The World Trade Center Terrorist Action

The BBQ Pit
1

Tears. Tears. I haven’t cried like this in a very long time. I have never had so much death and destruction so close too me. I guess you can never guess what your reaction will be when things get intense, but tears just keep rolling from my eyes.

Today began like many others for me. I got up, hungover, at 7:00AM. I spent the prior nite at the Wetlands (a great New York music venue that closes this week) watching Warren Haynes and Dj Logic rip it up. I was not happy to get up, but I was happy. I got ready for work and got on the train.

I got to work (at a bank on Wall street: 30th Floor)and started to catch up on the stack of papers on my desk. Then, a few moments ago the whole floor shook. I had no idea what had happened. Then the screaming started. Women’s screams from the other side of the floor.

It seems some monsters decided to hijack a couple planes and crash them into the World Trade Center towers. I have a perfect view from the west side of my floor. They are burning . . .god how they are burning … . .everyone is panicking . . .people are crying . . .mad rush for the elevators. . . running out to the street . . . .paper flies everywhere . . . .everywhere. . . look at it. . .flames . . .giant holes . . .they hit it good. . . My heaven. . . All of those people . . why? . . . ALL THOSE PEOPLE . . .You killed them . . . . documents everywhere . . . blocks away STILL corporate rain. . .

I ran back into the building and back up to the highest floor I had access to. It’s real. Not a dream. They have killed hundreds maybe thousands of people. The trade center burns like charcoal. Thick and black. Burnt glass, paper metal, and flesh. Sirens.

WHO DID THIS!!! WHY!!! YOU BASTARDS!!! HORRIBLE UGLY FEARLESS COWARDS OF MEN WHO WOULD KILL INNOCENT UNARMED PEOPLE WHO ARE WORKING FOR A LIVING!!! PEOPLE WITH FAMILIES!!! PEOPLE WHO WERE LOVED!!! WHAT HAVE YOU ACCOMPLISHED!!! NOTHING!!! WHAT HAVE YOU PROVEN!!! ONLY THAT HUMANS CAN BEHAVE WITHOUT REASON, COMPASSION, LOVE, & MORALS!!! THE THINGS THAT ARE SUPPOSED TO MAKE US STANDOUT!!! THE THINGS THAT MAKE US GREAT!!! BETTER THAN THE ANIMALS!!! NOW THERE WILL ONLY BE MORE!!! MORE VIOLENCE!!! MORE HATERED!!! THE WORLD IS A WORSE PLACE TO LIVE IN BECAUSE OF YOU!!!

I love my life. I love this Country. I love this city. The world can be a good place. Last night I was with friends and strangers, people of all colors and religions, and we were all having fun. We let the music groove into us and danced till 4:00 in the morning. It is possible for people to come together. To not hate. But, no matter how far we come, I always am reminded of the human capacity for violence and anger. We are in the chaos. We can only enjoy it while we can. Cause tomorrow the sky could fall . . .

Now the trade center fell. I have to go. They are evacuating lower manhattan . .

2

I can’t even begin to fathom, dj. I was living in OKC and was at the site within an hour of the bombing. Even after 16 hours there, I can’t begin to imagine what Manhattan must be like.

Six or so years ago, I thought I’d seen the most unimaginable horror possible. I was wrong.

dj, I’m not an MPSIMS hugger, but to all of you there, there are some of us who know only a bit of what you must be going through, and our hearts are with you. I’m sure our efforts and money will be when relief efforts begin.

Stofsky

3

dalovindj, you must have had the worst week imaginable. My heart goes out to you and your loved ones. I’m in too much shock to cry right now, but your post almost did it. Please take care of yourself.

4

dalovindj, I’m pretty much just another kid so what I have to say probably isn’t gonna mean much to you but whatever I am so incredibly sorry you and all those thousands of other people had to go through that shit :frowning: I hope you’re ok and you stay safe and I hope the stupid bastards that did this get hung by their dicks from a post and are left to die :mad:

5

dalivindj, your post brought me to tears. Take care of yourself.

6

This is one of the few things I agree with you on. The people who did this deserve nothing less than to have their skin scraped off with a cheese grater then throw them into a vat of alcohol and salt. All they proved is that they are a bunch of weaklings and cowards because they wanted to destroy our enocomy and government before they really act.(WW3? I Pray to God no, but it’s probably so.)Tears come to my eyes when I think about all the lives that were ruined today and all the emotional damage everyone will have to live with. I always hoped that there would never be a war in my lifetime, though it looks like there will be. Dalovindj, I feel sorry for you and for all of those poor souls in the Ney York and Washington D.C area. They never did anything to deserve this kind of torture.

7

As horrendous as OKC was, it is just a drop in the bucket compared to what I’m seeing and hearing on the news.

Take care of yourself, dj. All of you guys are in our thoughts and prayers

8

dj, I was thinking of you today- please post again so we know you’re OK.

Zette

9

dj, thank you. Thanks for going back in. Thanks for being there and telling us what you felt.

Doug

10

dj, I can’t even begin to fathom the horror. But your post brought me too close for comfort, and I can’t stop thinking that you were even closer.

