I know where I was on 9/11/ 2001, just like millions of other Americans: I was at work, and people were crying and panic-stricken and not a few were gathering in offices to blatantly damn Muslims and call for war against them...I was in as much shock as they, but what followed? I know what happened to me: I was ostracized by everyone in my building because I would not post an American flag on my office door and eschewed the wearing of red, white, and blue ribbon pins. I simply could not do it: God Blessing America meant hating other humans. Is anything different now?
An e-mail went out immediately to all staff where I worked at that time, and I wish that I had saved it. It was not the only one of its kind, but the immediate one directed all employees to purchase items and place them in boxes located in the "commons" area. The list called for work boots, rubber gloves, bottled water, face masks, first-aid kits and flash-lights, among other things, and I remember thinking "WHAT? NYC first responders need these things from ME, from Asheville, North Carolina?" The organization also had drop boxes for school supplies required by our local school system for all children, which all employess were asked to buy as well, because it is a women's health center that accepts Medicaid; it is also a residency program and in the interest of training doctors encourages drug-addicted women to have healthy, happy pregnancies.
I made ten dollars an hour when I worked there and had my own office and was an administrative "specialist"...is the memory of the hatred of me important after 9/11? Two months later, several people complained to my supervisor that my office smelled...forget the rest of it...why go on?
What really matters is what REALLY HAPPENED on 9/11.
THIS is what happened on 9/11/01:
Sent: Wednesday, February 12, 2003 9:32 AM
Subject: Re: Reasons for war in Iraq
Yes we, meaning us in the northeast will see more 9/11. But you have no idea what it was like, as I recall you went out to lunch that day. Nobody up here did that. Don't you watch the news? Osama bin Laden is telling the Iraqi people to fight us, he is in with them. I think you would think differently if it was staring you in the face every single day. I don't like war anymore then you do, but if that's what has to be done then that's what will be done. Saddam should have been taken care of in 91 and bin Laden in 98.
btw, I just very touchy about this subject, I still love ya!
Sent: Tuesday, February 11, 2003 10:56 PM
Subject: Re: Reasons for war in Iraq
> We were attacked on Sept. 11th.
> We must stop terror where ever it exists.
> Thank God we didn't adhere to appeasement during WWII, because Hitler had
to be stopped,as Hussein and those other maniacs must be
> stopped now.
> I did not find this humorous in any way,
> but
> thanks for thinking of me.
> I want to see your kids grow up in a safe free society.
> Take care UJ
People lost their minds!!! My own brother, and my sister's best friend...WHAT HAPPENED TO US? It seems like IT, the loss of democratic sanity, happened on 9/12 WHY?