6 short years ago...

[Riot]

...America was attacked and our people were murdered in our streets. A direct attack on innocent people took place because a group of people don't agree with the way we live. This isn't politics. This isn't foreign policy. They don't agree with our lifestyle. They don't agree with our society. So they decide what better way to stick it to us than to slaughter us in our hometown. It was a mastermind of a plan. They had guts to do it and Osama Bin Laden got what he wanted, war with America.

So here we are 6 years later and what progress has been made? In terms of image and metrics there hasn't been much. Some could argue we've gone backwards, which is something I disagree with but that's an entirely different topic, but the men and women of our military answered the call when our country was in need. They've done a hell of a job doing their job in Afghanistan, Iraq and the other countries the War on Terror is being fought in. The American people united beautifully after the attacks. We were all friends and that was a fantastic memory even through the darkness. I was so proud to be an American (and still am) and so was everyone else. It was a great feeling even in the pain because we had each others backs. We had a common goal and enemy. It's hard to say that today and it's only been 6 years...

I don't want to forget all the other countries that sent out their sympathy and condolences to the nation after the tragedy. The prayers were felt and it was great to see that we are indeed loved by many despite what we sometimes think.

So 6 years later we still remember those who died on that awful day. We salute those who died saving the lives of people they've never met before (firefighters, police, paramedics, Flight 93). We will never forget those who ran full speed into those burning buildings knowing that the odds of them coming back down were slim. They had courage and for that we thank them. They made the ultimate sacrafice and we should honor every first responder because everyday they lace up their shoes knowing they could die saving or protecting lives of people they don't know. It's an amazing thing they do and they do it everyday. It shouldn't take something like this for us to notice and recgonize them.

This day is pretty much the sole reason why I've decided to enlist in the military. I have a lot of rage and anger in me even to this day over what happened. It's really not something I share with a lot of people because it isn't something to be proud of. It probably causes me more stress than anything else but there is a lot of hatred in my heart and I doubt it will ever go away. On September 10th, 2001 I was an innocent boy who had no idea about the horrors of the real world. Ever since that next day I've turned into someone completely different. I realize people make mistakes. I realize the people on the other side of the world view things differently but I don't care and I don't want to hear it. There are many things I'll take a second look at and sacrafice but I'll give up my love for this country and anyone...I mean, anyone who wants to come over and kick down our door needs to be taught a lesson. And in the words of Toby Keith, we'll put a boot in their ass because it's the American Way.




RIP VICTIMS

[Gundy]

I can't believe it's been 6 years. I remember vividly that day and it made me really stop and think about my life and the lifes of others. I can't say it changed me that much as a person but it definitely helped me to realize the fragility of life and how some people are just fucking evil and twisted. RIP victimns of 9/11. You will never be forgotten.

[Dro]

Amen brother. Can't believe it's already been six years. I was a freshman in high school when it happened.

[Jackal]

Indeed a rest in peace to everyone that lost their lives on that day. Perhaps even for the ones that were (maybe) misguided in to committing such a brutal act. None the less, the image these handful of people left of Muslim people will probably never be corrected.

Best wishes to all the families that lost someone on September 11th, it indeed does seem like yesterday that I was sitting in English class and my teacher was like...kids, screw class. Then proceeded to roll in a television set for us to watch the whole thing on CNN. Horrible.

I am proud to be an American citizen though. I mean I've lived in Suriname, Curacao and now Holland...and to be honest, I still think the way the American stuff is organised is just fucking cool compared to how it's organised everywhere else. (I went to renew my American passport recently, hence this little blah blah.)

Anyways, tis a dark day not only in American history but in the world's history in general. Not only Americans died that day, many various cultures lost people.

Some people think (and might not say it) oh what's the big fuss, why must people make such a big deal out of 11th September but no one makes a thread about the [enter large number here] of people that die daily in Iraq/Afghanistan or all those other countries that's being picked on by big bad America...well, simple really. It comes down to the fact that no one cares enough. We all know it's happening, but none of us could be bothered to make a thread about it and remember it etc. Riot cares about 11th September hence the thread. So yeah, anyone that comes up with that train of thought, save it.

[Joe']

I can't believe it's been this long. I was just a little kid when it happened but I remember it very well and just to think about it makes me realize how evil people can be.

RIP victims of 9/11.