I’m sorry. God, I’m sorry.:frowning:

11

DJ…I really, really hope you’re okay. I’ve been ghosting/reading your posts for a while, and, honest-to-god, you were one of the first ones I thought of when they mentioned the bombing, I just hope you’re okay. You of all people don’t deserve this shit.

Of course, neither did all those people in the tower. Or on the planes. In the Pentagon.

Be safe, dj.

May whatever god that would condone this be with you…

12

All my thoughts are with you guys. :frowning: Stay safe.

13

Alive and well, folks. I must thank you all for the kind words in the posts and e-mails. I am impressed beyond belief by the kindness and sympathy expressed by everybody in new york and the country. Expressed in words, actions, and prayers (god or no). Thank you. I truly love you all.

I have had my internet cut. AT&T world net turned out not to be a good choice for emergency situations. I am at a friends house, and this is the first chance I’ve had to get online. I can’t hang around for any great debates at the moment, but I’m sure it won’t be too long before I’m pissing people off again around here with my wacky views and unorthodox demeanor :cool:. While it’s still fresh in my mind, I would like to continue the description of what happened to me on that day:

After going down to One Chase Manhattan Plaza and seeing the towers burning, I moved in closer. Right up to that little park that stood in front of the World Trade Towers. Looked up and saw it thinking “This is historic. I’ll tell my kids about this someday. Better get a good look.” I decided to go back to my building and watch it from there. This decision definately saved my life. Had I been standing in that park when the towers went down, I would be one of those poor unfortunate souls.

I saw on the news today the little man made of copper who sat on a bench in that park. He looked just like a real person, with a briefcase, enjoying a day at the park, only he was made of copper, and so didn’t really belong. Now he looks even more out of place in the wasteland that is lower Manhattan. Very sureal. I would still not be shocked to wake up and find this was all a dream.

When I got back to the building I entered the OP as the towers burned. I have always found it terribly interesting to read the posts of people in war-torn parts of the world as they went through bombings, attacks and civil wars. I never guessed I would be one of those people, but I wanted to record how I was feeling. It seemed important to me to try to get somebody, somewhere to understand what it mught be like, and how horrible it was.

They made announcements that there was no real danger in my building, and the best thing to do was go down to the atrium in the bottom of the building and get a cup of coffee. Then the first tower fell . . .I hit the submit button and booked to the lobby. As I got off the elevator the dust cloud moved across the building. The bank I work for has 100 foot glass walls at the entrance. It went from being a bright blue day, to being the darkest night you could imagine. It was like an eclipse times ten. All light blocked out.

I looked to the security and fire folks who work in the building. They were useless. They had no idea what to do, nevermind what to tell a couple thousand other people to do. Then people started ripping their shirts up to cover their eyes and mouths. Then they would jet out the revolving doors. Fuck it. I’m goin’ too. I went out and imediately my eyes burned and I had trouble breathing. I ran as fast as I could towards the FDR. I made it out of the thick of the smoke and headed north with thousands of other people. Some were bleeding, some were covered head to toe in dust.

I decided to go to a place on 2nd Ave and 4th Street so I began to move north-west. I got about 15 blocks away and then the second tower went. I turned to see it falling, and then the cloud came for us. Came real fast. I ran as fast as I could from the cloud. Hundreds of us running as fast as we could. The cloud did overtake us, but barely. I got out of it pretty quick after it re-engulfed me. And ran to the safety of the East Village.

It truly was amazing. Thousands of people going across the brooklyn bridge. Covered in dust. Shocked. Crying. Screaming. Hell.

I do so wish there was a way to resolve all of this without killing thousands more. I fear that now that they killed 5000 we will kill 50,000. Then they will try to kill 100,000 (chemical weapons) and we will kill 1,000,000 (nuclear). I don’t see this doing anything but escalating. I hate those who did this, but take no joy in the idea of more bloody, dead humans. Could this be WWIII? Can these people be stopped without invading these countries? Will my generation be asked to fight a land war? How awful to be asking these questions. Damn you. Damn you.

But they cannot win. I will still live in NYC. I will still have a wonderful life. I will not give up, I won’t be scared, and I WILL fight if asked. One thing is for sure: I consider every day from now till my death a bonus day. I will live it to the fullest. Here’s hoping all you other dopers do the same. Be safe, hug the ones you love, and listen to a little music every day. We may just be going into a rough time for the US. Be mindful of just how great we have it.

I’d like to finish up with some lyrics from some songs I’ve been playing these last couple days:

“I got to keep on moving” - Bob Marley

“You may say I’m a dreamer, but I’m not the only one” John Lennon

“Children say a little prayer before you go to sleep because tomorrow is promised to no one” - Studio One

“All I ever wanted was someone to let me live my own life. All I ever wanted was to give. All I ever wanted was to live.” L.B.D.A.S.

“Racism is schism on the serious tip, you don’t believe me then I go and bust your lip” - Beasties/Sublime

“Some jealous punk snuck up around the back, tried to take the lovin’ over me.” sublime

“I got no more tears in me left to cry” Everlast

“If dem are gonna win it, dem a gonna have to win it with Rasta. Cause if dem are gonna win it another way dem are gonna fight again. But if dem win it with Rasta then their no more war” Bob Marley

DaLovin’Dj