Making History

[Mark A Becker]

Making History

September 11 is moving closer
and closer to becoming
just another answer
on a history test.

[rayheinrich]

Making History

September 11 is moving closer
and closer to becoming
just another answer
on a history test.

    Time, who heals all wounds, never figured on history tests (and underestimates politicians).

[RiverNotch]

Making History

September 11 is moving closer
and closer to becoming
just another answer
on a history test.

Well poop, it's the twelfth here. Might I suggest removing "and closer", just to make it more, er, universal, in terms of time? other than that, this is--well, since I'm not from there, and I was too young when it happened, I suppose, in a sense, it's already just another answer on a history test to me, but still--just--well--oh, you know.

[Mark A Becker]

Thanks guys,

I was at work in DC that morning. I "surfaced" from my basement office, walked out the door onto E ST, and there was panic in the streets. One woman dashed across the street, between "getaway" cars, ran up to me and asked, "what do I do? what I do?" "Please", I answered, "don't run into traffic or you're going to get hurt."

Moments later there were a few earth trembling booms, and she went into complete hysterics along with most in the crowd. "Where are they all running to?", I thought. (Later on I found out that the booms were intercept military aircraft en-route to intercept FLT #93 inbound from Pennsylvania. Of course, that plane was crashed into an open field.

The Pentagon had already been hit, so I decided to go with a co-worker onto the roof-top of our building. We brought along a video camera, with enough cable to connect to a feed in our basement. From that location we could transmit to CNN, NBC, and a "pool feed".

Upon reaching the roof we could see the Pentagon, across the Potomac, with great black clouds of smoke roiling, and orange spits of flames... Below us was a mass of traffic on I-395 trying to escape DC, but it was hopelessly clogged. That's when the black SUVs came ramming through, led by screaming sirens from city police and Secret Service vehicles. Those vehicles pushed all traffic out of the way for the stream of black SUVs. Inside the SUVs were the members of the US Congress fleeing like rats toward the safety of Weather Mountain, in the foothills of Virginia (about 50 miles away).

At this point we fired up the camera and focused on the Pentagon: a clean shot from the rooftop. Then we zoomed in on the "exodus". No one ever saw Congress abandon ship because we never connected our video feed: having done so would have certainly resulted in our firing, with extreme prejudice.

We packed it in and went back to our master control room area. There, we watched the major networks, and we just stayed put. It was pointless to try to leave, and I had no feelings of fear for my life, anyway.

At about 3pm that afternoon, a co-worker and I decided to head home. Our route across the Potomac, into Virginia, on I-395 was completely clear now. The only other "traffic" were law enforcement vehicles along the shoulder of the highway. As we crossed over the 14th ST bridge into Virginia we had a clear view, from about 1000 feet, of the Pentagon. I rolled down my window. The smell is something I will never forget: Hell's own BBQ. There was no trace of a plane, only a long black smudge that led to a deep gash in the side of the Pentagon. As we slowed down (in stunned disbelief) police along the highway shoulder sternly waved at us to "keep it moving!" And we did...

--- There ya go. It's already playing like a newsreel in my head, and soon enough the school kids will be required to memorize certain "important" facts about America on 9-11-01. Many of those students will flunk that history test and probably wonder aloud, "why do we have to learn this crap??"

It is said that the victorious write the history, but the only "winners" that day were the kamikaze pilots, and they all died, too.

---

[/quote]
    Time, who heals all wounds, never figured on history tests (and underestimates politicians).
[/quote]

Hey Ray-

I don't trust any politician. Not even the ones I like.

Exactly at the time when America needed support from around the world, what do we do?

We do what we always do: look to place blame, and kick some ass. We "shock & awe" IRAQ. Wait a minute. IRAQ?? Wasn't the real "bad guy" a SAUDI, that guy named bin Laden? The same guy we backed in the (successful) effort to oust the Russians from Afghanistan?

Doesn't matter. SADAM had made a fool of BUSH SR, and now BUSH JR was going to avenge daddy. So, after thousands of lives lost (mostly innocent Iraqis) and a country blown to Hell, we look up and say, "what the f***?" OH... the bad guys are really in Afghanistan? Let's take our war over there (where no invading country has ever succeeded).