[Oznogrd]

6 years? am I really that old? Yeah I guess so, it was sophomore year, i had known nothing was happening and between classes there was this general bad vibe i couldnt shake because some knew and some didnt. Get to class and people are crowded around the radio listening and I thought the Brit Lit class was listening to War of the Worlds or something from the tone of voice and the way people were acting. Then I was told what had happened. This is the defining moment of a large generation of people. This story is told so often and so much, even in just my day to day life, the repercussions I dont think will ever be gone. RIP innocent victims and yes RIP to those too as jackal said may have been a bit misguided but stood up for what they believe in by attacking us.

[buzzy]

I can't believe it's been this long. I was just a little kid when it happened but I remember it very well and just to think about it makes me realize how evil people can be.

RIP victims of 9/11.

Same here.

Rest in peace, victims of 9/11.

[Dramacydal]

God giveth and he taketh...

20 years ago my best friend was born.


Anyways, R.I.P to all the innocent people that died.

It's kinda funny how you made it an annual ritual to post about this, as if anyone would forget about that day.

[Anthony15]

It's kinda funny how you made it an annual ritual to post about this, as if anyone would forget about that day.

Didn't think of it at all, until they said it on Sunday.

Anyways, RIP.

[Riot]

It's kinda funny how you made it an annual ritual to post about this, as if anyone would forget about that day.

Nobody forgets, but how many times do you remember? At the very least, you should be able to give a few moments of your day to REMEMBER and HONOR those who died on that day. This thread is just one of the few ways I'm expressing my condolences and thoughts to those who were forever changed because of evil.

[el badman]

At the very least, you should be able to give a few moments of your day to REMEMBER and HONOR those who died on that day.

There's quite a few disasters and catastrophes (not necessarily terrorist-related) that should be remembered the same way then.

[Fenix]

I remember that event mainly for its symbolism. But still, let the victims of that terrible event and those which followed rest in peace.

[BigKaboom2]

Time to let it go - no need to reflect on every single tragedy that has ever happened on a day in the calendar year; it's eventually a waste of time unless someone you know well was directly involved.

[Dramacydal]

There's quite a few disasters and catastrophes (not necessarily terrorist-related) that should be remembered the same way then.

You took the words right out of my mouth. The lives of the victims of 9/11 weren't of higher value than the lives of the people who - for example - died during the genocide in Rwanda. What makes those who died on 9/11 so special that they're constantly remembered while others aren't?

If I gave a few moments of my day to remember all the victims in this world I'd need days that last longer than 24 hours.


That's why this is the truth:

Time to let it go - no need to reflect on every single tragedy that has ever happened on a day in the calendar year; it's eventually a waste of time unless someone you know well was directly involved.

[Drex]

I know most of you won't care about this, hell, I know I don't, but it's still one of the things that divides my country every year. It's been 34 years, and people still haven't let it go.

Sorry if I went a little off topic here.

I still remember that day, can't believe this happened 6 years ago. RIP to all the victims of this horrible tragedy.

[Riot]

There's quite a few disasters and catastrophes (not necessarily terrorist-related) that should be remembered the same way then.

Okay, then go and remember the fallen in those diasters then. I don't understand your logic. We can mourn and honor the fallen of this tragedy because others have happen before and after this one? I didn't realize this was a game where one catastrophes out does another one.

Time to let it go - no need to reflect on every single tragedy that has ever happened on a day in the calendar year; it's eventually a waste of time unless someone you know well was directly involved.

Yeah - let it go. Give me a fucking break. People all around the world mourn on dates of something that happened to them or their fellow countrymen everyday. You hear about this because the media and the internet. It's easy to get the word around of what happens in America but not so much about what happens in South America or Africa. They are probably mourning over their own tragedies and I have no problem with that. I don't see why you have such a problem with me expressing my thoughts and feelings about an awful day that literally changed the world.

And saying it's a "waste of time" to honor the lives of those who died that day is very disrespectful in my mind. It ultimately doesn't mena anything to me whether or not you respect the dead but we had people running into a burning building knowing that they probably wouldn't make it out (the 2nd tower rescue workers) and they did it anyway. If you can't "waste" a bit of your time to remember them then God help you.

You took the words right out of my mouth. The lives of the victims of 9/11 weren't of higher value than the lives of the people who - for example - died during the genocide in Rwanda. What makes those who died on 9/11 so special that they're constantly remembered while others aren't?

It's a ton more relative to me than anyone who died in Rwanda. I'm not saying I don't care about the innocent deaths of other people but this ATTACK on us means a lot more to me than anything else. Sure, "ONLY" 3,000 people died that day but it was an attack on everyone here in America. It was an attack on Western civilization. They were going after people like me and my family and I take it personally. I don't take Rwanda personally. I can't relate to it, however I fully expect the people who can to grieve and mourn in the same manner we do here in America with 9/11.

