2008 Woodie Awards
Letter: Response dedicated to the major impact of the terrorist attacks and resulting tragedy
Response 1
Issue date: 9/26/07 Section: Opinion
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To the editor:
I am appalled by last week's Opinions article "No Need for More Patriotism" first as a person, and second as a New Yorker. Some of its claims are blatantly offensive to the thousands of people in New York and many more around the world who were affected by this tragedy on a deeper level. When the pain that floods your soul upon seeing the images of that day make your body shake with anger, 9/11 becomes more than just an event of the past, but a reality that I and many others live with in our hearts everyday.
The author's claim that 9/11 "was far from the worst tragedy to ever befall our nation" demeaned the heartache that poured out of the streets of New York City for the weeks and months that followed. The streets of downtown Manhattan were littered with family members clinging to posters looking for their lost loved ones. Debris fell from the sky into the neighboring boroughs, even as far out to the edges of northern New Jersey, eerily reminding everyone that this was not a dream. We can go on and on, but above all, it is important to emphasize that one tragedy should not rank over other tragedies. Those who died during the Civil War were shedding their brothers' blood. The attack on Pearl Harbor lost us some of our bravest military personnel, people who had families and lives back in their respective hometowns. One tragedy is one tragedy too many.
The author of the article also states that "The world did not change on 9/11." Certainly from a security standpoint, our world has completely changed, especially if you live in New York City. If you walk into Penn Station in Manhattan, you will find soldiers in full military garb holding machine guns and cops partnered with specially trained German Shepherds. You now have to leave at least two hours early to get through any airport security.
This summer upon entering St. Patrick's Cathedral on Fifth Avenue for the Mass of the Assumption of Mary, security outnumbered the tourists, and you had to first stop at a security desk to have your bag searched.
I am appalled by last week's Opinions article "No Need for More Patriotism" first as a person, and second as a New Yorker. Some of its claims are blatantly offensive to the thousands of people in New York and many more around the world who were affected by this tragedy on a deeper level. When the pain that floods your soul upon seeing the images of that day make your body shake with anger, 9/11 becomes more than just an event of the past, but a reality that I and many others live with in our hearts everyday.
The author's claim that 9/11 "was far from the worst tragedy to ever befall our nation" demeaned the heartache that poured out of the streets of New York City for the weeks and months that followed. The streets of downtown Manhattan were littered with family members clinging to posters looking for their lost loved ones. Debris fell from the sky into the neighboring boroughs, even as far out to the edges of northern New Jersey, eerily reminding everyone that this was not a dream. We can go on and on, but above all, it is important to emphasize that one tragedy should not rank over other tragedies. Those who died during the Civil War were shedding their brothers' blood. The attack on Pearl Harbor lost us some of our bravest military personnel, people who had families and lives back in their respective hometowns. One tragedy is one tragedy too many.
The author of the article also states that "The world did not change on 9/11." Certainly from a security standpoint, our world has completely changed, especially if you live in New York City. If you walk into Penn Station in Manhattan, you will find soldiers in full military garb holding machine guns and cops partnered with specially trained German Shepherds. You now have to leave at least two hours early to get through any airport security.
This summer upon entering St. Patrick's Cathedral on Fifth Avenue for the Mass of the Assumption of Mary, security outnumbered the tourists, and you had to first stop at a security desk to have your bag searched.
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