9/11 - 11 years on

[lawrawrrr]

Well it's 11 years down the line. A lot of us are too young to remember it actually happening (or at least faint memories, that's all I have) but it's still a major event, so important and I'm sure you know all about it. I was writing an assignment about it for one of my modules this year and I had to do so much research, it really got to me and I feel really connected to it, and therefore very emotional. I don't know if you've seen reaction videos, or heard phone calls but I'll try to find some videos for you later.

Anyway the main reason for posting this thread is to remember all of the people who died, and the families who lost people during the horrific attacks on this day, 11 years ago. May they rest in peace, and be remembered for their innocent suffering. Let us use this thread in a positive way and not turn it into an argument like everything else seems to be these days. Be respectful of the dead.

Anyway, like I said, 2 months ago I was writing about this, and I feel this is the time to post my poem for it - have a read and a moment of silence to remember those people.


From Ashes We Build


One fateful day,
and everything is different.
The smoke is gone,
the ash disappeared,
but the memories remain.
The site of a thousand bustling lives
empty
and the world seems slower.


He left in the morning,
smile on his face,
briefcase in hand,
for the Trade Centre-
where he remains.
They saw it coming,
jumped,
There was no hope of life.


Ten years have passed,
and life has moved on.
The threat has faded,
memorials built;
dead remembered as heroes.
All that’s left is a name;
Richard
engraved in bronze.


In trees, in mirrors, in water,
life grows from the remains
of the lives once extinguished
at Ground Zero
that fateful day.
On this anniversary,
we honour the dead,
silent,

in memoriam.


From ashes we build.




Based on this picture:

http://www.samspratt.com/images/uploads/sam_spratt_September_11th_painting_from_ashes_we_b uild.jpg


Rest in Peace.

[Johnathan]

I have been staring at this for the past 5 minutes wondering what I could add. Yet I just can't. What you have wrote is perfect, and really inspirational. R.I.P

[Mathew]

My heart always beats a little faster on 9/11: the anniversary of a truly horrific act of sheer cowardliness. There's a huge lump in my throat already. It's been 11 years, and I remember the day just as if it was yesterday. May those innocent heroes rest in peace. Forever.

[lawrawrrr]

I have been staring at this for the past 5 minutes wondering what I could add. Yet I just can't. What you have wrote is perfect, and really inspirational. R.I.P
This is like the nicest comment I've ever got!! Thank you so much. I just wanted to do them justice.

[Eric]

can't believe it has been 11 years, i remember i was only 5 when this horrendous event happened and changed the whole world. R.I.P to those who lost their lives.

[Shockwave.2CC]

Been 11 years already and for me it still feels like it was yesterday

I've been doing a min silence at 1:46pm BST (8:46am EST) every year on 9/11 since it happend, just to remember all those who lost there lives on that day.

I still can't believe that the youngest victim was 2 years old Christine Lee Hanson who died when United Airlines Flight 175 crashed into South Tower.
I also can't believe the youngest victim to die in the towers was 18 year old Richard Allen Pearlman.

R.I.P all :'(

[wixard]

i was 9 and remember everything, old enough to remember I guessjoked about it with my friends 'it's only 2 buildings!!!'
til my mum was like 'yeah with a ton of people inside'


i was like oh

[Grig]

Great poem Laura :).

You should all watch the film World Trade Center. Really hits the reality and scale of the situation home. RIP to all those who lost their lives much too early on this tragic day.

[dirrty]

i'm always filled with mixed emotions when it comes to 9/11. obviously it's something that shouldn't of happened, and my thoughts are forever with the victims and their family. but another side of me just thinks that all the atrocities that the US have, and are currently committing are forever brushed under the rug, ignored or 'supposedly' justified for whatever reason. as i said before, i'll forever feel sorry for the victims and their families (as innocent peoples deaths are always upsetting), but not for the country as a whole. i just find it difficult to separate feeling sorry for a country whose inflicted so much pain, sorrow and death upon other innocent families (regardless of their supposed agenda).

nevertheless, RIP.

