I went to Ground Zero last week

[undeterred]

I don't know what I expected. I've been to NY but not since 1999. Ground Zero is an eyesore with an unfinished memorial on the outside fence. Hallowed ground and expensive real estate at the same time. I visited my company's HQ which is 2 blocks away. They are reminded of September 11 every day by the heavy security in the building and the heavily armed policemen standing guard outside above the subways. Terrorism isn't something that happenened once 4 years ago- they know they are still the prime target in the USA.

In Manhattan, September 11 is personal. Almost everyone knew someone who died or was affected personally by the tragedy. When I asked, people talked about the horrible smell that lasted for weeks and months, the people who became ill afterwards or who suffered PTSD, and the gas masks that were being sold in the streets.

I didn't have the nerve to ask anyone if they believed the official story. Somehow it seemed like a rude question, like asking someone what was really on the autopsy report of a loved one. Its too painful for many people to talk about, much less to delve into. I found that people are universally angry at Bush for allowing this to happen, but even more for his not taking steps to make sure that it does not happen again.

It almost seems like there should be hazard pay for working there.

[laruemtt]

1. my brother-in-law took us

there back in march when we were visiting in ny. hadn't been there since three weeks before 9/11. we went at night. i couldn't stop crying. very very eerie

[petgoat]

2. Ground Zero Story

hA friend in California went to see a talk on 9/11 by Barrie Zwicker,
a Canadian journalist. Zwicker said that a couple of year ago he was
visiting Ground Zero on the anniversary of 9/11.

He said there were some guys standing across the street from there
with a banner that said "Bush Did It!". A bunch of firemen stood in
front of the banner to block it, and the guys with the banner moved
off to the side, and the firemen blocked it again. Then a guy ran up
to the banner and ripped it in half.

Zwicker looked around, and saw a whole lot of cops standing around,
and he said to the nearest one "officer! Why don't you arrest that
guy? He's interfering with freedom of speech."

The cop wouldn't do anything. He and Zwicker got to talking, though.
Zwicker told him he was a journalist visiting from Canada. After a
while the cop said "You must think we're stupid, huh?"

Zwicker said no, he didn't think the cop was stupid.

"Yeah," the cop said," You really must think we're stupid. Look.
We KNOW Bush did it. But they can't have that banner out here on the
anniversary. Not today."

[JackRiddler]

3. kick

[demodewd]

6. interesting

Sure would be interesting to hear some of the private conversations concerning 9-11 with those guys.

[nonny]

4. General Byrnes, a native of New York, New York

Maybe it was "personal" for him too.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=104&topic_id=4311425#4317115

[spooked911]

5. Thanks. Good post.