Meanwhile, as I visit my dad at Arlington Nat'l Cemetery, SEC 60 begins to fill up, and then overflow, with more, and more young "visitors". Permanent visitors. G** d**n it!! I'm already against the next war, as they say.

[rayheinrich]

I was deep into writing computer code. I went to get a cup of coffee and noticed all the
cubicles were empty. My boss's office was full of people (watching her TV). I thought: "Another damn
meeting, guess I didn't read the memo"; and turned around and went back to my code. My wife called
later and told me what was up. The buildings collapsing was the big shock. Even Osama Bin Laden
was surprised (this from an interview I heard much later).

What upsets me is how quickly 9/11 was turned into a commodity. Not just the media preying on
survivors, but all the people who saw in it an excellent opportunity to advance their agendas.

As I just added to my poem:

"an excuse to get votes
an excuse to make profit
an excuse to limit civil rights
an excuse for armchair patriotism
an excuse for war
an excuse to kill civilians with drones
an excuse for xenophobia
an excuse to live in fear"

Do you think writing a poem about it is taking advantage of it?
Knowing that people -- well, at least those over 25 -- will be more likely to read it?

Considering the evil of the act has been outstripped by the opportunists, I've come to
think -- as terrible as it might sound -- that it is best to let it pass into history.

[Mark A Becker]

Hey Ray-

Do you think writing a poem about it is taking advantage of it? no
Knowing that people -- well, at least those over 25 -- will be more likely to read it? Depends upon the content. Still no. The insight of a competent poet is sometimes the best insight.

Considering the evil of the act has been outstripped by the opportunists, I've come to
think -- as terrible as it might sound -- that it is best to let it pass into history.
I can certainly understand that opinion Ray. The simple saying, "never forget" is valuable, I believe. It's what some folks add to that saying that makes it distasteful.

I don't "regret" observing that as more time passes, the more the actual events slide into history. And history is chock full of horrific events, and the power, terror, and immediacy of those events can not be truly authentic in their re-construction (which is why I think history tends to repeat itself. We humans begin to romanticize these events: American civil war re-enactments, as an example.

Once all of those who were directly affected are no longer around (ie dead) the precise, wrenching effect of those events becomes murky. Those voices, then, only exist in history, or I should say, as history.

The events becomes points of reference, excuses, as you say, in the evolution of the next atrocity... Human beings, being human, seem to be trapped in a never ending cycle of self destructive behavior. It's a wonder that we're still around...

[just mercedes]

Kids grow up fast.

[rayheinrich]

Kids grow up fast.

This is one of those "You can interpret this 25 ways to Sunday" metaphors. Must keep reflecting...

---

Hey Ray-

Do you think writing a poem about it is taking advantage of it?  no
Knowing that people -- well, at least those over 25 -- will be more likely to read it?   Depends upon the content.  Still no.  The insight of a competent poet is sometimes the best insight.

Considering the evil of the act has been outstripped by the opportunists, I've come to
think -- as terrible as it might sound -- that it is best to let it pass into history.
I can certainly understand that opinion Ray. The simple saying, "never forget" is valuable, I believe.  It's what some folks add to that saying that makes it distasteful.

I don't "regret" observing that as more time passes, the more the actual events slide into history.  And history is chock full of horrific events, and the power, terror, and immediacy of those events can not be truly authentic in their re-construction (which is why I think history tends to repeat itself.  We humans begin to romanticize these events: American civil war re-enactments, as an example.  

Once all of those who were directly affected are no longer around (ie dead) the precise, wrenching effect of those events becomes murky.  Those voices, then, only exist in history, or I should say, as history.

The events becomes points of reference, excuses, as you say, in the evolution of the next atrocity...  Human beings, being human, seem to be trapped in a never ending cycle of self destructive behavior.  It's a wonder that we're still around...

Yes, these must be good comments as a agree with them.

... American civil war re-enactments, as an example.
The slaughter recedes, the recruiting posters advance.

... Human beings, being human, seem to be trapped in a never ending cycle of self destructive behavior.
It's a wonder that we're still around...
Because nuclear weapons -- though not for much longer -- are really difficult to make.

