was hit in
> > the 90 or above, say. So both buildings are now
smoke and flame.
> >
> > Now different view. Both buildings are aflame, and
then the building that
> > was hit second comes tumbling down. That was the
one where the airplane
> > came in particularly quickly and hit the building
at about floor 71.
> > Chrysler Building in the background. Now the second
tower, which was
> > actually hit first by American Flight 11, begins
to crumble and
> > disappear. And since then, the--the most recent
collapse, which happened
> > just a short while ago, Building 7, a 47-story building,
as part of the
> > World Trade Center complex, collapsed. That building
had been comp--we
> > were told, completely evacuated. But the fate of
people on the ground,
> > including rescue workers, as it came tumbling down
we simply don't know.
> > But it had been threatening to collapse, it had
been on the verge of
> > collapse for a long while, so perhaps--perhaps most
of the area had been
> > evacuated. But who could have anticipated this kind
of incredibly dense
> > and fast-moving smoke that's--covers many blocks
in New York? And, like
> > some white monster, came quickly down side streets
and major
> > thoroughfares.
> >
> > Now stay with me here. Stay with me us here. Our
CBS--this is
> > another--see the plane? This is another view, more
videotape. It's the
> > plane that--oh. Oh. Those two sequences we should
see again, and we will
> > show you. Some of this video has just now become
available, and in the
> > aftermath--well, if you've been with us, you know
what happens. We're
> > going to try to rerack--that's the opposite side
of the second tower hit.
> > Now we had different views during the day, but this
was photographed from
> > that side of the building.
> >
> > Now we're going to recue that sequence of videotape.
This includes new
> > videotape material obtained by CBS News over the
last hour, hour and a
> > half. We've shown some of it. Now this is the latest
new video we have.
> > See can the plane coming at high speed, aiming for
the midlevel and hits
> > it. That was the second flight, United Flight 175.
And this is the
> > reverse side of the building. See, the plane actually
pierced the
> > building and virtually came out the other side.
There yet another view of
> > the plane hitting.
> >
> > RUSS MITCHELL reporting:
> >
> > It's almost like the building swallowed the plane.
> >
> > RATHER: Yes. Here you see this aircraft below--Did
you see that?
> >
> > MITCHELL: All right.
> >
> > RATHER: You had to be looking closely on your right-hand
side to see it
> > hitting there.
> >
> > MITCHELL: Yeah.
> >
> > RATHER: Indeed, Russ Mitchell said it is almost
as if the building
> > swallowed the plane and then belched back up. Well,
nobody has ever seen
> > photographs like that 'cause nothing like this has
ever happened before.
> >
> > We go to David Martin at the Pentagon.
> >
> > MARTIN: Dan, we were talking earlier about trying
to give the appearance
> > of a return to normalcy. Well, now we have one other
appearance of
> > normalcy, which is the fact that Defense Secretary
Rumsfeld will give
> > a--a briefing later this evening in the briefing
room in the Pentagon. In
> > other words, we're going to be allowed to go back
into the Pentagon, and
> > obviously, as that is designed in part to give a
show that you can--you
> > can damage the Pentagon, but you can't sink it,
that business continues
> > in there as normal. Now obviously one of the pieces
of businesses that's
> > going to be continuing now is planning for some
sort of military
> > retaliation, although I think it's much too early
for us to really have
> > any good idea what that might look like.
> >
> > RATHER: David Martin, we're gonna go to Bob Orr,
who has some new
> > information, in just a moment. But once in the Far
East, an intelligence
> > operative who was talking about revenge for things--terrorist
events used
> > the quote--he said it was an old Oriental expression--
"Revenge is best
> > served cold," which the thought was that you
don't want to enrage--lash
> > out immediately. Now given the fact--and it is a
fact--that after the
> > 1998 attacks on the US embassies in East Africa,
the United States
> > government responded in--fairly quickly with two
separate cruise missile
> > attacks, mini-missiles, at Sudan and Afghanistan.
> >
> > My question to you, David Martin, when you--talk
about some kind of
> > retaliation is--is certain. What has been the thinking
before this
> > happened about the advisability of responding immediately
or waiting and,
> > in effect, serve--serving revenge cold?
