Always Remember, Remember, The Eleventh Of September
11 September 2008 by KA
“Those who do not remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” – Santayana.
The anniversary of Black Tuesday has arrived yet again. Seven years have passed. But we should not let this memory dim, this wound heal. It was an important lesson: it taught us that religion, that cheap rationale of the relusional, can be twisted like a knife into the metaphorical heart of things. Whether it is one human, several human beings, a cross-section of humanity, or an arrow into the heart of a nation.
Islam proclaims itself a religion of peace. But like all the other monotheisms, hatred and contempt for the flesh is the hidden corrupt blossom at the heart of it. The sickly sweet stench of attar clings to the meme, and neither the flowery rhetoric nor bonfires of incense can mask it. Remember, remember, the 11th of September. Let not the memory recede into the dustbins of history. Wear the wound, and when the savages try (as they shall) to dilute it, to explain and rationalize it, skin your lips back, snarl, and point to it, and declare: “No one deserved this. Innocent citizens died. It is unforgivable.” Never forget, never forgive.
11 September 2008, on 9:16 am
As a very lucky survivor of that day, I can only echo the emotions in this piece. Had I not stopped to vote in the primary election on my way to work, I would have arrived just in time to be incinerated along with most of my colleagues on the 97th Floor of 1 World Trade Center. I can still see their faces and not a day goes by when I am not awed by my good fortune. But let us never forget that 9/11 was the world’s most dramatic “faith based initiative”.
11 September 2008, on 11:37 am
I remember and mourn the senseless tragedy that was 9/11. I am truly glad that Brooklyn Boy was spared by a delay on his way to work. But let us also remember that out of this we have created year-round 9/11s in Iraq, from where our attackers did not originate, and we have killed hundreds of thousands of people who had nothing to do with it-and had over 4000 of our own soldiers killed in the process. I think the “never forget and never forgive” mindset fuels the fire for many of those who support the war in Iraq. I’m not saying KA is one of these people. But as BB points out “9/11 was the world’s most dramatic ‘faith based initiative’” at least in modern times, and much of America, I believe, sees it mainly as an attack of Islam on Christianity. And for them, fighting in Iraq for 100 more years, as John McCain has said, seems entirely reasonable.
11 September 2008, on 12:09 pm
Thanks KA for such an important, and sadly…timely Post.
And thanks, Brooklyn Boy, for sharing such an amazing personal account. Just the thought of all that that realization must bring up in your mind on this day, is unbearably chilling for any of us who just remember that day from a distance.
For me that day meant canceling my music students, and a mix of emotions from total and utter horror to extreme anger and confusion. Truly a day of infamy beyond any other in MY personal memory.
This also brings to mind a personal opinion that Religions…ALL Religions…are potentially, and demonstrably dangerous in the extreme; as contributors and motivators to all variations of human neuroses and insanity; including OTHER addictions. I say other, because religion itself is an addiction. Every time an addicted believer prays, praises, genuflects, etc….or essentially affirms the belief…it’s like the alcoholic taking the first drink, confirming and even strengthening the addiction.
Also, as a victim of childhood religious brainwashing myself; I recognized,way before I ever heard Dawkins state it, that religious indoctrination is a form of unrecognized, and usually unintentional…child abuse.
Yes, KA…We must NEVER forget…but…LEARN from it?
As to any notion of forgiveness; for an atheist, what does that even mean?
Personally, I’ll leave that ‘notion’ to the vagaries of the Universe…i.e…if there’s anything to some Cosmic, Karmic Justice, which we have absolutely no evidence of…
“Let it Be!”…?
Ultimately…in reality…words fail…
11 September 2008, on 12:37 pm
I only wish this sentiment was more accessible and less vague. I would pass it on to every member of my family. But in this form it will go over their heads and they will ignore the point.
11 September 2008, on 2:13 pm
But let us also remember that out of this we have created year-round 9/11s in Iraq, from where our attackers did not originate, and we have killed hundreds of thousands of people who had nothing to do with it-and had over 4000 of our own soldiers killed in the process.
This horrible fact is overlooked again and again in the news media.
Since being laid up again after yet another surgery, I have been watching the news a lot and getting my BP up about this Palin and lipstick on a pig bullcrap. Then today was watching the remembrances of 911 and the scenes are just as horrific now as they were the day it happened. I too am glad that Brooklyn Boy decided to do something else to delay him going to work. Then I think of all the others who just went to work as usual to their horrible end.
I was watching Shrub give his dedication speech for the memorial at the Pentagon and he said he prayed that Gob would bless this nation and I would love to ask him a question…a one-word question…”why?” Why should a god bless us while allowing us to kill thousands of innocent people in a land that had nothing to do with our attackers on 911? And why didn’t his God if he was all powerful and willing to bless us now not stop the terrorist from killing all those people who were just going to work to make a living for themselves and their families?