[Deak]

What an awful day this was 11 years ago!

RIP to all those who passed away & i hope that all of the families are coping as well as they can on this sad sad day

[GommeInc]

I remember being on the school bus hearing it on the radio and the bus driver putting the volume up. Previous to that my science teacher had the television on around 2PM before we entered but it never struck me what he was watching and I don't think he knew what was happening either, it just came on when he was about to turn it off. It was my first day back at school too, Tuesday 9th September. It sent shivers down my spine on the radio. It seemed so surreal.

Apparently at what was my Co-Op, the store announced it over the tannoy system when my mum was in the store. It's shocking how hard it hit the UK.

In the past 11 years I've sort of developed mixed feelings over it, like dirrty above. It was a tragic loss of life, but all countries seem to have a habit of destroying lives, more innocent ones than guilty ones.

Apparently America has expanded the treatment of those involved to cover cancer and other diseases and impairments that may of developed as a result of the attack.

[Kardan]

I was 8 and remember that day, I only found out by the time I got home from school and by then it was all over, but I remember just sitting down eating sweets (Since Tuesday was sweet day...) and watching the replays of the towers getting hit and collapsing over and over again.

RIP.

[Undesirable]

I was 14 and will never, ever.. forget seeing that on the news. Still gives me goosebumps :(

[Teabags]

think this was the most shocking.
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/0/05/The_Falling_Man.jpg

[Succubus]

Great poem, Laura. Very moving also.

Such a horrible event in time, which wont be forgot. It makes me sad as well.

[lawrawrrr]

think this was the most shocking.
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/0/05/The_Falling_Man.jpg

The person in my poem was meant to be him - his identity is uncertain but the photographer was named Richard, so I used a bit of artistic licence :P


Great poem, Laura. Very moving also.

Such a horrible event in time, which wont be forgot. It makes me sad as well.

Thank you :) I've been very emotional today, had to turn Jeremy Kyle 9/11 show off because I was close to tears :(

[dbgtz]

Not to sound like a **** or anything, but my opinion on the whole event has changed over the past year having read more into US history and various other things. The fact that this is treated as the worst event to have ever occurred also rather frustrates me. Death is always saddening, but people are always knocking on that door.

[santa-my-nana]

Not to sound like a **** or anything, but my opinion on the whole event has changed over the past year having read more into US history and various other things. The fact that this is treated as the worst event to have ever occurred also rather frustrates me. Death is always saddening, but people are always knocking on that door.

I actually agree with this, Yes 9/11 was a very big tragedy and i gave a minute silence today but deaths always going to occur wether your old or young. I've been reading into 9/11 a bit and apparently it was caused because of the US government, I don't know much about it but thats what i found

[GommeInc]

I actually agree with this, Yes 9/11 was a very big tragedy and i gave a minute silence today but deaths always going to occur wether your old or young. I've been reading into 9/11 a bit and apparently it was caused because of the US government, I don't know much about it but thats what i found
It's not fair that innocent people got caught up between the two though. As much as the US government deserve problems (which they never encounter directly), it's not fair on the innocent majority.

It's like killing Londoners because you dislike David Cameron, or punching your grandmother in the face for voting Lib Dem - it's not their fault who their superiors are and they never once considered anything affecting them as a result of their leaders, or even these events existing!

[dbgtz]

It's not fair that innocent people got caught up between the two though. As much as the US government deserve problems (which they never encounter directly), it's not fair on the innocent majority.

It's like killing Londoners because you dislike David Cameron, or punching your grandmother in the face for voting Lib Dem - it's not their fault who their superiors are and they never once considered anything affecting them as a result of their leaders, or even these events existing!

No offence but that hypothetical is awful. They were involved in the Middle East (as per) and (essentially) killing the innocent people in their country, and from their perspective if their country is the enemy then the USA is theirs.

