9/11..... The TV Special....

[Godiva]

What did you guys think of the 9/11 special tonight?

 

I went back to Ground Zero for the first time since that day today.

There was such a rush of emotions that I cannot explain..

 

The special was very tasteful and had me balling that whole 2hrs.

Although some thought it was too soon..I have come to realize that there will never be a good time..

 

Your Thoughts...

 

G

[Justice]

I made a conscious decision not to watch it. At least a half of dozen people that I know (including my secretary who lost her brother) lost someone that they loved at the WTC. I knew two victims slightly. I've been to five memorial services. I'm still dealing with it. It's much too soon.

[+ deej]

I cried most of the way through it.

 

Thought it was very tastefully done. Some of the footage had been seen before, but some was just astounding. It's one of those things where you know the ending and you're still on the edge of your seat.

 

It is quite astounding to me that everyone from that station made it out. They were one of the first on the scene, and their truck still hasn't been recovered, yet every one of them made it out.

 

I'd planned not to see it but caught it by accident, actually. I'm glad I did, all things considered.

[Guest Fin Fang Foom]

It was riveting to say the very least. For those of us who live here and recognize every single location in the video (the WTC elevator banks, the walkway over the street, those heavy revolving doors, the mezzanine, the escalators, etc.), it was surreal.

 

Two observations:

 

In the video where you see the first plane flying in, they slowed down the video slightly when the plane comes into view. Because of that, you don't really hear the full sound of the plane flying overhead. The only time I've ever heard that shot unedited was when it was shown for the first time on TV. The second time they showed it (and the subsequent thousand times thereafter) they messed with the audio because the firemen were yelling "HOLY FUCK!" over and over again. My point is that, for me, the thing I remember most vividly was the sound of the plane as it flew directly over my apartment that morning. The sound was DEAFENING. It was a high pitched metalic screaming sound that freaked me out. I thought the plane was going to crash but my "good sense" took over and told me that planes simply don't crash in Manhattan. The first time I saw the video, they played it raw and it captured the sound I heard that morning. They've never played it that way since.

 

My second observation isn't quite as dire. Did anyone else notice that woman who was pushing her child in a stroller through the streets after the second collapse and she had on the surgical mask but her child DIDN'T!?!?! When that child grows up, I think she's gonna have a few questions for her mother.

 

Observantly yours,

 

FFF

[Rod Hagen]

The show was incredible. I didn't get the whole Robert Dinero thing, but he is a New Yorker (right?) and he is of course very recognizable with an interesting voice. FFF I did notice the kid in the stroller and she was holding the mask away from her face, as she obviously did not like it. Little shit! :-)

[Guest tmbg]

I thought I was the only one who cried while watching it. Nicely edited, well presented, a remarkable story within the bigger picture.

 

Cheers! Ritchie

[Guest RushNY]

Hagen-De Niro is a New Yorker ,the reason i think he was chosen is that his TriBeca production offices weren't too far away from the WTC.

[Guest JON1265]

I thought it was incredibly moving...very well-done.

 

The little girl in the stroller did have her mask in her hand as mentioned above...the mother probably just wanted to get the fuck out of there.

 

One thing that struck me was the Father Judge angle. The story was that he was giving last rites to a fireman and he was hit by falling debris (I even heard a falling person). But that doesn't seem to be the case...he was trapped in Tower 1 when Tower 2 collapsed and he apparently died in there...it was right on video. All the firefighters are carrying him out...they are carrying no one else. It was eerie seeing him literally minutes before he died.

 

I thought the reunion between the brothers was very real and emotional. I was in tears.

 

It was interesting to note that no one thought those towers were going to collapse. It was not mentioned once by the firefighters...and they made no effort to get out of the towers before they collapsed. I remember it being reported that it was known the towers would collase...doesn't seem to be the case.

 

This film really captured the frustration and chaos of the day.

 

I thought the whole thing was brilliant.

[Guest Fin Fang Foom]

>The little girl in the stroller did have her mask in her

>hand as mentioned above...the mother probably just wanted to

>get the fuck out of there.

 

I went back and watched the tape and, sure enough, there was the little girl's mask in her hand. I didn't notice it the first time. So, I guess her mother wasn't the selfish bitch I pegged her to be.

