Of the many images and issues that arose on September 11th, 2001, this one has taken some astonishing turns.
To me it speaks to things deep within us. What our tolerances are, what our moral codes are, what our personal thresholds are and even more importantly- what we need to believe the personal thresholds are of those we hold to be most dear in our lives.
It’s a remarkable article.
Cartooniverse
What an incredible article.
That particular photo has always moved me deeply. There’s another one I’ve seen of a man falling where he is facing upwards and reaching out with one hand. His face can be seen quite clearly.
I’ve often wondered if any of the falling people had ever been identified. I’ve wondered how I would react if it was someone I knew in one of those photos.
I don’t think these photos should be hdden away at all. Certainly not exploited and displayed distastefully as they are on some sites, but I think they should be displayed and there are a few sites who do so respectfully.
To me, nothing else illustrates the pain and suffering the people in the towers went through as much as the falling people photos. We’d like to think we know how our loved ones or ourselves would react in such a horrendous situation but the truth is we really have no idea. None of us were up there on the floors above the site of the plane crash. We don’t know for sure if they all jumped or simply stumbled out of an open window in their confusion and panic. Some of them obviously made a conscious choice to end their lives by jumping and I think that took an unbelivable amount of courage on their part. I can’t even begin to imagine what I would do if I was faced with the choice of burning to death or jumping to my death.
To me, they are not part of a mass suicide or “jumpers” but simply falling people.
To me, jumping from the building is the expression of pure optimism, in that you still have a chance that you just might make it.
See, I tend to doubt that – I’m with Greywolf73 in thinking the motivation for jumping is preferring falling to burning. Ing.
I never saw that photo, but jesus, what an article. He makes many great points. I’m really not even sure what else to say about it.
I found it to be a profoundly thought provoking piece and likely not have come across it, but for finding the link posted here. Thank you.
However I am disturbed at the thought that this thread is going to turn into a bunch of ill considered speculation about the motives of the people who died that way. It’s incrediblly self-centered to speculate and presume to know what jumping, falling, stumbling, tripping, forced, blown, tossed or thrown from the building meant to those people for whom it was a reality.
We have no business intruding on the horror of the moment(s) and presuming to know another human beings motives at any time, much less a time such as that was for each of those individuals.
I agree completely, Abby. The article drew me because of the various human responses to the idea that it might be a loved one.
I wouldn’t dare to presume to know the inner workings at that moment in time for anyone. Not a loved one, not a total stranger. It is beyond anyone to know.
Wow.
I write feature articles for a living, and I don’t consider it an art so much as a craft. My managing editor and I refer to it as “the well-made table,” meaning it’s functional, has for legs, and will keep your drink and snack off the floor, but it’s not art like Pynchon is art. But that feature article rises above mere craft.
Dopers, what do you think about his thesis, that we should not ignore the photographs and tapes of the jumpers?
four legs. The well-made table has four legs, not for.
I’m an editor, too.
Priceless.
I agree with his thesis. But, not ignoring them is different than dissecting them. I personally feel ( and heck, this is IMHO ! ) that we should be able to see the images. There is no disrespect unless you approach a topic with disrespect.
If we approach the entire situation with respect and care, and view the images captured in that frame of mind then yes, I do believe we should be able to see them.
Well, I never heard of or saw the picture before. I guess I knew in a very vague sense that there were films and pictures of jumping, falling people, but had not sought out any.
I am still mulling whether those pictures should be shown in newspapers, on TV etc. Obviously, they did not disappear at all, but have been available on the internet to any who wished to look.
I am pretty horrified by the reporter taking the picture to the funeral.
I am pretty horrified that the photographer took pictures of Bobby Kennedy while his wife hunched over him sobbing and begging people not to take pictures.
Call me stupid, I’m not exactly sure what the author’s point was. Some people are fascinated by this image, including him, to the extent of harrassing other, grieving, people.
The falling images are compelling but the popular culture is not yet ready to deal with them. Artists who attempt to capture this feeling have so far been almost universally censored.
I agree that it would be beyond distasteful for this thread to turn into morbid speculation about these people’s last moments.
Yet, in my humble and hopefully not ill-considered opinion, in some ways it’s as much a disservice to refuse to bear private, respectful witness to the suffering of others.
To engage in puerile speculation is one thing. To look on images of one of our own loved ones suffering could be too hearbreaking, too traumatic. But to turn away from an event of this magnitude, only because we don’t wish to lose sleep at night, only because we don’t want to offend our delicate sensibilities, is just as offensive an attitude for a functioning adult in this world to have. I say better we look, and learn well.
To refuse to witness our fellow human beings in extremis is or could be in my mind, a refusal to acknowledge another simple reality: That there, but for the Grace of God, go I. Because this is how we humans relate to each other, by putting ourselves in our neighbours shoe’s. Without this we have no conscience. Without conscience, we have no hope.
The Unknown Soldier, the Falling Man. These souls are us, every one of us. May God grant them rest.