What Reppy said. I’m going to be flat out with other commitments, so I won’t be available for a chat on the actual day, but I will have you all in my thoughts. I can’t stand the TV saturation we will have over here, so I cringe when I try and imagine what you will all be dealing with. Perhaps a nice day for bushwalking, or something else that will keep you away from the media 
All the best American Dopers
I’ll be at work on 9/11, as I was last year. So I won’t be watching any televised memorials during the day. As for the evening I will probably go to church. There are several special services planned here in Topeka for throughout the day, and one will be in the evening at my congregation.
And speaking of church, the Sunday School teachers at my church(of which I am one) were discussing how, or whether, to refer to 9/11 on Sunday 9/8. I decided that if the kids bring it up I will have to. You see, our school curriculum is based on the Scriptures appointed for that day in the three-year cycle of readings in the lectionary. And one of the readings for this Sunday is Romans 12:9-21. 14-Bless those who persecute you…17-Do not repay evil for evil…19-Beloved, never avenge yourselves…20-If your enemies are hungry, feed them…
Thanks for the thoughts reprise
oh bugger - Judi and myself had already arranged a 48 hour roster around the anniversary. It’s just something we wanted to do for everyone. Both of us feel a little embarassed by the public expressions of gratitude.
The whole media debacle starts here tomorrow. We have already made the commitment to be online and available for the 48 hours surrounding the anniverary of that day. I’m kinda thinking that we might need to roll that forward a little bit.
I’m not gonna publish my phone number in the open. I have no problem whatsoever with the mods/admins passing it on to anyone who feels like they need a friend in the coming week.
Like most other New Yorkers, I will be at work. Hopefully watching the Dow rally.
Thoughtful stuff from Reprise. Our thoughts will be with you US people. It’s going to be hard. Eh, it’s hard already. In the weeks following last year this Board was a tough place to be. I was full of sorrow but mindful that I was only feeling a little part of what most of the posters here were feeling. Logging on and saying something (whether just to try to share or to hose down some ugly but entirely understandable sentiments) was at once a painful duty and a privilege. I can’t commit as much as Reprise (not just because I can’t commit the time, I also don’t know whether I can take it) but I will do what I can, and I will certainly think of you all.
Thanks, reprise.
I don’t plan to watch most of the TV coverage, either, but suppose it will be unavoidable.
Although we didn’t lose any lives, 9/11 hit my employer more directly than many, and is continuing to do so. We are a U.S. immigration law firm, so a) we keep very close tabs on issues of civil liberties, especially as they apply to non-U.S. citizens; b) the tightening of security in the U.S., both in terms of general travel and in terms of immigration processing, affects us and our clients on a daily basis in countless ways; and c) business is definitely down across the board, with the result that we have had layoffs, and the ones of us who remain have to work harder and harder to get the same work accomplished because we can never tell what new restrictions the government will implement without any prior warning, so we have to try to anticipate every ridiculous eventuality.
I remember exactly where I was when I saw the WTC footage; in our conference room with our very close-knit bunch of co-workers, alternating between being completely dumbstruck and crying like a baby. To the managing partner’s credit, within an hour he closed the office and told us all to go home for the day.
We will have a firmwide, nationwide moment of silence next Wednesday, and I expect there will be some somber words and some tears shed. Personally, I understand some people’s need for public and/or collective mourning, but think it’s more important to share these raw emotions with those close to me. TV viewers as a category definitely don’t fall into that category.
Thanks to all non-U.S. Dopers and others who have offered their sympathies, on behalf of myself and all those who aren’t around to offer their thanks themselves. IMHO the best way we can all commemorate 9/11, and prevent its eternal duplication, is to fight ignorance and work toward understanding each other, both as individuals, and as peoples. I certainly plan to try my best, both at work and in my private life.
As a Canadian Military member allow me to add my support:
Last year on that horrible day our squadron went on alert. I remember walking out of the house that morning and my wife said something about the news saying the towers were on fire. I dismissed it out of hand, an accident, she heard wrong. I listened to a CD on my way to work in the car so I didn’t listen to the news. When I got in I went to my office and read my email. I started wondering where everyone was. That was when the call went out on the intercom. Comms blackout, we are on alert. At the briefing that followed we were told that a United Airlines flight from Japan to somewhere in the States with an eventual destination in New York was going to land here in Yellowknife Northwest Territories because of the flight stoppage. We were told what had happened, and we were told to stay in the lounge area, watch the news and await further orders. That was the scariest thing about that day. The waiting for something ELSE to happen.
When the flight came in, that’s when the best thing about that day happened. Our small squadron, small airport, and small town accepted those passengers to our home. Gave them free tours, free housing, free food and support. The hotels were filled up so people opened up their homes to the passengers. We showed them what small town spirit really is. I was never more proud of where I live.
