home > archives > september 11, 2001

like everyone else in the country, in the world, i am shocked. this is the most outrageous, horrible thing to have happened in any of our lifetimes.  since i first realized what was going on during the morning of september 11, i have been trying to make sense of it, and yes my mind is full of cliches and cheesiness.  i am writing this after about 30 hours of listening to reports, of watching the explosion from 15 different angles, watching the people hanging from windows and jumping to their deaths, watching the city i have always loved cry out in pain.  this has changed all of our lives forever.  all of my personal beliefs and values have begun to change faster than i ever thought possible.  luckily it seems that all of my family and friends are safe; i am still hoping i don't hear any bad news.  not that an attack on the united states and the destruction of a place i called home isn't bad news.  my thoughts go out to everyone.  not just the victims and their friends and families, but to everyone in the country and everyone in the world, because i think in the end not a single human being on this planet won't be affected by this.  despite all of the evil and suffering we have seen, we have to find the good.  although this has shaken my optimistic outlook on life, i have to believe that some good will come of this.  our entire country is joining together, showing that there is still so much good in people.  most of us could not picture new yorkers ever waiting in line voluntarily for 7 hours for nuthin, yet so many did just for the chance to give blood.  so many people risked and even gave their lives to save others.  i think while nothing can bring back all the people who died or take away the pain we all feel, this tragedy will bring out the best in us, make us stronger, make all of our citizens come together and feel patriotism like never before.  countries that used to be our enemies will stand up with us to end the threat of terrorism in this world.  and above all, the world will learn that you don't fuck with new yorkers!!

for more of my thoughts on this, comments from users, and my father's eyewitness account from 3 blocks away from the World Trade Center, flip to the say what page.  i have also compiled a complete list of related links, which i have added to pretty much every day, and info on how you can help. i included html versions of some of the editorials that have been circulating the internet.  feel free to send your comments, thoughts, prayers, or anything else you would like to share with the rest of us, to erosen@lycos.com. 
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