 

oops

 

>One thing that struck me was the Father Judge angle. The

>story was that he was giving last rites to a fireman and he

>was hit by falling debris (I even heard a falling person).

>But that doesn't seem to be the case...he was trapped in

>Tower 1 when Tower 2 collapsed and he apparently died in

>there.

 

That's something I was struck by too. I had heard he was killed by a falling person but the fact is that he was INSIDE the North Tower when the South Tower fell. They even said that they found him at the foot of the escalator. So I'm confused by how he died. If you watch the tape, the foot of the escalator is under something so nothing could have fallen on him. It makes me wonder if he actually died of a heart attack or suffocated from the smoke and debris.

 

Curiously yours,

 

FFF

[Guest doc]

I was moved by the tape. A tribute to the Firefighter's, EMT's, NYPD, and to all New Yorker's.

 

Being from the Midwest, let's just say my opinion of New Yorkers probably was not the most flattering. I was wrong. From watching the events unfold on TV on 9/11 and the subsequent days, and now from the TV special, I know for a fact, that New Yorkers are kind people.

 

I still cannot fathom the Rescuers who went rushing into "hell", knowing that they would not make it out. They are a special breed and deserve our deepest thanks. The one NY Firefighter who said he wanted to be in a job to help people instead of being like a lawyer, because he knew he would never be rich, but he needed to be able to help people. I also got really choked up when the firefighter talked abut the chiefs brother who stayed in the stairwell so that other firefighter could get out, because he new the way, so he stayed there to tell them all and died in the building collapse. I can't imagine having to decide if I should stay and help others, or go and save myself. I bet for him, there was no decision, he just knew what he needed to do.

 

God Bless the people of New York City.

[+ deej]

I've said for years that New Yorkers have a bad reputation.

 

I'm not from there but I lived there for three years. As a consultant, I was all over that city (including offices in the WTC) and this midwesterner NEVER got anything but a friendly greeting from anyone.

 

Oh, sure, if there was an altercation or disagreement you'd see the NYC attitude come out but it's not the first thing you'd see.

 

I'm proud of my pals in NYC and not at ALL surprised they've responded the way they have. They're good folks.

[+ deej]

<<It makes me wonder if he actually died of a heart attack or suffocated from the smoke and debris.>>

 

Re-watch the tape. I was struck by the discussion that they took off his collar and opened his shirt as they were determining that he was mortally wounded.

 

Maybe they were trying to get him air? I dunno. I just don't think disrobing a priest is a likely activity unless there is some sign of physical trauma.

 

Perhaps an EMT among us could provide more information.

[Guest doc]

There are many possibilities that could have lead to the death of the chaplain. I would be a fool to even attempt to come up with an explanation. However, many states have laws that require when a Firefighter dies in the line of duty, an autopsy must be performed. Whether or not, NY has that statute, I don't know. Such a tragic loss.

[Guest TomBuStone]

Hey Guys.

 

I was working and missed the TV special.

 

I had set my vcr to record it but I apparently didn't set it properly.

 

If anyone out there has videotaped it, I would be grateful for the opportunity to secure a copy.

 

Thank you.

 

Tom BuStone, Escort

SF CA

415-256-6743 <-- pager voicemail

TomBuStoneXXX@aol.com <-- email

http://www.meetlocalmen.com/mlm/tombustonexxx.html <-- temp web page

[Guest Dan]

I too cried watching it. For me, seeing the footage for the first time of the first plane hitting was still horrifying for me to yell out. I think that it is a good thing that the media has had the sense to not show either plane hitting the towers very often. This way, they still retain the horror. Had they been replaying such footage over and over, it would have lost its power.

 

For that matter, I am glad that the special was on to remind us of the horror. It seems that for the most part most of the country outside of New York, has seemingly healed remarkably fast.

 

In November, I visited Ground Zero and walked around the perimeter. I cried my eyes out at the de facto memorial that was built on the planter in battery park. It was filled with flowers, notes, missing persons notices and pictures of those lost. I will never forget some of those pictures for as long as I live. My eyes still tear up when I think about it. When I tell people about it, forget it. I barely make it through.