Tags
I usually don’t speak on this day, preferring to post a simple image to show how I feel. This, I do out of respect. Our of sorrow. Out of a profound lack of words.
This year, I’ll only share one thing. The thought that popped into my head the moment I was told that an airplane had crashed into the Twin Towers, as I was walking into our graphic designer’s office.
And so, it begins.
That was whispered into my ear, making my skin crawl. I turned around, but there was no one behind me.
We still hadn’t turned on the TV, so I thought at first the airplane had crashed into the towers in a freak accident. I couldn’t understand the meaning of these words. When we started watching the news, I realized it was much more than that. And when the second airplane hit the towers, time froze for me. I sat down, hand over gaping mouth, a crushing feeling of helplessness weighing on my chest.
I’m still unsure as to what began that day. But I have faith that the evil that was unleashed that day won’t triumph for long.
I am part of that power which eternally wills evil and eternally works good.
Mephistopheles, Faust
Charles Yallowitz said:
It really did change the world. Personally, I’m not really sure the wounds will ever fully heal over here.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Nicholas C. Rossis said:
Nor anywhere else.
LikeLike
Charles Yallowitz said:
I’ve always wondered how the rest of the world looks at 9/11 compared to the USA. We seem to have politicized it a lot over the years, which is sickening. Most people do remember it solemnly, but every year has this bizarre chest thumping and attacking on social media. So, I really am curious if that’s just us.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Nicholas C. Rossis said:
I think so. To the rest of us, as far as I can tell, it’s an unpolitical atrocity, despite how the image of the US shifts. To me, it’s an unending shock, the image of people jumping out of the Towers burned into my brain. I honestly wish I could somehow unsee that.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Charles Yallowitz said:
I wish the same thing. It still sends a shiver down my spine. The last 2 years, I haven’t been able to check the news because I just can’t see them again. Not like I can’t imagine it in vivid detail since I spent the original day watching it on TV. Seems to be even worse when I think about the way we don’t see it as an unpolitical atrocity.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Gwen Plano said:
I wish I could “unsee” that as well. Thank you for your powerful reflection, Nicholas.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Nicholas C. Rossis said:
Thank you so much, Gwen.
LikeLiked by 1 person
rijanjks said:
I couldn’t agree more, Nicholas. BUT, I am a firm believer that evil will not triumph. Not for long. The light is more powerful than the darkness. Hugs.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Nicholas C. Rossis said:
Thank God for that!
LikeLiked by 1 person
MichaelStephenWills said:
I had forgotten the date, sadly; and am now happy for this reminder. Thank You.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Nicholas C. Rossis said:
Thank you, Michael! That’s very kind of you.
LikeLike
coldhandboyack said:
Wonderful post. I can still feel those beating hearts on the airplanes as I watched them crash into the buildings on that day.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Nicholas C. Rossis said:
Thank you, Craig! I know what you mean.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Pingback: Remembering 9/11 – Wonderwall
V.M.Sang said:
I was at my residence secondaire in France. My brother-in-law rang and said had we seen the tv news. We turned on and were shocked and appalled at the atrocities.
It’s one of those dates that everyone remembers what they were doing and where they were, like the assassination of JFK.
I cannot understand how anyone can think it’s right to kill others. Especially in the name of God, whatever name you give him.
But light always overcomes darkness, doesn’t it. When I throw a switch the dark flees.
We must all remember that.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Nicholas C. Rossis said:
Yes, we must. Thank you for sharing that!
LikeLike
Ernesto San Giacomo said:
I was teaching in Brooklyn with a clear view of the Twin Towers. I always say “Maybe next year I’ll post about my experience, but I never do.”
LikeLiked by 1 person
Nicholas C. Rossis said:
I know what you mean. Took me 16 years to be able to share what little I did.
LikeLike
jjspina said:
The loss was so great and devastating that it still reverberates across the nation and the world that something so heinous could happen on America’s doorstep.
Thank you for your kind thoughts!
Hugs xx
LikeLiked by 1 person
Nicholas C. Rossis said:
Thank you, Janice. Hugs!
LikeLiked by 1 person
debyfredericks said:
I fly my flag every year on 9/11 but this year I forgot. I guess 16 years is long enough for me to start letting go of the pain.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Nicholas C. Rossis said:
I find that strangely comforting. Thank you for sharing!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Micki Peluso said:
It was a nightmare Nicholas. I lived only 5 miles as the crow flies and could look across the island water and see the devastation. I lost many that I knew that day and many that by the grace of God. were not there due to traffic and other reasons. I watched the second tower implode, hoping my son-in-law–a first responder got out in time. And now we watch thousands like him who worked tirelessly for up to a year searching for victims; breathing in the fumes that would later kill so many with incurable cancers. This did not have to happen if terrorism was squelched in the 70’s when it reared it ugly head. The voice in your head spoke true– It began and we may never rid ourselves of it. Yet while we need to forgive, we must never forget!!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Nicholas C. Rossis said:
Thank you so much for sharing that, Micki. I don’t think I can ever forget, no matter how hard I try. In a sense, I envy the wee one for not having lived through that.
LikeLiked by 1 person