Bush went on to say how we have not had an attack on our country in the past 7 years, as if that is some big personal achievement for him and his party. He, of course conveniently left out the fact that we had not had an attack on our nation in the 7 years previous to him stealing the election from Al Gore. He fails to acknowledge that we had not had an attack on our own soil since Pearl Harbor. He wants to paint himself as some sort of hero when the fact is that he was a total stupified idiot, sitting there reading a children’s book while blinking his eyes and the look on his face what “wtf are they saying to me?” Then he retaliated against the wrong country because his imaginary friend told him to, Bin Laden is still at large and the terrorists are still out there doing who knows what and no god is going to bless us, no god is going to protect us . . . we need a leader and military leaders to do that and McCain/ Palin would be a catastrophic commander in chief team Half of this country have not learned anything since 911. The go with who looks prettiest, who can make them “feel good” about themselves instead of who can really lead.
11 September 2008, on 2:58 pm
I still remember where I was when it happened (as I’m sure most everybody else does.) It is like a surreal dream. I was an ignorant freshman undergrad walking into the school cafeteria and saw everyone staring at the television. I caught a glimpse of the screen and thought to myself “a big building is on fire, who cares?” as I proceeded to get my food. After I had the tray with some chicken sandwiches on it, I started to walk to a seat as I heard what the anchors were saying about a plane crashing into the building. I stopped and stood there holding my food, staring up at the ceiling mounted monitor. I can’t remember how long I stood there in the middle of the floor with my eyes glued to the screen, but the live footage was playing as the second plane hit…
11 September 2008, on 3:41 pm
Yes, I was as shocked as everyone else when I woke up that morning to see the two towers on fire. I doubt I’ll ever forget that moment. At the same time, 9/11 has been so politicized by the Republicans that it has lost most of it’s original impact on me. Now when I think of 9/11, I primarily think of George Bush’s illegal invasion of Iraq and his lying and law breaking here at home. I think of the tens, if not hundreds of thousands of people who have been killed by us since 9/11. I think of the blood-lust masked as super-patriotism and the ugliness of my fellow Americans who wanted vengeance instead of justice. I think of the war profiteering and all of Bush’s buddies no-bid contracts and the damage this invasion has done to our economy and society. 9/11 seems less like a tragedy and more like an opportunity, an opportunity for the Republicans to take advantage of people’s fear in order to further their own agendas, at a severe cost to the rest of us.
I hate to admit it, but I’m having trouble “remembering” 9/11. Maybe when we can finally change our ways and become a civilized nation once again then I will be able to share in these emotions that everyone else seems to be able to find. Until that time, I’m afraid I’m just way too cynical to take part in any sort of remembrance because I can’t help feeling that we’re all being used again for someone’s political agenda.
Sorry if this pisses anyone off, that’s just the way I feel right now.
11 September 2008, on 4:44 pm
It doesnt seem to me like religion had anything to do with 9/11, i really doubt that some islamic radicals had the ability to do that. On top of the there is no way that building fell down due to plane hitting it. Steel building dont fall down like that without the help of demolition explosives. Religious nuts wouldnt have had the ability to get into the structure of the towers and plant thermite. just a thought.
11 September 2008, on 5:42 pm
I was driving in to work that day and when I turned on Howard Stern, I heard the words “We’re under attack!” The second plane flew in during my drive (how I got to work I don’t know; I guess my body just followed the same motions it executed every day) and the first building fell, and when I got to the office, everyone on our floor and the one below was in my supervisor’s office, because he had hooked up the TV he used to view clients’ videos to rabbit ears to catch the broadcasts. We watched the second building fall, and the crash of the Pennsylvania plane. To say it was unreal is an understatement.
We then went with our British colleagues from downstairs to the local Irish pub to watch the world’s reactions and get some food in our stomachs. No one wanted to be alone, it seemed, although since schools were being let out and the city basically shut down, anyone with kids was going home. I finally just drove home in a daze, went to bed, and slept until nighttime.
I do agree with Bruce that 9/11 is being used to manipulate us in many ways, so we need to be hyper-vigilant about what is said and done in its name. I was one of the brainwashed who agreed we should go into Iraq, and it still shocks me how easily I was duped. I now question our involvement in Afghanistan too, although to a lesser degree because of the greater complexity of that issue. Hindsight is truly 20/20 vision, and the saber-rattling against Iran and now Russia just seems so ridiculously transparent to me now. How can people here continue to fall for this crap? They’re getting something out of it I’m trying to understand: the seductive, delusional clarity of the “us vs. them” mindset, perhaps?
I won’t forget, and if wanting terrorism to be identified and tackled as what it truly is, international crime, so that it becomes a global initiative that includes bringing Bin Laden (and other terrorists) to justice as soon as possible are not forgiving, then I guess I don’t forgive.
