The 9-11 survey
Sep. 9th, 2002 01:21 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
semperfiona1. Where were you when you heard about the attacks on the Pentagon and WTC?
At the ex-in-laws' house, dropping Rosa off on my way to work. It was the first thing they asked me: "Have you heard about the World Trade Center?" I think at that point only one tower had been hit, but I watched their TV for a little while, during which time the second tower was hit. I couldn’t stay long, but immediately turned on NPR in the car. (I go through phases with NPR, and I had been away from it for a few months at that point. It's been on ever since, except for the last week--I got tired of the incessant rehash leading up to the anniversary.)
2. What country/group did you suspect immediately?
No one. At first I thought it was an accident, then after the second hit it was clear it was no accident. I remember saying, "This isn't terrorism, it's an act of war. But we don't know who we're at war with!" I tried very hard to keep an open mind about suspects; even after the first talk of Osama bin Laden I kept insisting on waiting for proof. I remembered the anti-Arab hysteria after Oklahoma City, and was not interested in a replay thereof. Seems we've gone there anyway, though. I regret my comments about war, too, because I do not at all agree with the "War on Terrorism" that has come out of it. It feels far more like "War on Civil Liberties": nearly everything the government has done since has curtailed our liberty in the name of security.
They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety.
— Benjamin Franklin
Searching for the correct text of the above quote got me an interesting article, btw.
As a matter of fact, I did have had much the same reaction mentioned by the authors of that article. While I don't suspect the US government of masterminding the events of 9/11, I have wondered if their subsequent "terrorism warnings" were pure fabrication in order to keep the populace cowed. The secrecy with which the government has surrounded everything it has done since 9/11makes me doubt it all. There is no accountability at all; not even to Congress!
3. Who were you with? How did you react?
At first, with the ex-in-laws, and then for the rest of the day with coworkers. No one did any work. We all ran downstairs often to see what was on television. And when I wasn't watching, I was surfing the 'net looking for updated news, following every rumor and snippet of news, or conversing with coworkers that I thought might be likeminded: particularly Jody. We were hiding in a corner being the liberal subversive fringe; already it was clear that the warmongers and racists were going to have the upper hand for quite some time.
Once I knew that all my friends were safe, I mostly started worrying that my trip to Toronto for ACN 2001 would be cancelled because no one knew when flights would be allowed to resume. Selfish of me, I know.
4. Who did you call first?
I didn't call anyone about it, but I watched AIM for any sign of my Boston friends, and immediately messaged them to check on their welfare. Talked online for quite a while with![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-syndicated.gif)
quinnclub and ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
devilmuse that day.
5. What did you do the rest of the day?
Watched the TV with the rest of my office. Searched online for up-to-date news. Watched TV all evening.
6. Did you have any friends or family killed in the attacks?
No. A few friends of friends, but no one I myself knew.
7. Do you think 9-11 should be a holiday?
No.
8. Do you think even a % of the money donated really made it to the families?
I think so, yes.
9. Did you feel an increased sense of patriotism? Did it last?
Yes and no. Not at all in the sense of "America, right or wrong". I have to stealindigobynight's answer here, as I can't seem to say it any better.
"No, in fact I may have become less "patriotic" (as if I ever was anyway) as I have watched our gov't use this as an excuse to take away our rights and as a platform to excuse/initiate any kind of military action and watched Bush use this as his personal platform to promote himself. It's disgusting."
I am horrified by the new doctrine of preemption. I feel very strongly that that goes completely against everything the USA is supposed to stand for--peace, democracy, and the right of people to self-determination--and turns the USA into nothing more than the world bully. Killing someone who is in the midst of attacking you is justifiable self-defense. Going to the house of someone you heard might be planning such an attack--or only building the means thereof--and killing them is premeditated murder.
It's Minority Report all over again. Bush is making himself the Department of Pre-Crime: he finds "evidence" that Iraq (as a salient example) has the potential ability of attacking us, and strikes them first. Nota bene, Shrubya: It didn't work in the movie, either.
Yet, on the other hand, I do feel a need to be more activist in defense of the ideals that I consider American: the Bill of Rights, the right of non-conformity, the right to criticize the government or any other institution, the right to choose any religion--or none at all--the right of free movement about the country, the right of privacy...I could go on. I love and cherish these ideals, and the struggle to make them more and more real is what constitutes (pun intended) America for me. That is my definition of patriotism.
10. Have you flown since the attacks? How soon did you fly again?
Many times. Twelve flight legs, to be precise. The first time was September 17th, to Toronto for the aforementioned ACN.
And all I can say is that flying has become twice as much of a nuisance without any added safety. I find the changes in airport "security" to be nothing of the sort, generally. After ten of those flight legs I had been "randomly" searched seven times. I'm not a terrorist, never have been a terrorist, and never will be a terrorist. What I am is a traveler.
I dearly miss being able to pick people up at the gate, being able to wait with the ones you're dropping off until the flight was called, being able to just go to the airport and watch arrivals and departures with no particular goal.
11. Have you been to Ground Zero?
No.
