Some thoughts on the anniversary of 9/11
I am on the roof of one of the Twin Towers. The catwalk I am on is swaying in the breeze, and I can barely stand to move forward. Rather than enjoy the view, I look straight ahead, and will myself to get it over with. Soon enough, I am back inside. Of course, the enclosed observation deck has floor to ceiling windows, which spook me, and I have to stand back quite a bit to look through them. I am less thrilled by the World Trade Center as I am frightened. I wonder how it survived the hurricane that ravages Long Island a dozen years ago.
That was my one venture to the top of the WTC, in the course of chaperoning a fieldtrip. On the other hand, I drive to New York from time to time, and one of my favorite things is to reach a point on the New Jersey Turnpike where I can see the Towers glisten in the sun. As long as I do not have to depend on them, they are lovely to me.
I was here, on SI, when they were attacked. Someone told me that one of the towers had been hit by a plane. I turned on the tv, and while I watched, had the ghastly opportunity of seeing the second strike, and of hearing the attack on the Pentagon. Later, I watched as the Towers fell. I talked to one of my brothers about whether we should go into Washington to pick up our wives, whose offices were a few blocks apart, then talked to them about the situation. Washington was coming unglued, and my wife was afraid that driving in would be a terrible idea, but eventually she made her way home.
I lived not far from the Naval Academy and a major naval communications base, so the fear of terrorism was not that unusual. We had had enhanced security in the area in the past. Also, I grew up in and around Washington, and was not unaware that we were "ground zero" for a counter- population nuclear exchange. But this was particularly close and awful. My wife sometimes had to go to professional meetings at an office across the street from the White House, what if she were there when a plane hit it? She had to go to California a few times that year, what if she had been on one of the Dulles flights?
I was transfixed in horror at the sight of lower Manhattan in a hellish cloud of dust, and was torn up at the reiteration of the footage of balls of fire, people jumping, and the implosion of the buildings. But there were marvelous things too--- tales of heroism, of rescue, of human solidarity. The number of people not specifically responsible for rescue operations who chose to run towards the Towers to see if they could help seemed staggering: cops on the beat, doctors off- duty, even ordinary citizens moving towards the financial district to see if they could do something, before being turned back.
I was particularly moved by scenes of grief throughout the world: a rally in Paris, a prayer service in Moscow, a vigil in Rome, meant to show solidarity with America at this shocking moment. I was also appalled by the Palestinian celebrations, and the various fundamentalist conclaves around this country which made displays of approval for the attacks.
The terrorists did not ask the political or ideological affiliations of their victims. They killed Americans and foreign visitors; blacks and white; Republicans and Democrats; conservatives and liberals; the elderly and children; Jews and gentiles; soldiers and civilians--- as long as they could struck a blow against America. Those who offered help, or gave blood, or sent contributions to various funds for the victims families, were also diverse, of various races, creeds, colors, party affiliations, ideological description, but they were Americans or, at least, wished America well.
As terrible as were the events of 9/11, I was proud of my country and countrymen in its aftermath. The occasional dirt- brained attacks on people wearing turbans were the usual human folly, and expected. The way in which so many people rose to the occasion to offer help and show defiance of the terrorists, that was special. I hope that Americans have a renewed sense of solidarity and determination that stays with us as a partial compensation for the blow we suffered......... |
