Video on blog.. 9/11

I saw a very moving piece of photojournalism of the 9/11 tragedy. I know
the anniversary is almost a month away, but the photos are done such that
you experience the day and the loss and the tragedy. I had never seen many
of the photos and you can't forget them. The video is long, over 5 minutes,
but I think you will find all of it very touching. If you're using dialup,
this may not work for you.

Jean B....

Sigh. I think I'll pass. I don't think I can see the movies
either, but I think I will buy both of them for posterity--or
when I can stand to see them.

Val Adams...

Thanks, david. I am in no danger of forgetting. My name, my phone number,
my driver's license, yes..but not September 11, 2001.

david...

well, Val, i agree that none of us will forget what happened on that day,
and i'm sure we all remember bits and pieces of the day, but human nature
causes people to block some painful memories out. while you may remember
the entire event in detail, many of us are more distant now from that
horrid day. before watching the video, I would have said that I remember it
all, but in watching the video I realized that I had emotionally distanced
myself from the pain of that day. I've also seen and read interviews of
survivors and their feeling is that people have forgotten much of it
already...

Jean B....

Do we have to remember it in its raw intensity? I wonder. On
one hand, I am in tears just because this is the topic. On
the other hand, do we owe the victims more than that? Maybe.
Just as I looked at all the photos of the victims and read
about all of them--thinking I owed them at least that much....

Norma...

My oldest son was looking out his office window and saw the first
plane hit. He works for a NYC PBS station and yelled for a film crew.
They went out on the ledge and filmed the second plane. It was several
hours before I knew if he was all right. The phones weren't working
but someone managed to get a call through to California and a friend of
his called to tell me my son and several fellow employees made it
safely to his apartment.
Norma

david...

It was certainly a day of thousands of personal stories, Norma. I'm
thankful that your son was okay. He must have vivid memories every day of
being an eye-witness to that. I lost friends in the tragedy, and my former
employer (I left in 1998) had just moved from mid-town to there, and I've
never been able to know all of the people who were in the buildings at that
time.

Jean B....

That's really sad, David. I wonder whether they will again
have pics and bios of all the folks who perished? I may just
have to look at them all again. Not all the victims were
known when I was looking before.

Jean B....

Oh! That's too close for comfort. Norma.

My daughter's sister-in-law lost 7 of her co-workers--and we
didn't know if she was on the plane.

mmj1...

I haven't completely made up my mind about seeing it but after watching that

Joy...

dae...

Jeanette,

On Iwo Jima those were Marines, not Soldiers. We called them Jarheads.

Don and his Devils

Those several hours must have seemed endless, Norma. I'm glad he was all
right.

video I doubt if I will see the movie. Like you I still feel enough pain
with what I remember. And, I guarantee you I have not forgotten.

david...

there was a review on morning TV.... reviewed said it was something most
people won't want to see... he cried all through it.

Jean B....

Yes, for a brief time, I pondered whether to see it--and the
wisdom of seeing whether Leah wants to see it with me. Then I
knew I would be in tears throughout the whole thing, and she
would just hate that.

**Dalin**...

Since it was five years ago, and she was much younger, it might be
good for her to see it and to know it brings her mother to tears.
I'm sure it will be covered in school on the fifth anniversary.

Does Leah follow what is happening in Israel and Lebanon? How much
should we protect our children from a world they will inherit?

Jean B....

Well, we discussed the movies a bit today. She says she would
probably be the only person to emerge from the movie mad and
not upset--because of me weeping through the whole thing. (I
wonder whether her Asperger's is preventing her from feeling
the same way about the whole thing?) True, on 9/11, I
shielded her to some degree. I remember not playing the news
all the time when she was with me, and turning off the TV,
which seemed just too much with folks falling/jumping from the
towers, etc., etc. Now, as you say, she is older....

As for Israel and Lebanon, she seems pretty unaware and pretty

Jean B....

Good. There are varying degrees, though, so it may be hard to
get a good picture of what it means for any individual. :-)

disinterested. I had the radio on for a good long time in the
car today, but that was, of course, focussed on the events in

mmj1...

What a terrible day for countless people. I am so glad that for you your son
was fine.

England.

Joy...

Watching "Saving Private Ryan" was almost more than I could take, and that
didn't bring back any personal memories. We do need to be aware of the bad
things that happen, but I don't think we need to drown in them.

Chakolate...

I agree - I try not to see movies like that any more, they can depress me
for days. These days, give me a good romantic comedy, complete with
happy ending.

Joy...

No, I don't think anyone who was old enough to be aware of what was
happening will ever forget.