[xxMATTGxx]

We can all blame whoever for the whole event but we can still honour the innocent people who actually died. As they had no idea it was going to happen or why it was happening and they were just caught up in the middle of it all.

[lawrawrrr]

Don't turn this into an argument. Just honour the people I'm trying to pay tribute to here.

[santa-my-nana]

It's not fair that innocent people got caught up between the two though. As much as the US government deserve problems (which they never encounter directly), it's not fair on the innocent majority.

It's like killing Londoners because you dislike David Cameron, or punching your grandmother in the face for voting Lib Dem - it's not their fault who their superiors are and they never once considered anything affecting them as a result of their leaders, or even these events existing!


Of course it's not fair, but lifes not fair, your always going to encounter something thats not fair.
Yes these awfull things happen and its great that we mourn them but it happened, it was fate and its in the past. Sometimes its easier to let the past go than hold onto it.

Sorry laura; Im not intentionally, i dont want to disrespect the dead.

[Red]

Lovely poem Laura! It's crazy how time flies... feels like only yesterday. I can remember the day so clearly, watching it at school and my grans. It was her birthday today too :( It really was devastating :( Rip to all that lost their lives that day.

[Jarkie]

RIP!

[MissAlice]

That is a lovely poem Laura :)

I still remember the news on tv that day, and the coverage in the days that followed. The pictures screened of the towers burning has stayed with me, it makes me feel very sad, so prefer not to watch it anymore. I was shocked that this could happen.

RIP

[lawrawrrr]

Lovely poem Laura! It's crazy how time flies... feels like only yesterday. I can remember the day so clearly, watching it at school and my grans. It was her birthday today too :( It really was devastating :( Rip to all that lost their lives that day.


That is a lovely poem Laura :)

I still remember the news on tv that day, and the coverage in the days that followed. The pictures screened of the towers burning has stayed with me, it makes me feel very sad, so prefer not to watch it anymore. I was shocked that this could happen.

RIP

thank you girls :)

[Teabags]

The person in my poem was meant to be him - his identity is uncertain but the photographer was named Richard, so I used a bit of artistic licence :P
subliminal messaging (; Great poem laura <3

[lawrawrrr]

subliminal messaging (; Great poem laura <3

ikr!!! this is stuff you study in school EH SHOULD TOTALLY BE USED THERE that's actually 1 of my goals

thank you :)

[Munex]

I remember being on the school bus hearing it on the radio and the bus driver putting the volume up. Previous to that my science teacher had the television on around 2PM before we entered but it never struck me what he was watching and I don't think he knew what was happening either, it just came on when he was about to turn it off. It was my first day back at school too, Tuesday 9th September. It sent shivers down my spine on the radio. It seemed so surreal.

That's 2 days before 9/11 even happened!

And on another note, I love the poem laura; :( I can't add anything else, you've summed it all up.

[Teabags]

ikr!!! this is stuff you study in school EH SHOULD TOTALLY BE USED THERE that's actually 1 of my goals

thank you :)
I'll look out for your poems being taught to kids in the future!
laura > shakespeare EASILY.

[brandon]

R.I.P to everyone who died that day :(

[GommeInc]

That's 2 days before 9/11 even happened!

And on another note, I love the poem laura; :( I can't add anything else, you've summed it all up.
Urgh, damn American date format - I meant Tuesday 11th September :P

[karter]

..don't really want to share how i got the news and my experience on that day.. :S

rip those who died and great honour and respect for those who were affected.

[Mathew]

Just thought I'd share this photograph that someone posted on their Facebook today.

http://i.imgur.com/oezB5.jpg

[Maatt.]

Im 16 now, I remember seeing it.. I would have been 5... and i still remember.
I was watching Neighbours with my mama and it suddenly cut to a picture of the twin towers and a whole in the first tower.