Some of you need help.

[maceo24]

I could see the smoke from the towers from my campus that day. One of my professor's husbands was in Tower 2, but thankfully made it out with minor injuries. It was a surreal experience though. Once they said one of the planes came from Newark Airport, which is like 5 minutes away from where we were, I swear over the next few months every time we heard a plane we would stop what we were doing, and track the plane until we couldnt see it anymore. The local train station took nearly four months to remove cars that belonged to some of the victims.

Now, I take the Path into the city every morning, and I see the still massive hole left after 6 years. Its sobering whenever you see it during a normal day, but today was nearly unbearable. Nearly everyone I work with had a friend in the tower that day, I cant help but feel that the job I have now could have been occupied by a person that died that day. Blessings & condolences toall who lost loved ones that day.

Drex, just read that wiki, those quotes by Kissinger and and Korry are awful. Its its a shame stuff like that gets swept under the rug enough for people in other countries to pretty much ignore it.

edit - in response to riot/badman -

I can see badmans point in a way, not in that its pointless to remember and recognize the memory of the dead, but really, at what point do you decide to move on with your life? After a certain point, redoing these services and memorials is doing more harm than good. In fact, some of the victims families refused to show this year for that reason - the memory is just too painful to relive every year.

I think after a while the public memorials have to stop, and let families deal with thier grief in a much more publicly inobtrusive way. We all know they are upset, and not to be an insensitive ass, but honestly, every second spent on this is a second less spend on something happening currently. When do we draw the line on media overkill?

[BigKaboom2]

And saying it's a "waste of time" to honor the lives of those who died that day is very disrespectful in my mind. It ultimately doesn't mena anything to me whether or not you respect the dead but we had people running into a burning building knowing that they probably wouldn't make it out (the 2nd tower rescue workers) and they did it anyway. If you can't "waste" a bit of your time to remember them then God help you.

There's zero significance to the date 09/11/07. No matter how many times we "honor" the people who died, it doesn't change anything or help the situation - it's merely a formality, and something that's assumed anyway. Why only honor them based on the Gregorian calendar, furthermore? It's just a futile exercise overall and 99% of it is politicians exploiting the emotional weight of it to fit their agenda.

The people in the WTC didn't sacrifice themselves for our freedom - they were just in the wrong place at the wrong time like countless people that have died young. They aren't more honorable than someone who died in a car accident, and they certainly don't deserve annual ritualistic rememberance from people who never knew them and never would have otherwise cared about them.

I'm incredibly tired of people using the whole affair to convince others that they're "patriotic" when in actuality they do not support the troops. Saying "I hope you don't die in Afghanistan and I'm sorry you have to play a part in Bush's vile agenda" is not supporting the troops. If you support the troops, you support the mission.

Also, I wasn't saying that honoring the dead in historical tragedies is a strictly American thing - I think everyone should get a little perspective on it instead of getting wrapped up in the hype.

As for the people running into burning buildings, where's the line between heroism and recognizing a lost cause?

Some of you need help.

Don't play that card - it just gets everyone riled up unnecessarily.

[Gundy]

RIP to those too as jackal said may have been a bit misguided but stood up for what they believe in by attacking us.

That's quite an understatement.

[Riot]

There's zero significance to the date 09/11/07.

Nope,. there is significance because it happened on this day 6 years ago. That's why we bring it up.

No matter how many times we "honor" the people who died, it doesn't change anything or help the situation - it's merely a formality, and something that's assumed anyway.

I don't get you. Mourning isn't going to change the world or the outcome of the even but cheering for your favorite basketball team doesn't change the outcome of the game either. Why do you do it? We mourn and we remember because it was a tragic day that put a lot of pain and suffering inside us. It's our way to stay united.

Why only honor them based on the Gregorian calendar, furthermore? It's just a futile exercise overall and 99% of it is politicians exploiting the emotional weight of it to fit their agenda.

Some of us only honor them on that one day a year but then there are a few of us who remember them many times. I watch footage of the attacks many times a week. It's what keeps me going (in terms of what I want to do with my life). It's a great reminder to me that not only is life precious, but there are people out there who want to take it away from me.

