It’s hard to believe that ten years have passed since the 9/11 terrorist attacks. On a beautiful fall day, airplanes came out of the clear blue sky and rained death upon thousands of Americans. Commuter trains and phone lines were jammed as the country fell into a state of panic. This was all followed by days of public mourning. The cliche at the time was that 9/11 changed everything. Perhaps it should have, but it is not entirely clear that this turned out to be true. In some ways, that’s a good thing. The death toll ended up only being about half the 6,000 some outlets were originally reporting. The regular follow-up attacks many of us expected never materialized, though not for a lack of trying. For days after 9/11, my office in Boston was regularly evacuated due to bomb scares. Now everything is back to normal. Except the way the country has been roiled by debates over civil liberties and foreign policy, the First Amendment and dealing with Islam, immigration and homeland security. That dark day that forever erased the World Trade Center from New York City’s landscape did change some things. Ultimately, there is little that can be said about these topics that hasn’t been written before. There is even less that can be said that will do justice to the memories of those whose lives were lost either in the attacks or while trying to save their countrymen, either in rescue attempts ten years ago or in the fight against terrorism that continues to this day. Less still can probably said to comfort the family and friends they have left behind. But we remember. And we know two things: America is still here and bin Laden is rotting in hell.
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Thinking About 9/11
[Guest post by Aaron Worthing; if you have tips, please send them here . Or by Twitter @AaronWorthing.] I kind-of, sort-of understood the logic of excluding the clergy from 9-11 celebration. By Bloomberg’s liberal logic, he probably thought that if he allowed any religious speakers, he had to allow for radical imams or something. I am not saying I agree, but it was sort of… expected. But excluding firefighters and other first responders? Seriously, what the frak? So I was gratified to see this absolutely searing editorial by Michael Burke, the brother of a fire captain who died on 9-11. Here’s a taste: In our darkest hour, they gave us hope—the firefighters of September 11. In the chaos at the World Trade Center, the rigs pulled up, the men climbed out, retrieved their roll-up hoses and marched stalwart to the towers. Carrying nearly a hundred pounds of equipment they climbed the stairs; flight after flight after flight. A woman in the North Tower, descending from the 89th floor said, “When I saw the firemen I knew we would be all right.” When they arrived at the base of the towers, there were jumpers by the score. Two firefighters, terribly, were struck. “There is no other way to put it,” an EMS who witnessed it said, “they exploded.” And still they went in. About ten years ago, now, they showed the world why they were called New York City’s Bravest. They should have been included Mayor Fussypants. Let’s all remember this next time the media sets him up as some kind of middle of the road kind of guy. Oh, and go read that editorial. You will thank yourself for it. [Posted and authored by Aaron Worthing.]
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Burning Bloomberg on the Ban on Firefighters on the Tenth Anniversary of 9-11
Perhaps “memorial” is not the right term. It’s become more like a politically correct circus. Last week New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg banned the clergy. Previously first responders (including firefighters) were informed they could not be present because “there is not enough room.” It was okay for firefighters and paramedics to show up at the World Trade Center
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No First Responders, Clergy at 9-11 “Memorial”
Stuyvesant High School is located one block west and four blocks north of where the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center once stood. As one might imagine, 9/11 was a pretty damn significant event in the lives of the teenagers who were at the school that day. Some alumni would like to hold a memorial event on the 10th anniversary of 9/11 a week from Sunday; there’s a community center located at the school that is open on the weekends, so there shouldn’t be a problem, right? Apparently there is a problem. Jen Chung of Gothamist reports : Class of 2002 alum Gary He tells us that he, former Stuyvesant class president Jukay Hsu and others have been trying to secure space for students and teachers (Classes of 2002 through 2005) to reflect together. They say that Stuyvesant Principal Stanley Teitel first said they would need to pay for an event, and then said the school’s agreement with the Battery Park City Authority precluded them from using any part of the school. When the alums contacted the BPCA, they were told they would be allowed to use a small park across from the high school, but then the BCPA rescinded that offer. Now, the frustrated students tell us, the BPCA special events/permitting coordinator is on vacation until September 12.
In light of the many concerns being raised about the killing of Osama bin Laden by the Navy SEALs — questions of propriety, civil rights, privacy, etc. — I thought it might be helpful to prepare a scenario that could have been followed instead: SEAL Commander (knocking on door of the bin Laden compound in Abbottabad) : Mr. Bin Laden, Jack Hartz here of the SEALs elite Sixth Team unit. Do you have a moment? Bin Laden: Well, we’re right in the middle of dinner. Can you come back later — in about an hour, say? SEAL Commander : Gee, we’d like to, sir, but this is pretty urgent. It shouldn’t take but a minute. Bin Laden (grumbling): Oh, for Allah’s sake, OK, OK! (unlatches the door). SEAL Commander : Thanks so much! Sorry to bust in like this, but we’re under orders to capture you dead or alive. It’s not my idea, you understand. Bin Laden: I know but it’s Sunday night. We were just about to watch “24.” So what’s the big deal that this visit couldn’t wait until Monday? SEAL Commander : We want to inform that you have the right to remain silent and…. Bin Laden: Yeah, yeah, yeah. So what do you want to know exactly? SEAL Commander : We’ll need to see a picture ID, first of all, to make sure you are indeed the Osama bin Laden. And then we need to take a DNA sample for final proof. Sorry for the intrusion and all but we try to do this by the book. Bin Laden: No problem. You fellas got a job to do. But why me? I’m just a simple rug merchant. Say, can I get you boys anything — coffee, soda? SEAL Commander : We understand you may be the guy behind the World Trade Center slaughter and we need to ask you a few questions. If you resist, I’m afraid we may need to kill you. It’s just routine. Bin Laden: I’m cool with that. I don’t want to cause any trouble. SEAL Commander : We do appreciate your cooperation, Mr. Bin Laden. Now then, did you in fact have anything to do with bringing down the Twin Towers on September 11, 2001? Bin Laden: Yeah, I remember reading about that. Terrible tragedy. But was I involved? No, no, no, you’ve got the wrong guy. There are a lot of Bin Ladens in these parts. People are always confusing us. Just last week, some guy from Pakistani intelligence came by to see if I was somehow connected to al Qaeda. He later apologized for the mix-up. SEAL Commander : Sir, these photos I have here appear to be a clear match. I’m afraid we have no choice but to book you and take you downtown for further questioning. Bin Laden: OK, let me get my coat. Could I finish dinner first? SEAL Commander : Sure, take you time. Real nice place you got here. Bin Laden: Well, we like it. We’ve fixed it up a lot. SEAL Commander : Yeah, those 18-foot walls are real eye-catching. I especially like the barbed wire touch. Bin Laden (finished eating, pats his coat): OK, I think I got everything — keys, wallet, body armor. How long do you think this will take? I got a big day tomorrow. SEAL Commander : Shouldn’t be too long once we run a check on your movements over the past ten years. Bin Laden: Hey, I’m always happy to cooperate with the law.
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Law & Order: Special SEALs Unit