[GommeInc]

Just thought I'd share this photograph that someone posted on their Facebook today.
Is there a story behind it? It would be nice to know :)

[Mathew]

Is there a story behind it? It would be nice to know :)

I can't find any story surrounding it, but the most-used caption seems to be "Something the media won't show". I think it goes some way towards showing that all human life should be valued equally, regardless of cultural differences. Regular citizens on the ground are the ones who, sadly, pay the price for those determining wars and violence. Which is, afterall, the message that should be heard loud and clear on 9/11 in my opinion.

[-:Undertaker:-]

Not to sound like a **** or anything, but my opinion on the whole event has changed over the past year having read more into US history and various other things. The fact that this is treated as the worst event to have ever occurred also rather frustrates me. Death is always saddening, but people are always knocking on that door.

The reason why it is so big to the Americans is because unlike the British, the Americans have never really experienced death and destruction on their home soil like we have throughout our history (invasions, the threat of constant invasion from Europe, World War II bombings in Liverpool, Coventry and London, IRA bombings) - so for them it is much bigger than it would perhaps be for us.

[LiquidLuck.]

To be honest, I thought this would be just like any other memorial thread. But it's really so much more..
I was 5 at the time, and I live in Portugal, so as you must imagine I don't remember anything really. The only memories I have is stuff I heard later on tv, in the internet and what people tell me.
I really loved the poem, Laura. It's so deep and emotional. I had tears in my eyes.. It was beautiful.

Well done, laura;. That's some great inspiration.

[lawrawrrr]

To be honest, I thought this would be just like any other memorial thread. But it's really so much more..
I was 5 at the time, and I live in Portugal, so as you must imagine I don't remember anything really. The only memories I have is stuff I heard later on tv, in the internet and what people tell me.
I really loved the poem, Laura. It's so deep and emotional. I had tears in my eyes.. It was beautiful.

Well done, @laura (http://www.habboxforum.com/member.php?u=61966);. That's some great inspiration.

see i know you're posting this so i'll rep you I'M NOT STUPID :/ thanks anyway, made me smile ;)

[LiquidLuck.]

see i know you're posting this so i'll rep you I'M NOT STUPID :/ thanks anyway, made me smile ;)

At first that was indeed my idea. But after reading that, I meant every single thing I said. Swear to God, it's amazing. <3

[dbgtz]

The reason why it is so big to the Americans is because unlike the British, the Americans have never really experienced death and destruction on their home soil like we have throughout our history (invasions, the threat of constant invasion from Europe, World War II bombings in Liverpool, Coventry and London, IRA bombings) - so for them it is much bigger than it would perhaps be for us.

Americans have had a share of destruction and surely they can't be so oblivious to the rest of the worlds problems... I believe I read about NBC not airing some sort of silence and if it's for the same reasons as I, then good on them though.

[xxMATTGxx]

Americans have had a share of destruction and surely they can't be so oblivious to the rest of the worlds problems... I believe I read about NBC not airing some sort of silence and if it's for the same reasons as I, then good on them though.

But 9/11 is probably one of the worst they had to deal with - Not sure what else they have to put up with. NBC also cut out the part of the 7/7 silence in the Olympics opening ceremony though.

[-:Undertaker:-]

Americans have had a share of destruction and surely they can't be so oblivious to the rest of the worlds problems... I believe I read about NBC not airing some sort of silence and if it's for the same reasons as I, then good on them though.

Oh no I agree with you on the blowback theory part - hence why i've always argued that foreign policy meddling (Iraq, Afghanistan, Libya, Syria etc) actually leads to resentment and causes these tragic events.

From the horses mouth as they say, http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2002/nov/24/theobserver - and whilst I do not ever believe the killing of innocents for political ends is ever justifiable (hence why I condemn the IRA, Nelson Mandela and the ANC, Al-Qaeda) there is almost certainly a link between foreign policy meddling and blowback attacks on western nations as you point out.

