It’s been one year ago that we all started our day as we do every other day, only to have it change into one of the most bizarre and disturbing events in US history.

I had gotten up shortly before 8AM and had sat down at my computer, turned on the TV and was hit by the news that a commercial jet liner had hit one of the World Trade Towers in NY. Like most I was stunned by the initial crash (which at that time it was), but while sitting there watching the TV, a live video feed, all of a sudden there was another plane making a very fast turn, descending toward the other tower. In seconds it crashed into the other tower. At that moment it was painfully obvious that it was no accident. My life froze and I felt as if I were in a dream world for a few days.

Simon was working on DMusic, and I was working on Boycott-RIAA and while in shock, we were trying to update the sites with news and images from the day, and keep a clear mind, while being totally distracted. Then the news of the plane crashing into the Pentagon and moments later flight 93 crashed into a Pennsylvania field killing all aboard.

America’s worst nightmare had come true. Terrorism had struck our shores in dramatic fashion. All of a sudden, nothing else seemed to matter. I slept very little over the next 2 or 3 weeks. While watching the images over and over, I finally decided I had to stop watching the images and concentrate on getting on with my life. I later find that a musician friend lost a brother who worked in the North Tower as executive chef, and indeed played on my friends CDs and toured with him for 11 years. His last job was cooking breakfasts and lunches in the corporate dining rooms of Cantor Fitzgerald. Our own Leflaw’s daughter was just blocks away at the time.

Within a few weeks artists, actors, celebrities and musicians came together for a television tribute, called “America, A Tribute to Heros”. Released on DVD and CD it was hard to watch a second time and indeed I’ve found it difficult to watch since. We began to learn the truth behind the attacks, and once again had the power of a sick mind reaffirmed.

Osama bin Laden in no way represents the true meaning of Islam and its beliefs. As a photographer I spent 2 ½ years living in a Muslim state in Malaysia, where strict Islam is practiced on a daily basis. I walked in with an open mind and persued learning what the religion was about. It is not about killing or terrorism. It is about belief, prayer, alms to the poor, self purification through fasting during Ramadan, and the Haj (trip to Mecca) once in ones life. Those things are called the Five Pillars of Islam. The Muslims I met were among the most peaceful, and contented people I’ve ever met. Often their perceptions of the western culture were as distorted as ours are of their culture.

The same applies to music and everyday life. “Country” music is not any better music than “hip hop”, or “rock” better than “electronic”, or any one type of music better than any other. It’s just different. Some may appeal to you, some may not, but it is necessary. Diversity is what made this country great, not only in our ethnic backgrounds, but our culture, foods, and beliefs. Celebrate that we are different, with different tastes and thoughts and desires. If September 11th serves as anything it should to remind us of why America was founded, and what makes our country a wonderful place to live, even with all of its faults.

Dmusic one year ago- http://news.dmusic.com/article/4041

I was in orchestra at the time it happened. At 9:45 AM he cello section said they felt the floor vibrate. Nobody believed them at the time. Not to mention that at the time I didn't realize that my school was five miles from the Pentagon.....
It still scares me. Talking more about it still scares me. I've already recalled these memories too many times today. Augh.

First post. Though it seems so insignificant for the topic.

I never knew that this is year ago since this happened

my hearts still go out to everyone that lost a loved one that day. watched news yesterday got ingrossed with the high alert status but It's all media hype really. I just dont think another big event will happen, little things yeah. but a whole year. damn.

damn typo=thats 'heart'

I will always remember this day. I was at work when the morning radio show I listen to (Bob & Tom) broke in and said about a plane crashing into one tower. Like everyone, they just said it could be an accident, but moments later, reported the second jet crashing into the other tower. I tried everything at that time to find a TV to see what in the hell was going on. Of course everyone was hovered around the TV. Needless to say, nothing was really done the rest of the day (or the week) while at work.

Then on the way home, I realized that I was running a little low on gas, so I was gonna fuel up.. that didn't happen. There were lines in every station, and they jacked the price of gas to well over $3/gal. Some places were $5 and one place a few miles away from home was charging $10/gal.

And even in my area, we hear alot of aircraft overhead, and it was dead silent. Really recall the time I heard one jet, didn't pay attention to it until I realized that they were suppose to be grounded. Looked up and there were 3 fighters flying over at a high-rate of speed. It's a rare thing to see fighters overhead, and seeing that really put into perspective on the situation.

Things like this put life into perspective.

I'd hope that things like this would make everyone realise we're all just humans and instead of greed and avarice being our driving goals, simple things like love peace contentment and helping our fellow humans would be the most important.

I can't say I'm against capatalism, it just make a huge difference if people realised there's more to life than just money . . . this isn't a dress rehearsal, we're only here on this planet earth just the once . . . and it's such a pity that sometimes, or maybe most of the time a lot of people are so single mindedly narrow minded . . . and they just can't see the big picture . . . I'd hope the RIAA, MPAA and congress themselves, plus all governments would realise this and devote more time and effort to the 'important' things instead of protecting big corporation's profit margin's.

I remember the 2 or 3 weeks after this happened, even being British, having no relative's involve in the tradegy, it still made a lump form in my throat whenever I heard or saw reports on the crashes and the aftermath they left.

I wish people could just look at their life's this way and try to make things better for everyone and not just themselves !?!

Hail Humanity !!!

