The good of 9/11 (887 hits)
Category: Quotes & StoriesRating: 0.98 on 33 reviews (Rate this item) (V)
Submitted by Polanaka Wanishi <canarydozen.at.partlycloudy.com> (View user info) at 2004-09-11 11:23:31 EDT
If I could tell the world just one thing it would be
We're all OK
And not to worry 'cause worry is wasteful and useless
In times like these
~Jewel
Today is September 11, 2004, 3 years after the horror of the infamous terrorist attacks that took the lives of 2,941 people, most of them were completely innocent. How can that happen to us, the United States of America, the most powerful nation in the world? So many questions are still asked; people wonder how and why.
Why did it take such a heinous act to unite us? A statement made by junior high school student summarized the joining of the country. She said that the day of the tragedy was her favorite of the year. Her statement shocked many, and she elaborated. "It was the only day in years that the girls in my class stopped fighting and became friends and sisters." While the events were so sickening, the unity was beautiful. The American flags that hung every 5 feet were a beautiful gesture, but it was something else that really touched me. I'm from New Jersey, where people are very brash and "only the strong survive." In the wake of the attack, there was actually politeness and friendliness. We were all neighborly and loving. It was something I had never experienced in this state. The entire country stopped thinking of themselves and began thinking of others. We cried together; we laughed together. We were finally the United States of America.
I was lucky enough to be able to help the volunteers who sifted through the rubble of the World Trade Center. I, along with many students from my high school, made 2000 sandwiches, 4000 freshly baked cookies, and got sponsors to donate items such as soup, water, and other necessities. These were taken directly into the city and given to those who were in need. It was fairly insignificant in the grand scheme of things, but we all did what we could to help from afar. I'm sure that if I lived farther away from the attacks, I would have felt powerless and unable to help. I just feel fortunate that I could help out.
Three years later, we have not forgotten. We have moved on, but the events are still in our minds. We will never forget, but we must continue our lives. Flags are less readily seen, and some criticize the lagging patriotism. I disagree completely. Look around. Our lives stopped after the attack and we were paralyzed with fear. The only way we could show our feelings was to be overly patriotic. How else could we fight? Now, we fight without even trying. We go to work, we live our lives, and we stay strong. The attack knocked us down, but we've gotten up and now we're even stronger than ever. Why do we need to wear red, white, and blue to show how we feel? All we need to do is keep the loss in our minds and continue our lives, showing that we're proud to be strong, proud to be free, proud to be Americans.
User Reviews
Submitted by 10c7c (user info) at 2004-10-30 22:20:01 EDT (#)
Ranking: -2
oh and the doves flew overheads and the bunnies jumped out from the rubble of the buildings and all was good
eat a dick fucker
Submitted by Stabkill (user info) at 2004-10-30 21:42:32 EDT (#)
Ranking: 1
Very little of the plane was recovered so it isn't as if the black boxes vanished and the rest of the plane was found. It could have burned in the ensuing inferno for a long, long time....as well as gotten smashed to oblivion after falling 70 stories encased in concrete and metal after the initial crash.
There is a guy who claims he helped investigators find a couple of the black boxes though and he wrote a book...go figure. So is it true or just written to cash in. I'd say it is all about money.
Remember the OJ trial? Everyone wrote a fucking book.
Submitted by Jesus_Loves_TwEE (user info) at 2004-10-30 21:30:03 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
One of the funnier stories surrounding 9/11 is that all the black boxes from the planes where completely destroyed (weird huh?)..but they found one of the highjacker's passports at Ground Zero, what the fuck are those things made of that they could survive a plane exploding around it, then the tower burying it, makes you wonder why they aren't making the planes out of the same materials they make the passports out of. Funny story huh?
Submitted by liz <lizzle.at.yeah.com> at 2004-09-20 20:42:37 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
i like nay.
Submitted by choe1 <choe1.at.optonline.net> at 2004-09-20 20:40:27 EDT (#)
Ranking: 1
very well said alot of thought and thinking went into it.
could have said it better myself yea when we think of 911
alot of people have hate and revenge but your right the
only good way is to use our freedom....
well said choe1...........
Submitted by purringbubbles (user info) at 2004-09-12 09:23:19 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
and good point, Pacifist248
Submitted by purringbubbles (user info) at 2004-09-12 09:19:47 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
For PatheticCapitalistFuck
"Um, what is a "Polanaka Wanishi?"
It's my pseudonym :)
Submitted by dwr_budr (user info) at 2004-09-12 00:58:59 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Is it really so sad...?
The U.S. has killed more civilians in the middle east since 9/11 than were in the towers or the planes.
Whatever side you're on I guess.
Submitted by precision (user info) at 2004-09-12 00:49:54 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
I've got to admit...you did more than I did, all I did was give blood, but then I'm 2000 miles away
Submitted by captainflibby (user info) at 2004-09-12 00:02:21 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
+1 because the post was well written and expresses the views of many people, as much as I hate nationalism.
the "patriotism" after 911 did more to divide than unite, and patriotism is not the same as nationalism, despite any claims to the contrary.
nationalism is as prevalent in the U.S. today as it was in Nazi Germany in the early thirties.
