I hate this day every year and still can't believe it has been 16 years. We didn't go up to NYC this year which makes me sad but am thinking of everyone today who lost loved ones.
It's a weird day for me. I have a cousin who worked in wtc. He was late to work that day so survived.
So I spent the day thinking I lost someone, then he appeared next day. So it's a memory of fear and disorder and what I thought was loss.
I think most have some small personal connection no matter how remote. Some have huge. Mine matters none. But some in my situation would equate it to being there and that's bullshit.
Post by downtoearth on Sept 12, 2017 15:37:37 GMT -5
I visited Ground Zero this past spring and was blown away at how much it affected me to be there... and I didn't know anyone personally who was there. I can't imagine how it is to visit on 9/11 as a family member or friend of lost ones. So many people killed and so many first responders who gave their lives to save others.
I also loved learning about the Survivor tree and the seedling program that provides survivor tree seedlings to other locations that had tragedies (Boston, Newtown, Orlando, Paris, San Bernardino, etc.) www.911memorial.org/survivor-tree-seedling-program
To be fair, in the past people have posted their sentiments and personal memories and have gotten shamed for sharing if they weren't there or didn't personally lose someone.
I worked in and evacuated DC, my grandfather worked in the Pentagon, and I had friends who worked in the WTC, but still feel everyone's feelings are valid whether they were there or lost someone or not. However, I won't shame anyone for posting their own emotions surrounding the day or for - conversely - choosing not to post.
To be fair, in the past people have posted their sentiments and personal memories and have gotten shamed for sharing if they weren't there or didn't personally lose someone.
I worked in and evacuated DC, my grandfather worked in the Pentagon, and I had friends who worked in the WTC, but still feel everyone's feelings are valid whether they were there or lost someone or not. However, I won't shame anyone for posting their own emotions surrounding the day or for - conversely - choosing not to post.
Some years I want to talk about my family members who died that day, other years I want to avoid all reminders. This year was an avoid year.
Post by secretlyevil on Sept 13, 2017 14:54:01 GMT -5
Monday was a little surreal for me. On one hand...hurricane aftermath, on the other remembering such a horrible life-altering day in the history of our country. It's hard to believe it's been 16 years as I can vividly remember where and what I was doing when I heard the news. I'm sure most everyone can.
sorry...i know every single person has a different level of connection to 9/11 - both when it happened & as the years have passed.
I think this year is particularly difficult because so much of us have spend the last 16 months engaged in teh primary & general election, followed by the shit show of the trump administration. We're already mentally/emotionally/politically exhausted.
I have such mixed emotions on the topic- from the awful tragedy to the sense of unity & pride in our country afterward as we pulled together to the absolute disaster & aftermath that led us to the longest war we've ever had in America & the rising xenophobia... I'm mostly just frustrated that our long-term reponse (years of wars & tens of thousands dead) is almost worse than the original thing that caused us to go to war.
Post by nancybotwin on Sept 13, 2017 15:20:02 GMT -5
I have a neat story.
I was at a conference earlier this week, and I was asked to give the opening remarks on Monday morning. I linked my remarks to 9/11 and to my aunt who was on flight 11. I was at a random hotel in New York to which I have never been before.
After the comments, one of the organizers came up to me and told me there was a flight 11 Memorial right outside the room I was speaking. The picture is below. It was amazing to be there on that day, with this random memorial that I didn't know existed.
I almost never answer because I had no actual loss. But my answer was to the hurt/ fear I felt and how minimal it was to others, yet those who had zero connection claim personal connection.
But I do think panic is reasonable and we all felt it. So we all have stories of fear. We all had personal experiences in some way. We just don't all deserve elevation (can't think of a better word) for what are relatively minimal experiences.
sorry...i know every single person has a different level of connection to 9/11 - both when it happened & as the years have passed.
I think this year is particularly difficult because so much of us have spend the last 16 months engaged in teh primary & general election, followed by the shit show of the trump administration. We're already mentally/emotionally/politically exhausted.
I have such mixed emotions on the topic- from the awful tragedy to the sense of unity & pride in our country afterward as we pulled together to the absolute disaster & aftermath that led us to the longest war we've ever had in America & the rising xenophobia... I'm mostly just frustrated that our long-term reponse (years of wars & tens of thousands dead) is almost worse than the original thing that caused us to go to war.
While I think I understand what you are trying to say by your last sentence, I don't think wars in which our military engages in vs domestic terror attack committed by a foreign party targeting US Civilians is an apples to apples comparison at all and the two certainly should not be compared with one another in an argument of "which is worse."
I was at a conference earlier this week, and I was asked to give the opening remarks on Monday morning. I linked my remarks to 9/11 and to my aunt who was on flight 11. I was at a random hotel in New York to which I have never been before.
After the comments, one of the organizers came up to me and told me there was a flight 11 Memorial right outside the room I was speaking. The picture is below. It was amazing to be there on that day, with this random memorial that I didn't know existed.
I was at a conference earlier this week, and I was asked to give the opening remarks on Monday morning. I linked my remarks to 9/11 and to my aunt who was on flight 11. I was at a random hotel in New York to which I have never been before.
After the comments, one of the organizers came up to me and told me there was a flight 11 Memorial right outside the room I was speaking. The picture is below. It was amazing to be there on that day, with this random memorial that I didn't know existed.
To be fair, in the past people have posted their sentiments and personal memories and have gotten shamed for sharing if they weren't there or didn't personally lose someone.
I worked in and evacuated DC, my grandfather worked in the Pentagon, and I had friends who worked in the WTC, but still feel everyone's feelings are valid whether they were there or lost someone or not. However, I won't shame anyone for posting their own emotions surrounding the day or for - conversely - choosing not to post.
Some years I want to talk about my family members who died that day, other years I want to avoid all reminders. This year was an avoid year.
I was surprised to see this at the top of the board still. This was an avoid year for me too.
I don't know when kids start learning about the events of that day. DS1 is in first grade and I was wondering if they'd touch on it. He didn't say anything and I poked around to feel him out a bit but nothing. So...maybe I'll tackle this next year. I really don't know when it becomes age appropriate but I also don't want him hearing about it from anyone else.
I also have mixed feelings about the war 16 years on. I thought it was the right action at the time, now I'm conflicted. IDK. Tough choices in fraught times.
To be fair, in the past people have posted their sentiments and personal memories and have gotten shamed for sharing if they weren't there or didn't personally lose someone.
I worked in and evacuated DC, my grandfather worked in the Pentagon, and I had friends who worked in the WTC, but still feel everyone's feelings are valid whether they were there or lost someone or not. However, I won't shame anyone for posting their own emotions surrounding the day or for - conversely - choosing not to post.
Some years I want to talk about my family members who died that day, other years I want to avoid all reminders. This year was an avoid year.
I understand and like you I lost 3 very close family members and my college roommate's father was killed in the towers. We both watched when the second plane hit and she screamed a scream I will never forget.
I was at a conference earlier this week, and I was asked to give the opening remarks on Monday morning. I linked my remarks to 9/11 and to my aunt who was on flight 11. I was at a random hotel in New York to which I have never been before.
After the comments, one of the organizers came up to me and told me there was a flight 11 Memorial right outside the room I was speaking. The picture is below. It was amazing to be there on that day, with this random memorial that I didn't know existed.