> >
> > MARTIN: Well, they have two lines. One is that,
'We will strike in a time
> > and place of our choosing,' and that supports the
argument that you don't
> > have to do something right away. But after those
cruise missile attacks
> > on the Sudan and Afghanistan, the argument was that
that was not
> > retaliation, that was pre-emption because Osama
bin Laden was planning
> > further attacks against the US and they had to disrupt
his operations. So
> > I can see that that argument would apply here as
well. The US could say
> > it has intelligence that this was not all the attacks
that were planned,
> > that Osama bin Laden had further attacks planned
and they had to act
> > quickly to upset these plans.
> >
> > On the other hand, I can see them wanting to take
their time and get it
> > right so that we don't have another largely ineffectual
strike as we did
> > following the--the embassy bombings. The--the strikes
did not get Osama
> > bin Laden, and obviously did not have any lasting
impact on his operation
> > since he has been behind most of the threats that
the US has had to react
> > to over the years and, of course, if the evidence
indicates that he was
> > behind this as well, then, of course, we really
didn't do much to stop
> > him with that earlier strike.
> >
> > And I think all that would argue for some very large
military response,
> > perhaps including going after him on the ground,
which, of course, is
> > always risky because of casualties. But I think
the proportion of the
> > offense--I mean, let's face it, this was the--the
worst sneak attack on
> > America since Pearl Harbor. And when you put it
in that context, I think
> > the American public would support taking casualties
to go after the
> > person who was behind that. But all that's still
pretty far down the
> > road, Dan.
> >
> > RATHER: Indeed. David Martin speaking live from
the Pentagon.
> >
> > President Bush will address the nation tonight.
CBS News will cover it
> > live. We'll be staying on the air live.
> >
> > Very quickly, Russ Mitchell has some new information
about attending to
> > the wounded in New York.
> >
> > MITCHELL: That's right, Dan. The Health and Human
Services Department has
> > activated a national medical emergency system. This
is an unprecedented
> > move that will dispatch about 7,000 volunteer doctors,
nurses, pharmists
> > and other--pharmacists and other medical staff to
areas affected by
> > Tuesday's attacks, which, of course, would be New
York and Washington.
> > The timetable for this, Dan, I'm told, is immediately.
> >
> > RATHER: Russ Mitchell.
> >
> > Seven thousand volunteer der--doctors sought from
around the nation to
> > come help in New York with what is a massive healing
and tending to the
> > dead and wounded operation which will go on for
weeks if, indeed, not
> > months.
> >
> > Now Bob Orr in Washington has some--a--a new insight
on this information
> > from Barbara Olson, who was aboard one of the planes
hijacked, about
> > knife-wielding--or knife-type instruments in the
aircraft and Orr is
> > going to put that in perspective for you just at
the top of the hour. Now
> > at the top of every hour and at the half-hour mark,
we try to bring you
> > up to date on the latest video we have, the--the
latest pictures we have,
> > the latest information that we have, and we'll be
doing that just past
> > the top of the hour on many of these CBS stations.
> >
> > The aircraft involved this morning, American Airlines
Flight 11, Boston
> > to Los Angeles, that was the first of two planes
to hit a World Trade
> > Center building. The second was United Flight 175,
Boston to Los Angeles.
> > That was the second plane to hit a World Trade Center
building. American
> > Flight 77, Dulles, near Washington, to Los Angeles,
this is the plane
> > that hit near the Pentagon. And then United Flight
93, Newark, New
> > Jersey, to San Francisco, is the plane that apparently
went down in
> > Somerset County, in western Pennsylvania. They believe
they might get the
> > cockpit recorder from that, and if they do, it could
be valuable
> > information.
> >
> > You're watching continuing CBS News coverage of
the Attack on America.
> >
> > Dan Rather with Russ Mitchell and the worldwide
resources of CBS News
> > with our continuing coverage of this historic day
of infamy in the United
> > States of America. An audacious and devastatingly
effective sneak attack
> > on the United States today. Terrorists crashed two
hijacked airliners
> > into the World Trade Center towers and they wrecked,
destroyed both of
> > those towers. And as a consequence of that, then
later this afternoon,
> > World Trade Center Building 7 collapsed. World Trade
Center 5 is in
> > danger of collapsing. The terrorists brought down
the--not only the twin
> > 110-story World Trade Center towers, they also slammed
a hijacked
> > jetliner into the Pentagon. At least 100 people
killed and wounded in the
> > attack on the Pentagon.