Are we really as different as we want to believe?
+1 to keep an open mind and keep posting ;)
Submitted by PatheticCapitalistFuck (user info) at 2004-09-11 23:23:11 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
+2 for summing up what a lot of people in America think about, but have trouble expressing. Well written.
Um, what is a "Polanaka Wanishi?"
Submitted by Quasiplasmohedron (user info) at 2004-09-11 23:21:30 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Good post.
"But for the innocently on any side or faction on this earth who loose there lifes for in the event of a terrorist attack like in america or russia or the middle east let the evil but causes your fate be avenged"
What the fuck?
Submitted by Pacifist248 (user info) at 2004-09-11 23:09:15 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
I'm sorry, I kind of read this wrong, skimmed through in a way.
some of the last paragraph was kind of 'eh', though.
And this was kind of funny:
>I am not patriotic
in a reply
and
>showing that we're proud to be strong, proud to be free, proud to be Americans.
in the post
Submitted by Stabkill (user info) at 2004-09-11 20:09:38 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
+2 Great post.
It is amazing the influx of trolls on ubersite in the last few days.
Submitted by NoahsArk (user info) at 2004-09-11 18:15:54 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by anderson (user info) at 2004-09-11 17:36:33 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
I wonder what other american symbol will be raped if another republican gets in the president seat?
GO BUSH GO
Submitted by purringbubbles (user info) at 2004-09-11 17:34:40 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Thank you to those who support my thoughts. As for the others of you, my point was this: the events were tragic, and whether I agree with the government or not, I still found the unity to be touching. Is it bad that I actually feel glad for us coming together? I don't think so. And it's not that we couldn't be attacked, because we obviously could. I don't agree with many things that go on with the country, politics, and government. That had nothing to do with my writing. Maybe it wasn't clear, but I just want to thank those who supported one another during those times. I am not patriotic, I just appreciate a good gesture. Is that so hard to understand?
Submitted by Raider180 (user info) at 2004-09-11 17:08:42 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Fuck you and your cat
Submitted by BoogieFevuh (user info) at 2004-09-11 15:57:12 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
To all the naysayers on this post, go fuck yourselves. This was beautiful.
To the author: I'm from New Jersey too. For the next few days I was able to see smoke in the sky, and could actually smell it for about a week. But you bring up a very good point about the unity.
Submitted by Raider180 (user info) at 2004-09-11 15:45:22 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
You stupid fucking american the point of 9/11 is that america is doing something wrong and another thing you stupid patriotic fuck no matter how many ICBM's and Air Craft Carriers you have those who hate you will always get you one way or the other.
Instead of using the Holy Phrase (National Security) so much and stop the games and draining of countries natural resources like you have for the past 50 years
Maybe they'd be making apple pie in Iran today rather than preparing for a invasion from US forces occuping Iraq and Afghanistan were American's have killed more than the attack on the twin towers in new york and are still doing so
But for the innocently on any side or faction on this earth who loose there lifes for in the event of a terrorist attack like in america or russia or the middle east let the evil but causes your fate be avenged
Submitted by whiskey_jack (user info) at 2004-09-11 15:11:53 EDT (#)
Ranking: -2
9/11 was a horrible thing, fuck unity, America wasn't that bad and I rather have those people alive instead and us only partially united. Also nationalism is cropping up really bad since 911 and nationalism is probably one of the worst if not the worst thing in the world today
Submitted by Pacifist248 (user info) at 2004-09-11 14:59:33 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
9/11 was horrible, yes.
What you and your high school did was very nice, yes.
But, nationalism, for lack of a better word, blows.
Submitted by UrbaneMischief (user info) at 2004-09-11 13:49:53 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by Dino (user info) at 2004-09-11 12:33:13 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Good Post.
Even though you think it was only sandwiches and cookies, I know that to those that sifted through that rubbel it was a tremendous comfort.
Thank you for your help.
Submitted by CaptainAmik (user info) at 2004-09-11 12:22:41 EDT (#)
Ranking: -2
America The Beautiful
Submitted by runninginplace (user info) at 2004-09-11 12:19:06 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by youarsoghey (user info) at 2004-09-11 12:01:54 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Submitted by Despiadado (user info) at 2004-09-11 11:48:32 (#)
Ranking: -2
-2 for giving yourself a +2.
============================================
That was not necessary. This user is so new, it's impossible for him/her to have known that. You could have just rated the story and told him/her that they should +2 themselves. Then if the annoyance persists, rate accordingly. You've got to at least tell them what they did wrong before punishing them.
This was a good post. Keep it up and you could become a nice addition here on Ubersite.
Submitted by purringbubbles (user info) at 2004-09-11 11:50:44 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
sorry, i didn't mean to
Submitted by Despiadado (user info) at 2004-09-11 11:48:32 EDT (#)
Ranking: -2
-2 for giving yourself a +2.
Submitted by purringbubbles (user info) at 2004-09-11 11:46:07 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
glad you guys liked it, it's just been on my mind all day
Submitted by girlreporter (user info) at 2004-09-11 11:35:29 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by d_prime (user info) at 2004-09-11 11:32:04 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by DJMattB241 (user info) at 2004-09-11 11:29:32 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment