Yet I would also say we've kind of forgotten it. Not in a sense that people don't remember it, but in the sense that we've mentally moved away from what it truly meant for us as a country (I say "us" because I'm still an American, even though I'm also Canadian now). Also what it truly meant for Western society as a whole. It was a wake-up call, but too many people seem to have gone back to sleep.
Part of the reason for that is while 9/11 is often mentioned in the abstract when talking about our foreign policy, most of the images from that fateful day have been relegated to the back room of our minds. You never see them on the news. Television networks never run them, and haven't for years. You might see the odd documentary that has them, but even then you only see a few of the shots. You don't see the pictures of people who would rather jump to their deaths than be burned alive.
Through an ABC news Freedom of Information Act request, a series of new images of that horrible day have been released. These are pictures taken by NYPD helicopters that were flying around the city that day. These have never been seen before, and I still don't know why.
Here's one of the photos, but you should go to the UK's Daily Mail for more:
(Click to enlarge)
These images don't shed any new light on anything, but they do give a better example of just how extensive the debris cloud actually was.
These images remind us once again that we must never forget what happened. We should never let this happen again.
Here is ABC News' article on the pictures and their release.
And here's the Powerline Blog that relates these images to the Binyam Mohammed "torture" controversy that's currently going on. That's also where I found the link to the pictures.
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That picture is awesome & terrible at the same time. I will never forget that day I think you should put on your blog what you wrote the year after 9 11. I;m sure all the people who love your blog would want to read it. I get it out sometimes & re-read it. I still tear up getting thru to the end. It really shows what a wonderful writer you are.
ReplyDeleteThat's what the link is at the top of the page, actually. :)
ReplyDeleteYou even commented on it! :P
Wow I just looked at those pics....gave me chills! It's still hard to imagine that it really happened. =/
ReplyDeleteYeah, Anahid, it still amazing to this day that something like this can happen. And that if we're not careful, it could happen again.
ReplyDeleteOkay so I had another senior moment. I do remember you put it on your blog. I just went & pulled it up & read it again. I still can't read it without crying. I hope everyone who reads this blog goes back & reads your piece. It's well worth reading.
ReplyDeleteI am always interested in seeing these photos, although here in Minnesota, the events seemed somewhat... remote (if that makes sense). But shocking. My feeling then, as now, was this: there is no way I'm going to change my life and be afraid of these fanatical lunatics. I got on an airplane a few weeks after the attacks and went to Disney World with my family, despite my sister's warnings that "those planes and parks could be targets." We need to remember, but it's important to not let them win by letting them scare us. That's what they want. And, I WILL NOT DO THAT.
ReplyDelete(I considered using my usual language about what I think about that, but then realized your mother reads your blog and probably would not approve of my "colorful" words...)
PS Do you have dual citizenship? Or are you just "Canadian" in the sense that you live there now...? (Total sidenote, I know, but I'm curious.)
ReplyDeleteAre you kidding? I use colorful words all the time! Though granted, not as much as usual. :P
ReplyDeleteI quite agree about not changing your life too much, and I hope it didn't come across that I was advocating that. I was thinking more from a policy perspective than a "changing your life" perspective.
And yes, I do have dual-citizenship. Became a Canadian citizen in March of last year. I'll send you a link to the FB note I wrote about it. :)
Oh no, I didn't really take your comment that way. I just think it's natural for events to fade somewhat in people's minds, at least those of us who didn't experience them directly. That doesn't mean I think we should forget, but it's always the pressing danger that weighs heaviest on one's mind. So if you don't have a job and or money for health care, you're apt to be less worried about a possible terrorist attack. (I'm pretty sure this relates to Maslow's Heirarchy of Needs, a psychology concept drilled into my head endlessly in nursing school).
ReplyDeleteBasically, I'm just throwing random thoughts out there and seeing how they fit with your world view, if that makes sense.
Thanks for the FB link! I enjoyed seeing the pictures of your Big Event. :)
Sara was right about everything she said. If she reads this she'll know I said she could use all the nasty words she wants too. I could think of a few myself. I don't mind dirty words when talking about 9 11.
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