So, this Sept. 11th I will go to work, I will do my job. Standing on guard for thee. My country and my countries great ally to the south. We may just be a transport squadron, we may only be able to offer token support to you guys, but we will do it proudly and deliberately.
My daughter will be born sometime this month. We will name her Montana. I’m hoping that she is born on the 11th day of September so that her new life will be something to celebrate on that fateful day. A celebration of life for a day filled with so much death.
No matter what happens, you have my prayers and thoughts that day. Canada is here for you too guys.
Buliwyf
Thanks reprise It means a lot to know that there is someone, somewhere that cares about what is going on half a world away.
And Broomstick…I think you are reading my mind. Thanks for putting so well what I have been unable to find words for.
reprise, this is maybe the sweetest thing I’ve read in a very long time.
At first, I thought I might just be responding so strongly due to hormones. But I went back and read your OP again, and nope–it ain’t hormones. It really IS one of the kindest things I’ve read.
Thank you.
~karol
Buliwyf, Reprise, Hawthorne, Goo, and others, I appreciate the kind words. I’ve been stressed lately w/ all the anti-US rhetoric espoused lately, 911 nearing, missing lost friends, feeling alone and sad.
I’m glad to hear someone realizes that we (U.S. Americans) are just people too. I don’t know anyone that wants war. Damn, I just want to be able to raise my family w/out worrying what the hell these lunatics might do next.
There are loved ones missing from my life (and many others) now because of this @#$$ insanity. Again thanks for the encouraging words. I always have loved Aussies.
Canadians too! How 'bout them Nova Scotians, did they come through in a pinch or what!
Peace…
As promised, we’ve compiled a list of G’Dopers who are able to lend some kind of support over the next couple of days. You can find our contact details here.
Feel free to phone, ICQ, IM, drop in to chat or email us.
Oops, the above post is mine not Judi’s.
reprise rocks. O’ course, ya knew that.
This is what she posted a week or so back on G’Dope:
There will be a few Aussies lurking around the usual Doper haunts of cyberspace during the anniversary, although timezones and such might interfere. I’ll try to be online as much as possible - my contact details are in the link DarkJudicator gave above. I have to work and also have a meeting with a speech therapist for my stepson, but I’ll definitely be around for a few hours here and there -probably sunrise-ish to mid-morning Chicago time, and again in the evening.
We’re thinking of you.
I’ve officially stopped watching TV.
The last thing I need to see before heading out for the glass-and-granite canyons of downtown Chicago is video of collapsing buildings.
Otherwise… hanging in there. Oh yes, there was that weird dream of someone bombing Michigan Avenue with a gasoline tanker and having to run like hell to get away from the inferno, but other than that, no side effects from the Anniversary.
Geez, what are the New Yorkers and the DCer’s going through?
Buliwyf
And rightfully so! What wonderful people you have around you.
Thanks. I still look up at the skyline sometimes, where those beautiful buildings used to stand, and am filled with such a great sorrow that I start to cry. I keep expecting it to get easier, but every time I think about it, it still hurts. All those people.
The only positive thing to come of the whole thing for me is a newfound understanding of how good people can be to each other. The kindness and support offered by the people in this city, this country, and this planet have gone a long way to raise my overall opinion of humanity. Sentiments like those you offered here, reprise, have been a rock for me over the last year. I can’t change what happened, but I am more sure than ever that we didn’t deserve it. I have seen to much goodness in the people that surround me.
I’m rambling. Sorry. It’s hard to express just how much this stuff means to me. Now I’m getting all choked up thinking about it. That’s no good, since I’m at work. I guess I’m just trying to say thank all of you for the kindess and empathy you have shown here and elsewhere. I’ll leave it at that.
DaLovin’ Dj
Just checking in to let people know that I’m now online and someone will be contactable on the phone number and email address posted at the above link for most of the next 36 hours or so. There’ll also be someone in chat.
I’m online briefly now, basically just to check my email, then unfortunately real life (work and other stuff) is going to intervene for the next twelve or thirteen hours or so. I’ll be online late tonight Australian time (9/11 morning in the States).
I’ll still be contactable by telephone for most of the time.
Thanks for the kind thoughts and consideration, Reprise. It is much appreciated, by me and others.
I remember being astounded, in the days and weeks after 9/11, how many IM’s I received from people around the world, people who didn’t know me but found my name somewhere and sent me a short message wishing me well or expressing sorrow about what had happened. It was touching and wonderful.
It’s just this sort of reaching out that is needed… not government to government, but individual to individual. Person by person, the world can be healed in this way.
So, yeah… Reprise, your words mean more than you know. Thank you.
Yeah, probably the most touching response I got after 9/11 was from a guy in Jordan with whom I’d been communicating about a potential academic publication. He is Muslim, and I’m Jewish, but he didn’t mention our differences at all, just knew that I had a lot of family and friends in the NY area and asked if all my loved ones were OK. I cried like a baby when I read that one.
And yep, the person-to-person contacts will make the difference in the long run…keep at it!