[dbgtz]

But 9/11 is probably one of the worst they had to deal with - Not sure what else they have to put up with. NBC also cut out the part of the 7/7 silence in the Olympics opening ceremony though.

I'm confused, I read it was just family of volunteers who had died? Either way, it wasn't really relevant to them (I doubt they even know what 7/7 is).


Oh no I agree with you on the blowback theory part - hence why i've always argued that foreign policy meddling (Iraq, Afghanistan, Libya, Syria etc) actually leads to resentment and causes these tragic events.

From the horses mouth as they say, http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2002/nov/24/theobserver - and whilst I do not ever believe the killing of innocents for political ends is ever justifiable (hence why I condemn the IRA, Nelson Mandela and the ANC, Al-Qaeda) there is almost certainly a link between foreign policy meddling and blowback attacks on western nations as you point out.

I agree.

[xxMATTGxx]

I'm confused, I read it was just family of volunteers who had died? Either way, it wasn't really relevant to them (I doubt they even know what 7/7 is).



I agree.

I'm confused as well now. In the Olympics opening they did a 7/7 tribute. The reason why they most likely did that is due to the day before it happened we found out we won the bid to host the games. I believe NBC did not show it at all and changed it to an interview but then again their whole coverage of the Olympics was shocking according to the internet.

But yeah they probably don't know what it is.

[October]

I lost my Aunt to those attacks.
It was so weird, to be honest - we were even at her place that week. But she was away on business, we were waiting for her to come back to Iowa but she never did.

I remember that day like it was just yesterday, actually. I was outside during recess and I noticed there were no planes in the sky. I found it odd because I always saw planes up there. But we got sent home early because of the events and then I realized what was happening.

---
There is actually a large piece rubble from the World Trade Center Tower downtown. I'll take a picture of it tomorrow and post it.

[lawrawrrr]

I'm confused, I read it was just family of volunteers who had died? Either way, it wasn't really relevant to them (I doubt they even know what 7/7 is).
I agree.

It was a tribute to 7/7, which was presented directly after a tribute to the family of volunteers. It was meant to symbolise both. And the news was semi-big out there, especially seeing because of how shaken 9/11 left the USA.


I lost my Aunt to those attacks.
It was so weird, to be honest - we were even at her place that week. But she was away on business, we were waiting for her to come back to Iowa but she never did.

I remember that day like it was just yesterday, actually. I was outside during recess and I noticed there were no planes in the sky. I found it odd because I always saw planes up there. But we got sent home early because of the events and then I realized what was happening.

---
There is actually a large piece rubble from the World Trade Center Tower downtown. I'll take a picture of it tomorrow and post it.
Oh wow, I'm so sorry. I was talking to someone who'd also lost a relative in the attacks as part of my research and the emotional trauma he'd been through was touching, just something I can't even imagine. I'd love to see the picture though, Ground Zero is the 1 place in the world I want to visit more than anywhere else.

[JerseySafety]

Wow thats a fabulous poem Laura, well done!

RIP to everyone who lost there lives and my heart goes out to the families affected <3

[Samantha]

I would have been 7 back then, I can't really remember what happened but I don't believe I was in school, could have still been the holidays for me but regardless I know it happened. My family found the paper from the day after it happened and we still have it now, it's shocking looking at the images and thinking what they went through. Brave people jumping out of the buildings but really knew that they wouldn't be able to survive such a drop. I had a minutes silence on the 11th too, it's something I've just grown up with like rememberance day in November and it's something you live with. I always say everything happens for a reason but in this case I don't really see one, innocent workers, families and such were killed and torn apart because of this and it's a shame that some people who either were lucky to survive or had family in the building at the time have to live with that and may never get answers for it.

I remember on the 11th this year I told my mum about it being at 1:46, she thought I had the time wrong and forgot that America was behind us, she held the silence too and just seeing people like Barack Obama having one too showed how it didn't just affect those that were in the attacks but all those that showed respect, it has a place in their heart.