12. At what point did it really sink in?
I don't know, exactly. I think I accepted the reality of it by the end of that day, but it was surreal and strange to survey the silent empty skies for those three days afterward.
At the ex-in-laws' house, dropping Rosa off on my way to work. It was the first thing they asked me: "Have you heard about the World Trade Center?" I think at that point only one tower had been hit, but I watched their TV for a little while, during which time the second tower was hit. I couldn’t stay long, but immediately turned on NPR in the car. (I go through phases with NPR, and I had been away from it for a few months at that point. It's been on ever since, except for the last week--I got tired of the incessant rehash leading up to the anniversary.)
2. What country/group did you suspect immediately?
No one. At first I thought it was an accident, then after the second hit it was clear it was no accident. I remember saying, "This isn't terrorism, it's an act of war. But we don't know who we're at war with!" I tried very hard to keep an open mind about suspects; even after the first talk of Osama bin Laden I kept insisting on waiting for proof. I remembered the anti-Arab hysteria after Oklahoma City, and was not interested in a replay thereof. Seems we've gone there anyway, though. I regret my comments about war, too, because I do not at all agree with the "War on Terrorism" that has come out of it. It feels far more like "War on Civil Liberties": nearly everything the government has done since has curtailed our liberty in the name of security.
They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety.
— Benjamin Franklin
Searching for the correct text of the above quote got me an interesting article, btw.
As a matter of fact, I did have had much the same reaction mentioned by the authors of that article. While I don't suspect the US government of masterminding the events of 9/11, I have wondered if their subsequent "terrorism warnings" were pure fabrication in order to keep the populace cowed. The secrecy with which the government has surrounded everything it has done since 9/11makes me doubt it all. There is no accountability at all; not even to Congress!
3. Who were you with? How did you react?
At first, with the ex-in-laws, and then for the rest of the day with coworkers. No one did any work. We all ran downstairs often to see what was on television. And when I wasn't watching, I was surfing the 'net looking for updated news, following every rumor and snippet of news, or conversing with coworkers that I thought might be likeminded: particularly Jody. We were hiding in a corner being the liberal subversive fringe; already it was clear that the warmongers and racists were going to have the upper hand for quite some time.
Once I knew that all my friends were safe, I mostly started worrying that my trip to Toronto for ACN 2001 would be cancelled because no one knew when flights would be allowed to resume. Selfish of me, I know.
4. Who did you call first?
I didn't call anyone about it, but I watched AIM for any sign of my Boston friends, and immediately messaged them to check on their welfare. Talked online for quite a while with
quinnclub and devilmuse that day.5. What did you do the rest of the day?
Watched the TV with the rest of my office. Searched online for up-to-date news. Watched TV all evening.
6. Did you have any friends or family killed in the attacks?
No. A few friends of friends, but no one I myself knew.
7. Do you think 9-11 should be a holiday?
No.
8. Do you think even a % of the money donated really made it to the families?
I think so, yes.
9. Did you feel an increased sense of patriotism? Did it last?
Yes and no. Not at all in the sense of "America, right or wrong". I have to steal
indigobynight's answer here, as I can't seem to say it any better. "No, in fact I may have become less "patriotic" (as if I ever was anyway) as I have watched our gov't use this as an excuse to take away our rights and as a platform to excuse/initiate any kind of military action and watched Bush use this as his personal platform to promote himself. It's disgusting."
I am horrified by the new doctrine of preemption. I feel very strongly that that goes completely against everything the USA is supposed to stand for--peace, democracy, and the right of people to self-determination--and turns the USA into nothing more than the world bully. Killing someone who is in the midst of attacking you is justifiable self-defense. Going to the house of someone you heard might be planning such an attack--or only building the means thereof--and killing them is premeditated murder.
It's Minority Report all over again. Bush is making himself the Department of Pre-Crime: he finds "evidence" that Iraq (as a salient example) has the potential ability of attacking us, and strikes them first. Nota bene, Shrubya: It didn't work in the movie, either.
Yet, on the other hand, I do feel a need to be more activist in defense of the ideals that I consider American: the Bill of Rights, the right of non-conformity, the right to criticize the government or any other institution, the right to choose any religion--or none at all--the right of free movement about the country, the right of privacy...I could go on. I love and cherish these ideals, and the struggle to make them more and more real is what constitutes (pun intended) America for me. That is my definition of patriotism.
10. Have you flown since the attacks? How soon did you fly again?
Many times. Twelve flight legs, to be precise. The first time was September 17th, to Toronto for the aforementioned ACN.
And all I can say is that flying has become twice as much of a nuisance without any added safety. I find the changes in airport "security" to be nothing of the sort, generally. After ten of those flight legs I had been "randomly" searched seven times. I'm not a terrorist, never have been a terrorist, and never will be a terrorist. What I am is a traveler.
I dearly miss being able to pick people up at the gate, being able to wait with the ones you're dropping off until the flight was called, being able to just go to the airport and watch arrivals and departures with no particular goal.
11. Have you been to Ground Zero?
No.
12. At what point did it really sink in?
I don't know, exactly. I think I accepted the reality of it by the end of that day, but it was surreal and strange to survey the silent empty skies for those three days afterward.
