9/11

[Felch]

Allende made the unfortunate mistake of being wrong. This is a cuitthroat world we live in, and we need the strength of capitalism to stay competititve. If socialism came about we would all be a bunch of computer programmers and philosophers and before you know it {BAM} the moonmen take over.

Everything you know could disappear in a flash. Thank your lucky stars that the CIA keeps weak willed wimps from taking control over our access to copper.

[Sava]

9-11 didn't change me much. I always knew the MidEast hated us and wanted us dead. If anything, 9-11 only shattered my confidence in the intelligence community.

[Monk]

I agree, Trajanus. I remember back in the days people would tell us to expect a world where everything has changed, but although everybody was affected to some degree, the rest of us went to school and work in the same way as always and did fundamentally the same things as before. The outbreak of patrioism/nationalism helped George W. Bush when we wanted to wage a war and introduce questionable legislation (my country did both as well), but I don't see why that couldn't have happened either way.

The people in the Western world should be a lot more concerned about actual dangers. Sometimes when I hear about the dangers of terrorism, I wonder how people can choose not to fly, visit the Basque region etc. then sit at home eating McDonalds food and smoking 20 a day like that didn't constitute the actual threat to their lives.

[Thorn]

Damn 9/11, it gave Bush and Asscroft all the fuel they needed to ruin this country.

You know I think Muslim countries need a taste of terrorism themselves (besides military attacks)... thinks they are immune... idiots..... maybe they'd feel differently about it, instead of cheering when it happens. Ack what am I saying they never learn.

You heard about Muslims stoneing to death this women under Islamic Law for adultery. She was pregnant too...... they are a bunch of barbarians.

I hope that freaking meteorite hits the middle east and ends its problems for mankind.

[BeBMan]

Originally posted by Monk

The people in the Western world should be a lot more concerned about actual dangers. Sometimes when I hear about the dangers of terrorism, I wonder how people can choose not to fly, visit the Basque region etc. then sit at home eating McDonalds food and smoking 20 a day like that didn't constitute the actual threat to their lives.

But smoking or McDonalding is their own decision. Getting blown up is not. Plus, smoking etc give you some decades before you have to worry about the results. The terrorists, once on their "mission", aren´t that generous....

[Monk]

BeBro,

But smoking or McDonalding is their own decision. Getting blown up is not. Plus, smoking etc give you some decades before you have to worry about the results.

Correct. Maybe I should have used the example of traffic accidents instead. I read in the newspaper today that even in Israel - one of the few places with actual reason to be worried - more people die in "normal" car crashes (as opposed to busses being blown into pieces) than terrorist attacks. Terrorism doesn't really kill that many, so the only way it can really accomplish anything is if people start changing their views because of it.

[Rufus T. Firefly]

Well, it made me change careers...

I suppose that day highlighted different things for different people. For me, living in an Islamic country -- even a secular one -- on 9/11 and after drove home the fact that people elsewhere just plain didn't understand the US, its people and its culture (okay, so 'Poly drove that home, too ). I really wanted to do something for my country in that moment, and the thing I wanted to do most -- and seemed most qualified to do -- was publicly represent the US abroad. I spent a year boning up on old, forgotten facts and learned some new ones (especially about economics and management theory), and took the foreign service exam in Sept. 2002; I passed the exam, interviewed in March, and was offered a job on the spot. I've just been given security and medical clearances, and will head to DC in January for a few months training before being sent who-knows-where.

Though I'm much more aghast at my government these days, I'm more eager than ever to get started and bring down the administration from within. But, really, 9/11 changed my life.

[MrFun]

Originally posted by Chris 62
I'm amazed people are so immature as to attempt to troll Americans as the date of such a tragedy approches.

It changed my online feelings on a lot of people, instaed of taking it good naturedly, I now treat the trolling morons with the utter contempt they so richly deserve.

My only real regret is that some of the idiots who tried to foul MrFun's thread wern't on those four jet liners, it would have done the gene pool an enormous favor.

Um -- isn't wishing the death of other people who are not criminals, but just insensitive, a bit harsh?


But you are right -- those people are grossly insensitive when trolling those who have lost someone in those terrorist attacks, or those who have still been affected, even if they haven't lost someone.

[MrFun]

Remember also the brave firefighters, police officers, paramedics, Red Cross volunteers, and others who were working in some ways beyond their call of duty . . . . .

[Solly]

..and George Bush as well, Mr Fun. His actions were heroic.

[MrFun]

Yes -- in regards to Afghanistan, but not Iraq.

But I would prefer that a separate thread is created for any debate -- I meant for this thread to be a memorial thread.

[Harovan]

9/11 was my wedding anniversary before 2001, and still is. And despite the undoubtly horrible things that happened at this date somewhere in the world, I still celebrate it.

[MrFun]

Wow, Sir Ralph -- now that you mentioned it, are there any other Apolytoners who have a birthday, wedding anniversary, or some other significant annual milestone of their life on 9/11?

[JohnT]

It didn't change my life as much as 10-10-01.

[DanielXY]

I would do so too...
Your wedding affects you more than the terrorist atacks, heck even a one-night-stand affects you more...

I suppose for most ppl. lives terrorist atacks are meaningless (maybe some shock for a little time while watching the news ... and thats about it)