Comments on: What the Fire Did http://www.tinmanic.com/archives/2001/09/14/what-the-fire-did/ Wed, 08 Feb 2012 17:46:42 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3 By: Dave http://www.tinmanic.com/archives/2001/09/14/what-the-fire-did/comment-page-1/#comment-1575 Dave Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.tinmanic.com/archives/2001/09/14/what-the-fire-did/#comment-1575 If it helps...I won't say most of the country is going through the same thing, but I will say that I and friends are dealing with the same issues. We're over a thousand miles away, but none of us have gotten a good night sleep since this terror started. Specifically I live alone and have 2 dogs; who normally sleep at the foot of my bed; however since Tuesday they sleep with me and we ALL sleep with a night lite...It's a sad state of affairs and with any luck things will return to normal; although, I think I'll always be aware of the nite... I hope this finds you at peace and with at least a few hours of sleep behind you... Always my best, Dave If it helps…I won’t say most of the country is going through the same thing, but I will say that I and friends are dealing with the same issues. We’re over a thousand miles away, but none of us have gotten a good night sleep since this terror started. Specifically I live alone and have 2 dogs; who normally sleep at the foot of my bed; however since Tuesday they sleep with me and we ALL sleep with a night lite…It’s a sad state of affairs and with any luck things will return to normal; although, I think I’ll always be aware of the nite…

I hope this finds you at peace and with at least a few hours of sleep behind you…

Always my best,

Dave

]]> By: dezz http://www.tinmanic.com/archives/2001/09/14/what-the-fire-did/comment-page-1/#comment-1576 dezz Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.tinmanic.com/archives/2001/09/14/what-the-fire-did/#comment-1576 You wrote, "Whenever I see that first hijacker photo, the one of Mohammed Atta... it's the scariest face I've ever seen in my life. I imagine him steering the plane into the World Trade Center..." My thoughts *exactly*. Knowing what he did, with such cool calculation, makes him look to me like Evil Incarnate. I'm sorry you're feeling so scared though, Jeff -- I wish I could say something to make the fear go away, but of course I can't. Other than, perhaps, to say that there are many of us out here who feel, just like you, that there lives were forever changed this past Tuesday. And, if you can believe it, changed for the better -- at least, that's how it is for me. Because I'm awake now. Life is more precious to me than it's ever been. I feel like I have real purpose, a real place here. I can't tell you how glad I am that people like you are here to share this time with me. As all of us online freely share our thoughts and fears and aspirations with each other, we're building a community that's as strong as any physical one. And community is what I think we're in need of now more than ever. For a bunch of us, I'd venture, you're a big part of that. Thanks, man. You wrote, “Whenever I see that first hijacker photo, the one of Mohammed Atta… it’s the scariest face I’ve ever seen in my life. I imagine him steering the plane into the World Trade Center…”

My thoughts *exactly*. Knowing what he did, with such cool calculation, makes him look to me like Evil Incarnate.

I’m sorry you’re feeling so scared though, Jeff — I wish I could say something to make the fear go away, but of course I can’t.

Other than, perhaps, to say that there are many of us out here who feel, just like you, that there lives were forever changed this past Tuesday.

And, if you can believe it, changed for the better — at least, that’s how it is for me. Because I’m awake now. Life is more precious to me than it’s ever been. I feel like I have real purpose, a real place here.

I can’t tell you how glad I am that people like you are here to share this time with me. As all of us online freely share our thoughts and fears and aspirations with each other, we’re building a community that’s as strong as any physical one. And community is what I think we’re in need of now more than ever.

For a bunch of us, I’d venture, you’re a big part of that.

Thanks, man.

]]> By: rob adams http://www.tinmanic.com/archives/2001/09/14/what-the-fire-did/comment-page-1/#comment-1577 rob adams Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.tinmanic.com/archives/2001/09/14/what-the-fire-did/#comment-1577 Your reflections on the changes the culture has made since the attack are good. I remember the European media generally reacting to the Clinton-Lewinsky matter with "... you have <I>got</I> to be kidding. Parts of the world are ablaze right now, and this holds your attention?" As we prepare to literally end the political existance of one or more foreign states over this, not just NYC, but the whole country might start yearning for the Good Ol' Boring Days. .rob Your reflections on the changes the culture has made since the attack are good. I remember the European media generally reacting to the Clinton-Lewinsky matter with “… you have got to be kidding. Parts of the world are ablaze right now, and this holds your attention?”

