It's almost eleven years since New Zealand awoke to the news of an unfolding tragedy in the USA. We say "almost", because although 9/11 has entered the lexicon of history, it was the morning of Wednesday 12 September 2001 when news broke in New Zealand of the terrorist attacks.
But eleven years on, the new World Trade centre again climbs towards the New York sky; the Herald reports:
Eleven years after terrorists attacked the World Trade Centre on September 11, 2001, the new multibillion-dollar World Trade Centre once again dominates the lower Manhattan skyline. Hundreds of construction workers are at the 6.5ha site every day, and tourists snap thousands of photos of the two towers that are nearing completion. Here is a look at the status of the trade centre's major components, according to its developers.
The remainder of the Herald story details progress on the replacement to the twin towers. But whilst the buildings are being replaced, the families of the almost-3000 victims will again reflect on the senseless loss of life.
We recntly read a book on our iPad called Firehouse; the true story of a New York Firehouse which dispatched two engines and 14 firefighters to the WTC. Thirteen of those firefighters died at Ground Zero, and the one survivor received shocking injuries. But behind each of those brave men was a grief-stricken family, and an enormous human tragedy.
There are still those who believe that the American government unleashed 9/11 on their own citizens. We won't dignify those conspiracy theories with a link, but if you want to find out just how bizarre some of the theories are, just go to YouTube and search "9 11 conspiracy"; there is some shocking stuff there.
So for all those who remember and mourn tomorrow, our thoughts, our prayers and our aroha are extended from a small country far away; one that has not yet been the target of terrorists. Kia kaha, kia maia, kia manawanui; arohanui. Eleven years on your losses will still be very real.
And to those who fight to protect the world from terrorist of the like of Al Qaeda, we extend our gratitude. We must never cower to the threat of terrorism.
6 comments:
I watched 9/11 on discovery last night purposly to remind myself of the atrocious wickedness perpetrated by Muslim extremists around the world.
One could not watch the anguish and suffering of this cowardly attack, without it building some very strong beliefs.
A backward religion with backward adherents.
It is unbelievable that in this country there are a large number of Muslim apologists.
It's unfair to categorise all Muslims with terrorism Lofty, but the self-proclaimed "religion of peace" does have some very loose unit extremists, and preachers of hate. As of course, does Christianity. Which just goes to show that a few nutters can do enormous damage to an otherwise credible cause.
As the Norwegian gunman terrorist, murgerer, self-proclaimed Christian, demonstrates.
Quite so Scully. Extremists are just that, whatever belief they profess.
The difference is of course is that about 75% of the Muslim street danced with joy at 9/11 while I doubt .0075% of Christian street applauded Brevik.
On topic. I stayed in a hotel in NYC a few years back across the road from a firehouse. The plaques on the wall had the men from that station who had lost their lives since it was established. The odd man here or there, one particularly bad fire in the 30s they lost three. 9/11 they lost every man from a pump and ladder crew. Every man who was on duty that day died.
You can say it is unfair KS, thats up to you.
As for me, I say until I hear the "voices" of their backward religion condeming the actions of their terrorists in a sincere fashion, I will personally hold every manjack of them accountable.
Hate of a peoples is a strong emotion, but in the case of their extremist branches it fits well for me.
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