11 September 2008, on 6:16 pm
I was at work in the conference room getting a bagel before a meeting and suddenly one of my coworkers who just arrived to work was all upset about the World Trade Center in New York being bombed and that we were under attack etc. so the boss turned on the conference room television and we all stood there watching and while we were watching we saw the second plane appear and slam into the second tower. Everyone screamed “Oh, noooo!” and kept watching in total disbelief. Several people were crying, several of us started calling loved ones out east…one being my daughter who lives on the east coast and spends a lot of time working or visiting musician friends in Manhattan. I couldn’t get through to her as all circuits were jammed. Also, one of our colleagues was flying back from Toronto and her plane had just taken off and was ordered to go back. It was as if planes were dropping out of the sky. I can’t say it was as bad as being a New Yorker during this nightmare, but it was one of the most horrific experiences in my lifetime.
11 September 2008, on 6:28 pm
I’m afraid I’m just way too cynical to take part in any sort of remembrance because I can’t help feeling that we’re all being used again for someone’s political agenda
Of course, repeatedly we are being used for someone else’s political agenda, just as all the victims of 9-11 were used for Al Qaida’s political agenda when the Twin Towers went down. And the terrorists and our politicians alike have been using us for their political agenda since. Just because we are constantly being used for someone’s political agenda doesn’t make the tragedy not worthy of remembrance just like we remember the dead from Pearl Harbor or any other conflict or disaster. Fuck the politicians, it is the people we grieve for and remember. It’s pretty bad when we allow political asshats to take away our human compassion for the innocent men, women and children who die for other people’s political agendas.
11 September 2008, on 7:22 pm
It doesnt seem to me like religion had anything to do with 9/11, i really doubt that some islamic radicals had the ability to do that.
tippy, when radical salamiists (what does RDZ call them?) fly planes purposely into buildings and go to their deaths screaming “ALLAH AKBAR!!!” religion does have a little bit to do with it, wouldn’t you say? God talking to presidents and telling him to invade other countries is the same thing. Other countries who are oppressed and who are taken advantage of while living in extreme poverty do not off themselves for their political causes screaming out to their maker. These Muslim extremists who use suicide bombing terrorist acts believe they are going to receive their ultimate reward in a heavenly brothel. See this what I posted here….
there is no way that building fell down due to plane hitting it. Steel building dont fall down like that without the help of demolition explosives. Religious nuts wouldn’t have had the ability to get into the structure of the towers and plant thermite.
tippy, you are one of those conspiracy theorists who believe that the US would take down two of our largest and most important buildings for what? These were not mere religious nuts, these were highly educated religious nuts. Ahmadinijhad is highly educated and one of the world’s biggest religious nutcases and leader of a nation attempting to obtain nuclear power to build bombs. He is lying when he says he is not. Our own President Shrub is a graduate of Yale and is also a religious nut. Many of our top intelligence people bow their heads to an invisible sky boss asking for direction about military actions against other countries. As for the structure not falling down in that manner, the engineers have explained why the twin towers fell as they did. I do not buy into the conspiracy theories.
Why the World Trade Center Towers Fell on September 11
11 September 2008, on 7:27 pm
It was an important lesson: it taught us that religion, that cheap rationale of the relusional, can be twisted like a knife into the metaphorical heart of things.
No, it didn’t. I wish it had. We didn’t learn to distrust religion – witness the gaggle of shamans assembled a few days later to lead a prayer service. We didn’t learn a damn thing from it, except how to throw away our freedoms while cringing in fear.
12 September 2008, on 12:42 am
That, mein freund, is a load of bullshit. I wouldn’t be surprised if that specifically ridiculous meme was whipped up to cover the Muslims.
It wasn’t just a plane, we’re talking jets, both of which were carry highly volatile jet fuel (tons of the stuff, no less). & do spare me the ’squibs’ commentary. Or the building 7 dreck. I’ve heard it all.
12 September 2008, on 12:57 am
Oh, & this:
They’ve actually traced the steps of the actual yahoos , from where they learned to fly to the martial arts training they received. As Stardust aptly points out, these weren’t a ragtag bunch of desert rats. These were well-trained, well-educated religious fanatics.
Because we all know, relusionists are deeply invested in the afterlife.
12 September 2008, on 5:02 pm
I remember reading the following somewhere, sometime in the past (unfortunately I’m unable to provide the accreditation).
“It took science to come up with skyscrapers and airplanes, it took religion to bring them together.”
tipsy, even though it might not be your religion, it’s still religion.
17 September 2008, on 3:03 pm
im not saying i know what happened, but being a structual engineer myself i do know that steel building can burn in excess of 24 hrs and still not topple on themselves like a demolition. that building was made to withstand hurricane force winds for weeks, earthquakes, and of course airplanes hitting it.