As we prepare to literally end the political existance of one or more foreign states over this, not just NYC, but the whole country might start yearning for the Good Ol’ Boring Days.

.rob

]]> By: Jonathan http://www.tinmanic.com/archives/2001/09/14/what-the-fire-did/comment-page-1/#comment-1578 Jonathan Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.tinmanic.com/archives/2001/09/14/what-the-fire-did/#comment-1578 Hey Guy: We have been welcomed to the reality in which most people of this world live. I'm tired of hearing words like "unbelievable" or "unfathomable". Suffering and destruction like this have been commonplace forever. It is what the record of history is about. It is what the larger and older cultures and religions and their texts are about. How do nations and peoples co-exist and cooperate? How do we handle war when they inevitably don't? People have been asking this question for thousands of years, and they wrote it all down. Perhaps you will gain insight from reading your Great Books. Keep writing and sharing of yourself. You are special. Jonathan Hey Guy:

We have been welcomed to the reality in which most people of this world live.

I’m tired of hearing words like “unbelievable” or “unfathomable”.

Suffering and destruction like this have been commonplace forever. It is what the record of history is about. It is what the larger and older cultures and religions and their texts are about. How do nations and peoples co-exist and cooperate? How do we handle war when they inevitably don’t? People have been asking this question for thousands of years, and they wrote it all down.

Perhaps you will gain insight from reading your Great Books.

Keep writing and sharing of yourself. You are special.

Jonathan

]]> By: Mark http://www.tinmanic.com/archives/2001/09/14/what-the-fire-did/comment-page-1/#comment-1579 Mark Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.tinmanic.com/archives/2001/09/14/what-the-fire-did/#comment-1579 Well, everybody is unique, but Harding is a good comparison to Clinton as well-- if only because he was president during one of those swingin' economic bubble decades, and he was involved in several scandals, sexual and not, that would make Clinton blush. Of course, the similarities end there. He was about as good as speaking as Bush Jr. is, and he died in office after eating tainted crabs. (His major scandals broke right after he died-- turning a nation's mourning into outrage.) Well, everybody is unique, but Harding is a good comparison to Clinton as well– if only because he was president during one of those swingin’ economic bubble decades, and he was involved in several scandals, sexual and not, that would make Clinton blush.

Of course, the similarities end there. He was about as good as speaking as Bush Jr. is, and he died in office after eating tainted crabs. (His major scandals broke right after he died– turning a nation’s mourning into outrage.)

]]> By: gabrielle http://www.tinmanic.com/archives/2001/09/14/what-the-fire-did/comment-page-1/#comment-1580 gabrielle Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.tinmanic.com/archives/2001/09/14/what-the-fire-did/#comment-1580 Thank you so much for writing and continuing to write your experiences. As someone else in the area who witnessed all of this first-hand (saw it all from my office window in SoHo), I understand the need to talk, the need to share, the need to stress to people that no matter how many days it's been, it will be a long time before those of us who were there see it as yesterday's news. I'm upset that I didn't know there was an NYC blogger community. Maybe next time there's a meetup, we can get together and talk. Feel free to read about my 9-11 day (www.aeternae.org/gabrielle), or to drop me a line. Take care, gabrielle Thank you so much for writing and continuing to write your experiences.

As someone else in the area who witnessed all of this first-hand (saw it all from my office window in SoHo), I understand the need to talk, the need to share, the need to stress to people that no matter how many days it’s been, it will be a long time before those of us who were there see it as yesterday’s news.

I’m upset that I didn’t know there was an NYC blogger community. Maybe next time there’s a meetup, we can get together and talk. Feel free to read about my 9-11 day (www.aeternae.org/gabrielle), or to drop me a line.

Take care,

gabrielle

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