> >
> > We don't have facts about any of the killed and
wounded. We simply know
> > that in New York, both the police and New York City
Mayor Rudolph
> > Giuliani say that they--that there's tremendous
loss of life in and
> > around the World Trade Center. And at the Pentagon,
as I say, the best
> > available information is at least 100 killed and
wounded.
> >
> > A fourth jetliner--we mentioned it earlier--was
apparently hijacked. It
> > crashed in Pennsylvania as part of the clearly carefully
timed attacks.
> > It was earlier reported that maybe that aircraft
had gone down near Camp
> > David, the presidential retreat in Maryland. It
turns down--it went down
> > instead in southwestern Pennsylvania. President
Bush was in Florida while
> > all this was happening, on an out-of-Washington
trip. He said he was
> > going to be returning to Washington. He did not.
Instead, it was decided
> > he should go to the air base near Shreveport, Louisiana.
He went there,
> > made another statement to the American people, then
took off destination
> > unknown, wound up in Nebraska at one of the most
secure air bases that
> > the United States has. He got a briefing there.
And then the decision was
> > made that he should come back to Washington. And
President Bush will
> > address the nation from ton--tonight.
> >
> >
> > Submitted September 12, 2001
> >
> >---------------------------------------------------------------------------
> > Copyright 2001 Burrelle's Information Services
> >---------------------------------------------------------------------------
> >
> >
>Subject: Fw: From the survivors
>Date: Mon, 24 Sep 2001 18:51:49 +0530
>
>
>
> >This was in a newsgroup but the author/sender was
not clear to me. it was
> >published publicly and is ended with a request to
be passed on. It's a very
> >personal commentary followed by raw comments by survivors.
> >
> >
> >
> >A Day of Prayer and Remembrance
> >
> >
> >On Thursday, September 13, 2001, I traveled by foot
and bus--along with
> >thousands of other New Yorkers--to Union Square,
a well-known park on 14th
> >St. in the heart of Manhattan. It is situated about
30 blocks from "Ground
> >Zero'. This historic gathering place, long consecrated
throughout the last
> >century with protests and spontaneous demonstration,
sits at the border
> >>>beyond which no civilian could any longer
travel to lower Manhattan.
> >>>
> >>>Not surprisingly it became a natural magnet
for New Yorkers seeking to
> >>>communicate, commiserate and console one
another after the attack on the
> >>>World Trade Center.
> >>>
> >>> I entered the park from the uptown end anxiously
looking around. After
> >>>some initial fear that it had been a wild
goose chase, I picked out a
> >>>milling, eerily quiet gathering of people
at the opposite, or downtown
> >end.
> >>>A woman I had met on the bus--like myself
another turned-away blood donor
> >>>and volunteer--was also going to 'the memorial',
a
> >>>nd she cradled a blood
> >>>red bouquet of roses for those killed.
> >>>
> >>>I had no flowers, but I brought a notebook.
In times of crises we return
> >to
> >>>what we know. I have been a news reporter
for at least half my life.
> >>>
> >>>The two of us didn't really know much, only
that some NYU students--also
> >>>frustrated volunteers-- late the day before,
Wednesday, had taped long
> >>>rectangles of butcher paper on the ground,
and that people in the park
>had
> >>>begun writing on them.
> >>>
> >>>I had brought a pen. So had my new acquaintance.
> >>>
> >>>As the two of us joined the hushed and milling
throng we shook hands and
> >>>said, 'Goodbye.' Without saying it we both
understood that privacy was
> >part
> >>>of our need.
> >>>
> >>>I knelt down with those squatting or sitting
in front of about a 12-ft.
> >>>high plaster pillar, naked wire resembling
a torch flowing out of its
>top.
> >>>
> >>>On its front in silver glitter someone had
glued the letters:
> >>>To The Victims of Terrorist Attacks.
> >>>
> >>>No one seemed to know when, but sometime
later an unknown person had
>wired
> >>>
> >>>to it, a long rectangular piece of World
Trade Tower Two.
> >>>
> >>>In front of this pillar floated a sea of
candles, small US flags,
>bouquets
> >>>of roses by the dozens, many still in their
cellophane wrappers, and
> >single
> >>>flowers of every kind. Spreading out from
these were messages. They were
> >>>Bold like headlines or artfully drawn like
Murals. There were also
> >>>notes--some short, some long--printed or
scrawled in every color pen,
> >>>ranging from sentences to headlines to poems
to long rambling
>outpourings.
