Where were you on 9/11/2001

Posted by $ AJAshinoff 11 years, 8 months ago to History
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I recall 9/11, as if I could ever forget, because it was the beginning of the end of so many things in my life. It was the beginning of the failure of my IT consulting company, it was the awakening of my countrymen to the truth about the world we live in, it was beginning of the acidic cynicism in my heart that will no doubt be my eventual demise.

I awoke from my couch at the prodding of my 12 year old son. The television was on - FOX News. The cobwebs cleared to see one of the towers with a gaping gash. Debris spewing out of its wound, papers littered the sky line huge snowflakes. The news was still speculating that it may have been an accident when a second jet flew into the second tower.

My heart dropped. I wished ALL Muslims dead. Yes, I knew before they said it that Islam was responsible. I recall saying, and now regret, that "Millions of Muslims have to die to avenge what they have done" - be careful what you wish for.

As time went on I watched in horror as people leapt from the windows, preferring the fall to the fire - I can't blame them. Stunned I watched this massive World Trade Center collapsed, knowing that thousands of AMERICANS, men and women who just went to work, had died before my eyes.

Time passed. I called my children's schools - they wouldn't be going for the foreseeable future. I told my wife to take off from work - she did. My family wouldn't be leaving the house until we knew that at least the world around us was secure.

I drove to my office 3 hours late and dismissed everyone for the day - I told them to be home with their families. We didn't know what was going to happen next and I didn't expect many calls for service (how right I was). I remember sitting in my silent office and crying in anger.

My business failed as clients held tight their wallets for several months- uncertainty breeds caution, no one is to blame.

I am still angry.


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  • Posted by Non_mooching_artist 11 years, 8 months ago
    I was at my son's second day of preschool. He was three, my daughter, one. Here was coffee and other refreshments for the parents. One of my friends came in and said a plane had hit one of the Trade Center towers. Rumor was it was a small plane. Then another parent came in and said a second plane had slammed into the other tower. I tried to call my husband, who for the first time ever had taken the day off sick. We lived in White Plains, NY, and he worked in mid town Manhattan. The cell service was out/overwhelmed. In the meantime, the director offered to have us come into her office, where we watched in utter horror the first tower collapse in on itself. By this time, the Pentagon had been hit. I used to live 1/4 mile away from it when I was a girl. Then the second tower fell, and people were openly weeping, trying to reach loved ones who worked in the Trade Center. My dad had meanwhile reached my husband who had no idea what was going on. My Dad lives outside of Pittsburgh, and flight 93 flew right over his house. My sister in law was on her way to work in DC when the pentagon was hit.
    The most amazing thing was a couple whose daughter was in her first day of preschool, both worked at 7 World Trade, which was demolished by he collapse of the Twin Towers. They decided they would both see her brought her first day of school.
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  • Posted by iroseland 11 years, 8 months ago
    I was working as a Systems Admin at an ASP downtown. My wife at the time called right after the news of the first plane. So, I checked the TV. Then I knocked on my cube mates apartment door downstairs and we sat stunned through the second plane, the pentagon one and the collapse. Then, we drove to work. The rest of the day was pretty much a zombie walk. The streets were empty, the sky was empty. At least I managed to convince my wife to go fill the gas tank on the car before the buildings had fallen. These days it seems like we need a 9/10 movement to take back the country because since then this place has become like a less creative Wiemar Republic.
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  • Posted by Non_mooching_artist 11 years, 8 months ago in reply to this comment.
    It was shattering. I know what you mean by the tears, ceaseless tears, welling up from my anguish, and ANGER!! The only thing in he skies were fighter jets, which we cheered every time they flew over.
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  • Posted by $ 11 years, 8 months ago in reply to this comment.
    It was very strange seeing an empty sky over Phoenix. It's still not what I used to be, not that I'm complaining.
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  • Posted by LetsShrug 11 years, 8 months ago in reply to this comment.
    Ya got that right. We live near a private airfield and also live under a flight path for phx airport...I couldn't stop looking at the sky and saying, "There is not a single plane in sight..it's so quiet." The sky was empty for days...like the world and people's lives had stopped. Because they had. And that anxious 'when is the next shoe going to drop" feeling. It was terribly sad and definitely a life changing day.
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  • Posted by $ johnrobert2 11 years, 8 months ago
    I was working as a substitute teacher at a local high school and watched quietly as the scenes unfolded. As the towers came crashing down, and the responsibility became fixed, I thought that retribution should be swift, massive, and indiscriminate. You don't f**k with the US and escape with a minor scratch.
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  • Posted by khalling 11 years, 8 months ago in reply to this comment.
    We lived next door to NORAD. 5 military installations prepared prepared for Air force 1 to arrive. The drone of military planes overhead was nonstop for weeks after. We sat in front of the television until late in the night, the shock of horror and frustration! I kept wiping at hot tears that wouldn't stop welling up. I felt useless to help.
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  • Posted by lmarrott 11 years, 8 months ago
    I was in the Navy at the time. We were doing an ammunition onload in Southern California. The plan was to be in port for a week while we brought it on, but instead they craned things that went into the ships magazines to the flight deck and stuff that had to be loaded into systems immediately we did as fast as we could (RAM for example). After this we took off straight out to sea and hand carried all the ammo cans around the ship.

    Good times.
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  • Posted by ObjectiveAnalyst 11 years, 8 months ago
    I was at work. My office manager told me to come quickly and watch the TV. As I watched the mayhem, glued to the screen, I witnessed the second plane smash into the second tower. It was horrifying. The people throwing themselves from the buildings, the people in the streets running in terror and soon after the collapse, the people in the streets covered in dust like ash... I watched with great sadness at what occurred and at my own helplessness. I thought, if only I was younger I would have considered giving up my life as I knew it for a bit of Justice and the chance to join the military and offer some small contribution... such was the outrage and patriotism of one old dog... We must never forget or allow others to.
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  • Posted by richrobinson 11 years, 8 months ago
    I was at work that day. My mom called and said a plane had hit the world trade center. I assumed a small plane had gone off coarse. Called my wife and told her then went on with my day. Shortly after my mom called back and told me to turn on the TV that it was no accident and we were under attack. My in-laws live in Shanksville PA. and were luckily on vacation that day. When news broke of the plane crashing there I assumed the town was destroyed. Never forget.
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  • Posted by khalling 11 years, 8 months ago
    If History continues on its present course, historians of the future will say that Western values died on 9/11/2001.
    NSA scandals makes 1984 look tame by comparison.
    ”Those Who Sacrifice Liberty For Security Deserve Neither.”
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