On 9/11, we see hate-filled memes aimed at this religion or that group from people whose response to every issue is anger. What happened on 9/11 touched people around the world, especially the USA and none so much as those who live close enough to have seen the smoke rising for days. In this area it’s hard to find anyone who wasn’t directly touched or knew someone who was.
I remember passengers led by Todd Beamer, a New Jerseyian, tried to take UAL 93 from hijacker control with the rallying cry, “Let’s roll.” Thought to have been headed to Washington, it went down in Pennsylvania. The pilot lived not far from me. I was bureau chief in Trenton. Two of my colleagues lived in Manhattan.
Colley Charpentier, now in New Orleans, was through the tunnel when it happened. When New York was shut down he couldn’t get home. He stayed with me. Another, Lilo Stainton, left a message she was taking her bike in case the subways were down, and a pocketful of change in case the cells didn’t work and headed toward the Twin Towers.
When the first tower fell I saw it on TV and feared the worst. Silence. More agonizing silence. The phone rang and a colleague in Trenton said, “Lilo’s mom called. She said Lilo wants you to know she is ok. She can’t get through to New Jersey but she got her mom in Vermont. ”
As days went on I found she took shelter from the falling debris and choking, billowing smoke in a store and helped others in off the street. She lost her bike. Days later, back in the office, they still wanted more eye witness accounts. Exhausted from a week of nonstop coverage, she wasn’t sure what to include. She pulled a chair up next to me and I asked her what she remembered most. It was the people jumping from windows. I put on my best poker face but I was concerned. Lilo left the news business for a while, but is back.
On this date I can’t find time to hate anybody.
I remember the people who lost their lives and their friends and families whose hearts still hurt. I remember the people who survived but suffer aftereffects. I remember the firefighters and police officers who rushed toward disaster knowing that it would be the last act for some. I remember the canine searchers, which included my dog’s mom; all gone now. I remember the journalists who put their lives in harm’s way to tell the rest of us what was happening to our country. I remember the civilians without any search or rescue skills who came to help. I remember a time when we were one nation, all Americans, helping each other any way we could.
I have no room for hate today.
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