> >>>Many included quotations of every kind and
they were written in all the
> >>>languages of all the people who comprise
this American melting pot:
> >>>Chinese, Hebrew, Japanese, Arabic, Russian,
Spanish, and many more.
> >>>
> >>>It would be awhile before I realized that
these messages spread out from
> >>this
> >>>Center in a hodge podge in every direction
and that they numbered in the
> >>>thousands.
> >>>
> >>> All around me people were crying. They were
young and old, Black and
> >>>White and Asian. A young girl with wicker
wings tied to her back asked if
> >I
> >>>needed a hug. I did. But I said I didn't.
Hours later, at the end of my
> >>>travel through this many chambered heart
of the city's collective wound,
>I
> >>>hugged a compete stranger. It was the only
thing to do.
> >>>
> >>>As I walked around I jotted down, at random,
some of the notes inscribed
> >>>there. It is my great honor to share them
with you. When they were signed
> >I
> >>>have included those names.
> >>>
> >>>
> >>> "Gentlemen may cry 'Peace, Peace'-but
there is no peace."
> >>> Patrick Henry [revolutionary war hero]
> >>>
> >>>Dear NYC,
> >>> I've lived here for a year, and I didn't
think I was from here till this
> >>>week.
> >>> With Love and Remembrance to All.
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>ROB TIPALDI
> >>>RICH CAGGIANO
> >>>JUDI SAFI
> >>>
> >>>Together in School
> >>>Together in Work
> >>>Together in Heaven
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>Capt. Brown of Ladder Co.3.
> >>>Pray for him and his men.
> >>> YLF 9-13-2001
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>UNFORGIVABLE
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>Love Bears All Things
> >>>Endures Forever
> >>>God Is Love
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>This is just too much grief for my mind to
process.
> >>>Robert Wagner Garden and All the things I
love are
> >>>gone and thousands of people died while I
watched.
> >>>Why was I spared?
> >>>How can I go on?
> >>> Janet Wolfman
> >>>
> >>> Sept. 12, 2001
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>This Won't Stop New York!
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>Fear the Evil Within
> >>>Before Evil Without
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>Bomb the Taliban Now!!!!!!
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>If you hate, they've Won!
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>God Bless America
> >>>Land That I Love
> >>>Stand Beside Her
> >>>And Guide Her
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>THEY FAILED THEY FAILED THEY FAILED
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>Make Their Countries Parking Lots.
> >>> Vietnam Vet
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>What would the DaliLama say?
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>Towers are small
> >>>Love is Infinite
> >>>No Day But Today
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>[Drawing of a Dog]
> >>>Spot, Protector of All New Yorkers, sez:
> >>>New York will bounce
> >>>Back stronger than ever
> >>>Arf Arf Arf
> >>>
> >>>[As I watched, a father read this to
> >>>his 7-year-old son]
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>My Heart Will Hurt Forever
> >>> Joe
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>WE WILL NOT BE MOVED
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>Peace is the God's One Love
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>To ALL Americans
> >>>Russia Feel Your Pain
> >>> Igor, Alina, Olga, Oleg
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>There can be no world peace without YOU
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>"Live" is a verb
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>Bible quotes, "And God shall wipe away
> >>>All tears from their eyes..."
> >>> Rev. 21 :4
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>Let us not into Temptation
> >>>And fall in the hands of
> >>>The Greatest Enemy
> >>>HATE
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>Don't Give Up People,
> >>>Still life down there
> >>> Signed with a Chinese Ideogram
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>[Enclosed inside a heart]
> >>>USA all the Way and a cross
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>We Must Love Each Other or Die
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>As I watched those buildings fall,
> >>>A part of me died with you.
> >>>New York is my home and you-though I
> >>>did not know you personally-were
> >>>My brothers and sisters. We have
> >>>been dealt a serious blow, but we
> >>>are not defeated.
> >>>God Bless You Families.
> >>> Reggie Liu
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>I believe in the American Liberty
> >>> Camilla Wasclay
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>We All Lost Thousands of Relatives
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>[As I watch a woman kneels and writes]
> >>>Scotty you are in our thoughts and prayers
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>This is the first time in my life I prayed
> >>>For people I didn't know.
