We sit so comfy and secure in the US, were you surprised at the events of this week?

-- Anonymous, September 13, 2001

Answers

I'm in the US, and "surprised" doesn't begin to describe the shock. In hindsight, though, NYC has always seemed pretty vulnerable. :-(

-- Anonymous, September 13, 2001

What really surprised me was the magnitude of the attack. Four airliners were hijacked, and three of them went on to hit their targets. I was also surprised at the durability of the WTC (world trade center). I thought the WTC would remain standing. They really caught us with our pants down. It won't happen again. If we are attacked again, it will be much tougher for the terrorists to cause significant damage. The deceased and their families have my sincere condolences. It was a very sad day.

-- Anonymous, September 13, 2001

The WTC towers would have remained standing, but the huge amounts of jet fuel led to long-burning and intensely-hot fires which eventually softened the steel girders enough to let the building's weight fall in on itself. I'd read that even a bomb of the magnitude of the collisions wouldn't have brought the towers down. Only the fire could do that. :-(

-- Anonymous, September 14, 2001

Yes. And saddened. :(

-- Anonymous, September 14, 2001

I thought of this question because I have never forgotten the Beatles song that starts, "I read the news today oh boy,..." There was another band in the 70's, Pink Floyd or Genesis, who also wrote a great song about cultural apathy and an intentional lack people have for societal awareness and compassion. What is the phrase for that? I know you guys will know it ______centrical?

I think we take our relatively peaceful existance in the US for granted. I knew a man who felt strong and invincible. When he was mugged and almost killed in a busy, public area, the realization of his vulnerability and his loss of innocence put him in counseling for a long, long time.

I have gotten many patriotic emails. I guess they help people who want to revitalize the "we are one" ideal. I'll light candles tonight at 7:00PM and I pulled out my Desert Storm red, white and blue ribbon along with a small angel to wear. But the road rage was just the same driving to work today as any other day. We had two pep talk employee meetings which were stated as, "take care of what you need to, but keep working, we're tough, we're not going to be intimidated, suck it up." But I felt something else, a we're not going to lose money over this, underlying message. They were kind enough to set up a TV in our lunchrooms.

I absolutely cannot imagine the terror and pain (which, of course, is the point) of not knowing the fate of a loved one, or for the general public, praying (as I do at times like this) that the missing people are not children or suffering or didn't suffer long. These thoughts are painful, like stabs in one's heart.

But, I think also about what the future holds and that scares me. Although I don't like him much. I must say that when Bush talks, he projects one determined, resolved and very pissed off man. That should scare any countries who may of contributed to this. I am scared for a lot of reasons. Of course I understand potential consequences of being in the military, but still I wonder, what will happen to my career military relative? Will my wonderful, loving security guard who is my surrogate father suffer? He is Palestinian. Although he doesn't look like a terrorist, his son could. And dealing with people who are crazy and hateful towards me pales immediately in the face of people who are so fanatical and full of hate that they plan for months or years a scenario carried out with such devastating results.

Peace everyone-Vicki

-- Anonymous, September 14, 2001