Let us not forget....

[Sciler]

So, today is Sept 11th. Many of us have come to forget this day, or seem to care a bit less. I don't want to do that. I remember the day very well. I remember Doot and I watching the second plane hit, along with all our Co-workers at the time, huddled in the conference room watching in horror as the events unfolded that day. Only when I truely remember, do I feel really sad. Just like with many things, if I dont think about it, I wont feel anything about it...

But I dont want to forget. I think its important that we remember. Regardless of how we feel about politics, or anything else, we should remember those who are no longer with us, and the long road we will have ahead of us. I pray one day, things will get better. One day....

Salute to the innocent victims in NY on Sept 11.

Salute to the firemen and police officers and other volunteers who lost thier lives and friends on Sept 11.

Salute to the many men and women out there right now attempting to do thier duty, and putting thier lives on the line daily.

Salute to anyone, anywhere, who is doing thier part to help someone else in the world.

I used to not agree with the war. I used to be horrified by what I read on the news. I've learned not to pay any attention to anything there, except for when there is loss of life, I say a silent prayer for the families and friends of those who have lost someone, be it a soldier, or a victim from a suicide bomber. My perspective changed a bit, when I talked to a friend, who just got back from being over there. He was in that area for about a year, and finally just got back, thankfully, safely. I had a long talk wtih him, asking about how things really are...are they as bad as portrayed....and he said he actually wants to go back. We arent as hated as we think we are. There are many people over there, who are glad we are there helping them. He was sad to be back, knowing that the families of people he was helping out there, are still in a very unsafe area. He wished he could be there to play with the kids some more, and give out supplies and help the parents of those same kids. Hearing those stories from him made me cry, and made me understand a bit better.

While how things came about for us to be over there were bad, I hope that our efforts will truely get rid of the sick extremists who are the true terrors in the world. Not us. We really are making a difference, even if it is small right now, even the smallest snowflake has the possibility to become a snowball or avalanche.

~moment of silence~

[Shino]

~sits in silence~

Thanks for doing that Scisci.

[feign]

...





Thank you.

[FawkesFyre]

*nods*

[Doot]

I could not have put it any better Felicia. I remember...

[Al the DLOE]

i remember waking up that morning and received a phone call. my mom told me to check Fox news and i would understand then. i watched and the first plane had hit and i waited for an explanation but there was only speculation. i kept watching and saw the second hit...it was then i knew and had an idea who to suspect: Bin Laden. he was behind the first in '93 and knew he had to be behind this one. i watched for an hour, dressed, then went to the student center @ Southern Polytechnic. As i drove i listened to the radio thinking back to my plan to see my grandmother as it was her birthday. i watched the people wander about on campus, most scared right fully but most refused to admit to the obvious result of this act. America was at war and some group was going to be exterminated to the fullest of our ability (with political slowing). I also had a test that evening and skipped the earlier class since i hated the prof. i kept near the radio all day listening to whatever i could and it was the first time i ever heard 96 rock stop playing music. i did manage to drive down to see my grandmother and we discussed how this day paralleled with Dec 7 1941.

that day still lives on as the longest and clearest day of my life. AND I AM STILL PISSED!

In the following days everything fully changed and America awoke like a sleeper shaken after a long nap just before bed: conscious enough to gather its faculties to deal with whatever woke it and strike back. We did and are now in the long war where we as a nation are napping, barely cognizent, and a war where we politically cannot fully declare the enemy/cause.

I did not take any personal losses but this was the final step in my deciding my tattoo and life motto: Makenai- Never Defeated. I am glad i still have my dysfunctional, Machiavellian family whole and growing.

I will never forgive those who did the acts.
I will never forget what happened and keep a folder full of pics of the day/news.
I will never stop my pursuit of justice and informing myself of all that happens.
I will never allow an act like these to happen on my watch if i can by whatever means i have at hand.

[Kudasai Hiroki]