One of the many things that I used to hear a lot of while serving in the Navy was that in the history of this great country, we've never had a foreign "occupation" on US Soil. Times have changed. The "occupation" army is here. It's taking the form of terrorists and cowards who operate and thrive on fear and manipulation. I was deeply troubled when this happened a year ago, and some things still bother me daily. The whole week prior (this year) has found me wondering about many things. Some about what US citizens would do about the anniversary. Some about what the media would do to keep the "fear factor" at a peak. Some just about how _I_ would feel waking up today. The answers are still forthcoming.
God Bless America. While we have our problems, like any other country, we do stick together. We strive to change what little we can with what few tools we have available. We are a nation of freedom lovers, and yes tolerance.
My prayer today is that this will not only be remembered as a day of tragedy, but also as one of triumph.
Triumph over the forces that would have us believe that spilling American blood in this senseless fashion would go unchallenged. Triumph of the _can-do_ spirit on which this country was built.
May the dead rest in peace, and the living continue to remember that the peace must never be taken for granted.

Bin Laden must die.

http://www.weirdlinks.com/WAR.htm

http://www.angelfire.com/tx5/binladen/

It pisses me off that we keep these camel-jockies in prison camps but treat them as if they were staying at a five star hotel! It's all because of these damn civil rights LIBRALS who think that these people aught to be treated with respect! What respect? I say, to hell with these librals! Anyone who thinks like that needs to grow up or get out! I also say we should let those US Marines who are holding these fools over in the prison camps, use them for target practice!

Some would say, "You can't fight fire with fire." In some cases you can't. In this one, however, by killing and torturing these middle easterners, all of the other camel-jockies will see this and get scared! IT'S COMMON SENSE!!! I bet if Al Gore got elected, we throw flowers at Osama Bin Lickin and then go hug a tree! AAARRRGGH! Librals need to grow up and get some BALLS!

Sorry about that. This whole thing just pisses me the hell off. I feel sorrow for the families who lost someone in this horrible event. I also feel for George Bush who some say isn't doing as good of a job as he could. I think he is doing an awesome job because he is taking heat from the terrorists as well as the media, public, congress, and others. He is under an IMMENSE amount of stress but people just keep pounding him. People need to wake up and take their aggression out on one of the things that's holding Bush up: congress! If I pissed off any super left wing nuts, good. You people need to start using common sense. To anyone else, I am truely sorry if this offends you, I am just venting. I am holding the families who lost in my prayers.

Ehh, this time a year ago I had my head buried in cnn, msnbc and different newsgroups. Right now I'm looking at anything but those same channels of media. Those images which have etched the reality of my fears of what goes on in other countries coming home will forever stay with me. To say "don't forget 9/11" is like telling someone "don't forget to breath". And while it can happen in any major city (like here in philly) in any given time ya just gotta move on and forget it. The fear don't bother me since I only hold fear in God and in this time of rememberence my thoughts and prayers are with the innocent civilians and heros who perished.

GreatPoo makes a good point. Some liberals think we shouldn't be detaining Al Qaeda members at Guantanamo Bay. Well, what should we do? Should we let them go and continue to plan attacks against us.

As far as fighting fire with fire goes, again, there are no good alternatives. Even if we try to make peace with these filthy people, they will still want to attack us.

Justice was and still has not been served. The Prez has failed to do his job. Im sick of the 'politically correct' bullshit that is overpowering this country. Because of the fact that we did not complete our mission, getting OBL, we will be attacked again. It's only a matter of time.

they are swarn to kill American's why doesn't anybody understand that?

I understand it completely. I don't like how everyone points their fingers at the 'prez' though. He is trying to do his job but is taking pressure from all directions! I can't even imagine all the stress that man is under. Besides, you must remember that he can't do a damn thing without congress. If you have to blame someone, blame them.

Bush wants the same as you.

Let's all remember that it was a man with a plan, and a hatred of America, and things American that did this. It was ONE MAN. who also btw was proven behind the WTC bombings in '93. Kill him. Should have done it back then. I can say that, but it doesn't mean that this wouldn't have happened. There's no way to prove that.
I do agree with poo on point tho. Words like "inhumane" and shit like that, when referring to people who planned AND executed (pun intended) the deaths of over 3000 people... well.. they don't deserve any more than bread and water, and maybe a pot to piss in, if there's a pot available.
It wasn't "humane" or "just" for these deaths to have happened. No matter what you say or hear or see. I do believe these "men" to use the term very loosely.. need to be shown that there are consequences to your actions. We as a country are always bowing down and aceeding to other wishes when abroad (ie: the wearing of those all covering dress things by female servicemembers on liberty) it's about time we said enough.

Rant Rant Rant. sorry folks.. just putting it out there... thanks

This is bigger than Bin Ladin. He was just an instigator, in his own words.
Saddam, Arafat, Al Zawahari, is all the same. They hate Americans, Christians, Jews, infidels, crusaders and the West. This started over a thousand years ago, before the Moors invaded Spain, before the fall of the Holy Roman Empire, before Constantinople. That was the West then.
"Islamacism" (as opposed to Islam) has become a religion of world domination. It's credo is not live and let live, but an eye for an eye. They got a thousand years worth of revenge in their hearts. They are like problem children. You can try to deal with them, but when they come at you with a gun, you have little choice but to defend yourself.
We will have time for education later.

I'd just like to give my 2 cents, this is the escence of humanity, war and destruction, too late for talk, now is the time for war, guna fuck shit up, and you yank fuckers don't think you're safe yet, those crazy al qaeda fuckers guna do something, fly planesinto shit, use them dirty nuclear waste bombs(they dunno how to make a proper nuke, thoe they could probly borrow one off Saddam Hussein, if they asked nicely) and they sure picked the wrong president to fuck with, they should've known what a fuckin Bush would do.

Three legged two headed babies for everyone.

They ain't gonna do shit. If they were they would have followed up on 9/11 and haven't yet. Why? Because there is no one left to fly planes into our buildings. The eliment of surprise is now gone. You can only do that kind of shit once. Everyone is now too aware and wouldn't allow any terrorists to ever takeover our planes again. The passangers would be all over them like a fly on shit.