Josephine Harris, Miracle 9/11 Survivor, Dead At 69

[RamboLiberal]

Source: Huffington Post

Josephine Harris, a 69-year-old grandmother from Brooklyn whose story of survival during the September 11 terrorist attacks received nationwide attention, has passed away.

On 9/11, following the plane attacks on the World Trade Center, Harris descended 50 floors of stairs in an attempt to escape the building. That's when she encountered a group of firefighters from Ladder Company 6.

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At that point, while Harris and the firefighters paused, it happened: "The tower collapsed above and beneath them. The section in the stairwell where Harris stopped and refused to go any further--the small pocket of Stairway B between the second and fourth floors of the building--was the only area spared. If they had been moving any faster or slower, they most certainly would have been crushed by the debris."

The group was eventually rescued, and both Harris and the firefighters thanked each other for their life-saving actions; the Ladder 6 crew had a jacket made for Harris that read, "Our Guardian Angel."



Read more: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/01/17/josephine-harris-dead-911-survivor_n_810018.html

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I remember this story well. RIP Ms. Harris.

[virgogal]

1. RIP Ms. Harris

[Dennis Donovan]

2. Fascinating story - kinda like the guy who missed being on Titanic because he was stuck in traffic..

Cross Gently, Ms Harris...:(

[HockeyMom]

4. We knew one such person

He received a late night phone call telling him to go to a meeting in Jersey City that day. He told us he watched the towers collapse from the highway. So many of his fellow coworkers perished that day. He has struggled to this day with his guilt. "Why was I spared?"

Eternal Rest to Ms. Harris

[MidwestTransplant]

5. I knew a a guy who had a meeting at Cantor Fitzgerald at 8AM

but his mom needed emergency eye surgery so he canceled to be with his mom. Cantor Fitgerald lost all their employees in the North Tower.

[skepticscott]

3. Apparently god was too busy

to provide another miracle and keep her alive. That wacky guy.

[uppityperson]

6. There always has to be one, doesn't there. RIP Ms. Harris.

[AtheistCrusader]

7. Peace.

It's a euphamism. That sort of language will be with us looooong after religion has expired among the general populace.

[skepticscott]

Self Delete

dupe

[skepticscott]

10. Not for many people it isn't

Lots and lots of people believe fervently in "divine intervention" miracles, "guardian angels", etc. It's insulting.

[AtheistCrusader]

14. But in this case it is non-harmful.

As long as they aren't legislating and such about it, what harm is there?

I SAW THE VIRGIN MARY IN A PIECE OF TOAST! IT'S A MESSAGE FROM GOD!

And what happens then? Nothing. It's still a piece of toast, and a harmless self delusion.

[skepticscott]

16. Anything that propagates or legitimizes

the false notion that there is a big sky daddy up there watching over us and doling out "miracles" at his whim is part of a larger problem that is most definitely not harmless. How far a step in thinking is it from this to praying to the same god to cure your sick child rather than taking them to the doctor?

[AtheistCrusader]

17. Pretty far of a leap.

It's not even the same scenario. This is an afterthought 'that was a miracle', not an intercessory prayer for 'please grant me this miracle'.

Yes, it's silly, and no, it isn't very helpful, but neither is shitting all over this thread about it. It's not productive, and it paints us as petty and mean. Anyone convincable by a post like yours is already an atheist.

[skepticscott]

18. No, obviously it's not the same scenario

but it's all part of the same destructive mindset, despite your attempts to paint misguided beliefs in miracles as harmless. And anyone who isn't an atheist is already more likely to hate atheists more than any other group, regardless of how deferent and meek we are, so why not simply speak the truth where it needs to be spoken?

[RamboLiberal]

19. Most beliefs in a miracle are pretty damn harmless

As in the story of this woman and the firefighters survival.

I don't even think in this context it even has a religious connotation.

I feel sorry for you in getting this bent out of shape over "miracle" in a story.

[skepticscott]

22. The word "miracle" was not chosen by accident

to highlight this story. Nor for a slew of other similar stories that the media peddles. It is specifically intended to pander to people who need their belief in divine intervention constantly reinforced. Titling a news story "Fortunate rescue in Stairwell B" is just not done, for good reason.

And your sympathy is not required...

[wisteria]

11. God works in mysterious ways. n/t

[Angry Dragon]

12. Not to me

[skepticscott]

13. Yes, letting thousands of other people

die horribly when he could have saved them as well sure is mysterious. But you're entitled to your empty rationalization. I'm sure that's part of god's plan too...

[NOLALady]

8. A cousin was on her way to work at the Pentagon.

She got half way to work and decided to call in. She was nearly home when she heard the news.

[rainbow4321]

9. So many "fate" stories from that day

My relative's mother in law worked in another branch of a company based in the Towers but was in their Tower office that morning to make a presentation at a meeting. She didn't make it out.

[MadMaddie]

15. May she RIP!

[Kurovski]

20. In memoriam. (nt)

[TEXASYANKEE]

21. RIP, Ms. Harris

This story was a small bright spot on an otherwise horrendous day. I saw an interview with her and the firefighters -- they were all very special human beings. Their story was one ray of light that I could cling to following the tragedy of 9/11.

[delightfulstar]

23. RIP Ms. Harris.

Never doubt intuition...she was proof of that. She ended up a hero in her own right, and saved several people, even though that wasn't the intent. Call it a miracle, call it fate, call it luck, call it whatever you want, but she and the group from that ladder company were meant to survive, somehow.