Another possible self-destruction: Antibiotic-resistant microbes are proliferating and drug companies
consider the development of new antibiotics unprofitable.

The list goes on and on... So, yes, it truly IS a wonder that we're still around*.


*An optimistic thought just popped up in my head: Maybe we're not that self-destructive after all.
Then my wisdom kicked in -- some say I'm overly cynical, but I tell them it seems that way because my
wisdom just happens to correlate with reality -- and I realized that we're just inept.

[Mark A Becker]

"... I realized that we're just inept"

Yes, but then there are those moments when we're really, really good at developing new means of destruction, and how to use them.

I completely agree with your observation regarding microbes/bacteria/germs/bugs/whatever..

Native Americans were wiped out, partly by the invading Europeans' weapons, but mainly by their germs. The first anthrax attacks post-9/11 were an indication that "terrorists" are aware of this weapon. Ineptitude of execution allowed those probing attacks to be foiled--- for now.

The possibility of such an attack, if planned better, scares the holy shit outta me. Consider the hysteria that broke out over ebola, and then consider the exponential effect of such outbreaks in the US. You can bet yer ass that the psychos are studying this very hard, and we can only bank on ineptitude stalling them for so long...

[rayheinrich]

"... I realized that we're just inept"

Yes, but then there are those moments when we're really, really good at developing new means of destruction, and how to use them.

I completely agree with your observation regarding microbes/bacteria/germs/bugs/whatever..

Native Americans were wiped out, partly by the invading Europeans' weapons, but mainly by their germs.  The first anthrax attacks post-9/11 were an indication that "terrorists" are aware of this weapon.  Ineptitude of execution allowed those probing attacks to be foiled--- for now.  

The possibility of such an attack, if planned better, scares the holy shit outta me. Consider the hysteria that broke out over ebola, and then consider the exponential effect of such outbreaks in the US.  You can bet yer ass that the psychos are studying this very hard, and we can only bank on ineptitude stalling them for so long...

The terrorists are small-time; no amount of psycho can ever hope to compete with our agribusiness/chemical company
recombinant-DNA pesticide/herbicide/food products or our pharmaceutical companies using similar technologies.

Or, for that matter, our auto driving abilities. In the time it's taken the terrorists to kill a few thousand of
us, we've killed (since 9/11/2001) 536,367 of ourselves in traffic accidents. If 10% of the money spent on
anti-terrorism had been put to something as mundane as improving traffic intersections, we'd have saved
about 60,000 lives. The terrorists are not the ones we should be worrying about.

[Mark A Becker]

Very good points Ray-

How true that we can be our own worst enemy.

B Sanders talks about investing a trillion $ in US infrastructure. A "T"rillion is an enormous number, but he is correct that these improvements need to be made.

Though I do not spend a lot of my time worrying about terrorists, I still believe that vigilance is prudence.

'nough said by me on this topic,
...Mark

"... I realized that we're just inept"

Yes, but then there are those moments when we're really, really good at developing new means of destruction, and how to use them.

I completely agree with your observation regarding microbes/bacteria/germs/bugs/whatever..

Native Americans were wiped out, partly by the invading Europeans' weapons, but mainly by their germs.  The first anthrax attacks post-9/11 were an indication that "terrorists" are aware of this weapon.  Ineptitude of execution allowed those probing attacks to be foiled--- for now.  

The possibility of such an attack, if planned better, scares the holy shit outta me. Consider the hysteria that broke out over ebola, and then consider the exponential effect of such outbreaks in the US.  You can bet yer ass that the psychos are studying this very hard, and we can only bank on ineptitude stalling them for so long...

The terrorists are small-time; no amount of psycho can ever hope to compete with our agribusiness/chemical company
recombinant-DNA pesticide/herbicide/food products or our pharmaceutical companies using similar technologies.

Or, for that matter, our auto driving abilities. In the time it's taken the terrorists to kill a few thousand of
us, we've killed (since 9/11/2001) 536,367 of ourselves in traffic accidents. If 10% of the money spent on
anti-terrorism had been put to something as mundane as improving traffic intersections, we'd have saved
about 60,000 lives. The terrorists are not the ones we should be worrying about.