The people in the WTC didn't sacrifice themselves for our freedom - they were just in the wrong place at the wrong time like countless people that have died young. They aren't more honorable than someone who died in a car accident,

I never said they sacraficed themselves for our freedom. I never said that. We mourn for them because it's a great loss. We lost our fellow countrymen in an attack. Like I said, those hijackers were attacking Americans in general. Just because I wasn't at the WTC when it happened doesn't mean it didn't effect me. Those terrorists wanted to kill me just as much as they wanted to kill the people on those planes and in those buildings. I take that personally.

and they certainly don't deserve annual ritualistic rememberance from people who never knew them and never would have otherwise cared about them.

Bullshit. They died for no reason. A car accident is an ACCIDENT. This was an attack on Western Civilization. It was mom and dads going to work and they didn't come home because these pricks on the otherside of the world don't agree with the way we do things here. The people who died did nothing to these people. That's why we remember them. AMERICA was attacked. I am part of America. I'm sorry, but I take that personally...how can you expect one to back down when they are attacked like that? They hate me for being American just like they hated all the people who died because they are American. I have a common ground with these people and that's why we remember them. They died in a tragic attack, an attack that shouldn't have happened. I'm so bleepin' sorry that I thought it would be okay to share my thoughts and feelings with this community about the darkest day in my countries history.

I'm incredibly tired of people using the whole affair to convince others that they're "patriotic" when in actuality they do not support the troops. Saying "I hope you don't die in Afghanistan and I'm sorry you have to play a part in Bush's vile agenda" is not supporting the troops. If you support the troops, you support the mission.

I don't know where that came from but I agree. If you want to support the troops than support the mission they are dying for, otherwise they are dying in vein.

[qupte]Also, I wasn't saying that honoring the dead in historical tragedies is a strictly American thing - I think everyone should get a little perspective on it instead of getting wrapped up in the hype.[/quote]

Fuckin' hype...? We were attacked. I'm so sorry I feel a little bit upset over that. That my fellow Americans were slaughtered simply because of where they were born and how they live.

As for the people running into burning buildings, where's the line between heroism and recognizing a lost cause?

(Rolls Eyes)...are you playing devils advocate or something? How can you say stuff like this? The firefighters running into the buildings went in there to save as many innocent lives as they could before the clock hit 0:00. How can you sit here and question something like that?


I never thought I would get this kind of response on a 9/11 thread. It really shows some peoples true colors. If you don't think it's that big of a deal than don't post here. It's that simple. Go to the next topic. You don't need to come on here and tell me what I should and shouldn't remember. 3,000 Americans died that day for no reason. I have every right to be upset about that and to remember them and honor them. The heroes of that day, the first responders and the men on Flight 93, were never be forgotten. The ones who died by doing nothing but going to work or traveling for vacation will Rest in Peace.

[Dean]

Those terrorists wanted to kill me just as much as they wanted to kill the people on those planes and in those buildings. I take that personally.

Navy Riot is going to kick so much ass

[J@3]

I feel bad that a memorial thread is being turnt into a nauseating, overly patriotic ra-ra fest.

[benji]

"Remembering" 9/11. Reflecting only on that day. Holding memorials and rememberances. Calling it a "tragedy", these all serve to trivilize the events, make them seem "natural" like hurricanes or tsunamis. We ignore WTC93, Bojinka, The Embassies, USS Cole, we've moved on from those. We ignore events after, Bali, Madrid, London, they were elsewhere.

Condolences and "RIP" are trivial. Vengence is not.

We are a society paralyzed by "tragedy" and so we stayed silent. The anniversaries of 9/11 should not be packed with rememberences and memorials if we want them to mean something. They should be packed with hellfire over Waziristan.

[TheMC5]

I feel much more outraged that the American gov't KNEW it was going to happen and LET it happen than I do sympathy for those who died. Nonetheless, I do feel sympathy for them and their families, just to a lesser degree than the outrage.

The lives of the victims of 9/11 weren't of higher value than the lives of the people who - for example - died during the genocide in Rwanda. What makes those who died on 9/11 so special that they're constantly remembered while others aren't?

Seriously? It's because the people who died in 9/11 were (relatively) wealthy, affluent Americans, not poor, uneducated Africans. Not saying it's justified, just saying how it is.

[el badman]

I watch footage of the attacks many times a week. It's what keeps me going (in terms of what I want to do with my life).

That explains so much...

Condolences and "RIP" are trivial. Vengence is not.

The anniversaries of 9/11 should not be packed with rememberences and memorials if we want them to mean something. They should be packed with hellfire over Waziristan.

Yeah, that's definitely the way to go