September 11th
Posted in Random Musings on 11. Sep, 2011
Hi all,
Today, as every American knows, marks the 10th anniversary of the attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon.
I remember that day very well. I was working in my home office when a co-worker called me, asking if I had seen what had happened. Having no idea what Wendy was talking about, I went downstairs and turned on the TV just in time to see the second tower struck.
After the first tower was struck, there was confusion as to what had happened. After the second strike, there was no longer any doubt.
The United States was under attack.
Confused, and not knowing what to do, I went to the grocery store and then filled my gas tank. I was living in South Florida, and those were the things you did when a hurricane was coming. I noticed many others doing the same, operating more on conditioning than any reasoning, because we simply didn’t know yet the scope of what was happening, or how to cope with it.
My immediate needs taken care of, I drove to the hospital to give blood. The waiting room for donors was filled to overflowing with others like me, who didn’t know what to do, but who needed to do something.
That night, I received calls from friends I hadn’t talked to in ages, including friends from Brazil. Friends who were concerned about me, but also about the broader implications of the attack.
Brazilians are generally pacifists. My Brazilian friends expressed not only concern for me, but decried the attacks, whatever their motivation.
Following George W’s attack on Iraq, sold to the American public on false evidence of weapons of mass destruction, many Brazilians railed against the US government’s policies – as did people around the world, including countless US citizens. Still, the vast majority of Brazilians were smart enough to distinguish between the US government and individual American citizens. I encountered only a couple of incidents of snubbing here.
Brazilians continue to embrace pacifism. I am realist enough to know that pacifism won’t always work, but believe that discourse and not military force should be the first option.
The memorial services being broadcast from Ground Zero are being shown here today, and I noticed many Brazilians watching them at my gym and at a restaurant I passed on the way home. I caught a few Brazilians looking my way.
Maybe I was only imagining it, but I believe I felt them reaching out to me.
Até mais,
John
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Dear John,
I remember this terrible day! I was in my office within the CST Siderurgica here in the state of the Espírito Santo, then a co-worker told me to turn on the TV and watch the shock of the planes into the towers! I was panicked!
My friend Sonia who also worked in this company called me and suggested I call you and then pass the news to her!
My mother called me and said, “Son, I saw a fire much like John, and thought you might get news of him, and call me back.”
I called Simon to see if she had heard from you, but nothing!
I thought of you until the night and can hear you, it was a relief to hear from you!
At this time I forgot geography, and logic of the distance between New York and Pembrook Pines. It was only listening to his voice that calmed me down enough! And pass the news to friends all here in Vitória-ES.
But then came the news of citizens who lost on this terrible day! Until today we are Brazilian citizens sympathetic to all families who lost children!
Glad you chose Brazil!
Abraços,
Claudete