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Where was I...
Sep. 11th, 2011 05:45 pmJust now I saw a repeat of the live-news reports from 10 years ago, the way the collapse of the first tower didn't really register with the reporters, and the silence and disbelief after the second came down. And again, I was hooked and felt the same shock as I did 10 years ago.
So, where was I when I first heard of the attacks?
Well, I went to get my photos of my visit in New York in July 2001, that I had magnified to put on the walls. One of them is a view of the south of Manhattan from the Empire State Building, of course, featuring the twin towers. This picture still has a special place in my heart and on my wall. I heard from the attacks in the shop, payed for my photos and I remember I rushed home just in time to see the second tower collapse.
I remember my being lost and the distinct feeling that I had just witnessed the end of the world as I knew it. And in a way I was right. The world hasn't been the same since then - wars have been fought without reason, civil rights neglected and subverted, people have been abducted and tortured without those methods really being questioned... I'm not sure that this is the way to go in order to protect the free world - in fact, I'm sure it isn't. But I guess it will take a lot of time still for the world to get back its confidence, to realize that you can't fight against fundamentalism and sheer hatred with weapons, restrictions and prejudice. Granted, you might leave yourself open to attacks, but, honestly, isn't that better than living in constant fear and anger?
So, where was I when I first heard of the attacks?
Well, I went to get my photos of my visit in New York in July 2001, that I had magnified to put on the walls. One of them is a view of the south of Manhattan from the Empire State Building, of course, featuring the twin towers. This picture still has a special place in my heart and on my wall. I heard from the attacks in the shop, payed for my photos and I remember I rushed home just in time to see the second tower collapse.
I remember my being lost and the distinct feeling that I had just witnessed the end of the world as I knew it. And in a way I was right. The world hasn't been the same since then - wars have been fought without reason, civil rights neglected and subverted, people have been abducted and tortured without those methods really being questioned... I'm not sure that this is the way to go in order to protect the free world - in fact, I'm sure it isn't. But I guess it will take a lot of time still for the world to get back its confidence, to realize that you can't fight against fundamentalism and sheer hatred with weapons, restrictions and prejudice. Granted, you might leave yourself open to attacks, but, honestly, isn't that better than living in constant fear and anger?
