9/11

Last night I watched the movie "United 93". I had recorded it some time ago but never was motivated to watch it. Well, since yesterday was the 7th anniversary I figured I would watch it. Very well done and from what I've read, about as close to accurate as it could be. What was interesting was that it wasn't a "drama" with big stars or anything. It let the moments speak for themselves and just followed along with what was going on. I was struck by many things: the fear on the plane, the warped fanatacism of the hijackers, the craziness of the control towers, military, and FAA headquarters; but mostly I was struck by the courage of the passengers to take over the plane. It was mostly to save themselves I am sure. But since, at that point, they knew what was going on outside that plane, they knew what was really up and attempted to stop it. We knew what the ending was going to be. However, their actions really saved many more lives and a national symbol that would have been crushing. As bad as things were with the Trade Center and Pentagon, can you imagine if the US Capitol was blown up? I have only seen that on "Independence Day" - I wouldn't want to see it in real life.

I remember everything about that day. I remember taking the train in to work - not knowing what was already going on. I remember getting into the office and first hearing of it by my boss, Pablo who had the radio on. Believe it or not I was going to make a reservation for a flight for Mary and I to go to New England in a couple months. I remember us thinking that they screwed up in a way because the buildings weren't coming down - then later hearing that they did. I remember how scared Mary was when she called. I remember watching the towers burning on a tv set up in the office. Nothing got done there that day. We tried for a little bit in the morning but eventually gave up. I remember all the panic on the news about how many more planes were taken over (none after the 4th one). I remember vividly the exodus out of downtown Chicago - the office was on Ontario St. and by noon the city was emptied. I remember leaving work in the early afternoon; Metra rearranged its schedule to get everyone out of downtown (many were thinking that Sears Tower was next). I vividly remember walking my 1.5 miles to Union Station through downtown Chicago and seeing how empty and abandonded the city was. It was very eerie. Literally no cars except for a taxi or two that would pass by. And hardly a person to be seen. It almost felt like I was one of the last people on earth. I remember how crowded Union Station was, however. I remember the train ride home. I remember getting home and talking with all the neighbors. I remember the president's speech that night. I remember how he said that those responsible will be dealt with. Some have, many haven't. I had a work project in New York at that time. Tuesday mornings I was normally taking the subway from Manhattan to Brooklyn - passing under the Trade Center at roughly that time. That Tuesday I originally wasn't planning on going. Good thing. I would have flown in on Monday night to stay just down the street. I remember flying down there about 2-3 weeks later (after the planes could fly again) and walking by there. It was a large makeshift memorial. There was a platform you could walk on to see the destruction and the work crews cleaning up. You could see all the buildings around damaged in some way. I remember talking to my contact over there (he was head of a construction management firm that we dealt with) and him telling me of some of their people who were lost. How they were on the roof one of the towers calling their loved ones and those at the office to say good bye. It is one thing to see all this on news specials but to have firsthand experience is another. He was telling me where he was when the planes hit the towers. He did see the first one and took off and left (he was about a mile or so away). I remember for the next several months the fear and anxiety that permeated the world: chemical attacks, anthrax, dirty bombs. It just kept going. I remember how the nation did pull together. I remember the patriotism that dominated everything. I remember the U2 concert we went to 2 months later (in Salt Lake City) and that screen that rolled all the names. It was still the best concert I was ever at, hands down.

I think we need to still remember and never forget. To remember why we are fighting in Afghanistan. I never agreed with the Iraq war but we need to remember and support those over there too.