> >>> Nash
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>[Red & White Roses and Bluebells lie
> >>>Across a long butcher paper sheet of
> >>>Messages]
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>Light a candle in your heart but do not
> >>>Fuel the anger
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>Today My Heart Has Been Touched
> >>>By The Spirit Of A Nation
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>WHY?
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>Arab & Jew
> >>>Catholic & Protestant
> >>>EveryFucking Body!
> >>>Let's stop fighting and
> >>>Sit down and have a pint
> >>> XOX
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>I'm not ready to kill
> >>>I'm not ready to die
> >>>To Be Honest, I'm hardly
> >>>Ready to Live
> >>>And I'm running out of time
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>[An origami bird with print on
> >>>the wings]
> >>>Not one More life Should be taken [on the
left wing]
> >>>[on the right wing] Say it Again
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>We Shall Overcome
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>Shanti Shanti Shanti
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>[Scattered among the message papers
> >>>were Red Cross Flyers: Advice For Stress]
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>They will not stop us
> >>>They are cowards
> >>>And must pay
> >>>For what they have done
> >>> FR
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>Don't blame the entire Arab world
> >>>They were born into this mess.
> >>>Just like everyone else.
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>Heros are created
> >>>Everyday when ordinary people
> >>>Risk their lives for others.
> >>>In remembrance for all that risked
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>They All must pay
> >>>They All must die
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>[Hebrew script by one writer;
> >>>then another writer's
> >>>English translation]
> >>>
> >>>Peace will yet come to Us
> >>>and to
> >>>Everyone
> >>>
> >>>[white roses lay on this]
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>My Name is BRIANNA
> >>>M
> >>>IGNaNO and I am 6 years old.
> >>>I would like to tell all the
> >>>Mommys not to cry.
> >>>We will pray for
> >>>your missing children.
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>I feel as Blue as this piece of paper
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>To All Victim's Families
> >>>I am deeply sorry.
> >>>I was shocked when I heard what
> >>>happened.
> >>>It's shocking!
> >>>In school no one told us
> >>>what was wrong.
> >>>That made it scarier.
> >>>When we finally found out that the twin towers
> >>>were gone it was shocking.
> >>>It turns out we knew someone on the plane.
> >>>My Mom was friends with her and her husband.
> >>>He wasn't on the plane.
> >>>They also have a dog.
> >>>The day it happened there were roses
> >>>and candles outside their apartment building.
> >>>They lived near us so we saw it before we
> >>>knew she was on the plane.
> >>>Again, I am truly sorry for all your losses.
> >>> Sincerely,
> >>> Sabrina
> >>> 11 years old
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>Lehman Brothers
> >>>1 WTC, 38th to 40th Floor-
> >>>Programmmers. Call us and let
> >>>us know you got out too. I
> >>>Love you guys.
> >>> Pamela
> >>>
> >>>Tears of Blood Fall On Our City
> >>> Katheryn Winnick
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>[a large mural with columns of
> >>>
> >>>colorful stick figures of many races
> >>>except for two columns in the middle
> >>>which are empty and white]
> >>>
> >>>We are Still Standing
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>Our Hearts Mourn and Our Souls Weep
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>For Heather HO, Windows on the World
> >>>Pastry chef, Fred and Family.
> >>>We are with
> >>>You wherever you are.
> >>> Love, LG 9/13/01
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>ALOHA
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>[On a pillar by the subway tunnel,
> >>>people taped pictures of missing friends
> >>>and relatives]
> >>>
> >>>Letter to Margaret Echterman
> >>>
> >>>We will see you again on Earth or in Heaven
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>I ended my time in the memorial by sitting
> >>>off to one side on a construction lumber
pile and
> >>>listening to a lone bagpipe.
> >>>The woman who played wore shorts and a black
> >>>Ghostbusters T-shirt. Somewhat like the shrine,
> >>>she at first appeared a motley mourner. But
> >>>as I watched her pace and listened to her
soulful piping,
> >>>I realized No one much cared what she looked
like.
> >>>The tears wept in response to her music were
all that mattered.
> >>>
> >>>This is my offering to America's Day of Prayer
and Rembrance
> >>>Please pass it along.
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>--
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>Betsy
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>Webdesign: http://www.eGarfield.com
> >>>Personal: http://www.Garfieldz.com
> >>>
November
1, 2001,
Calcutta, India.
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