I haven’t made an entry in my livejournal in a very long time, but I think the six month anniversary of the 9/11 attacks is worthy of an entry. I can’t believe that it’s been six months, but then again it feels like a lifetime ago too. What were you doing when you first heard about the news? What did you think when you heard about the second plane hitting the world trade center? I was on my way down to the annual geek fest in Atlanta, officially called InterOP, which is a massive convention for computer professionals. It is like disneyland for us professional nerds, but I remember how silent everything else as large crowds gathered around every television set throughout the World Congress Center to watch the twin towers burn and eventually collapse. It all looked like slow motion as I walked around and pondered the significance of it all. I knew that life as we knew it would never be the same again.
Last night, I watched an awesome documentary called “9/11”. It was a two hour film made by two french men who were actually making a movie about the life and times of a rookie fireman the day of the attacks! We’ve all seen a clip from their documentary. They were the only ones who had actual footage of the first plane crashing into the WTC!
It was a gripping and emotional experience watching this film. I could hardly blink as I sat there mesmerized with the images and sounds. I could only imagine how the family and friends of victims felt as they watched what was in essense the very last moments of their loved ones on film.
I have always admired firemen and what they do, but I have a much deeper appreciation and love for these heroes. I have even considered becoming one, but I am not so bold and not so young anymore either. I think it is one of the noblest professions in life. My heart aches still when I even think about these brave men rushing up 80-90 flights of stairs filled with black smoke and wearing 60 pounds of gear. We lost 343 valiant heroes that day, not counting the other 2,500 innocent souls that perished. I still wonder why or how this happened.
We are still at war and I do not see an end in sight to the terrorism that plagues the world.
Even if we nuked the entire region, they will only regroup and start all over again.
Sadly, in the end, religion is at the heart and center of this nightmare. We are killing each other and will ultimately destroy the world itself all in the name of God, Allah, buddha, etc. etc.
God forgive us all……