9/11
Wed Sep 11 10:00:50 EDT 2013
I was going to take a day off from biking today, but I had no idea what 9/11 does to traffic in DC. Various closures for observations, accidents, and a fallen tree have created all manner of traffic problems. I thought the subway would be isolated from this, but my bus route is running 20 minutes late. And there may be drivers who can diverting to METRO.
Apparently I left my Kindle turned on last night - or some rogue app got lots of CPU cycles after I put it to sleep - and it won't have much charge when I leave here today, so I may not have podcasts to listen to on my ride.
Of course, my bike route could also have road closures. Yesterday I went past the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial, where there's an observance today for first responders.Date: Wed, 11 Sep 2013 17:34:47 +0000
We got this today from the agency's new chairman:From: [Agency Chairman]
Sent: Wednesday, 2013 September 11 12:01 PM
To: ALL [Agency] USERS
Subject: Reflections on 9-11
Dear Colleagues,
Twelve years ago today, terrorists attacked America and symbols of American strength and greatness in a cowardly attempt to strike fear in our hearts and diminish the American dream. The attacks on the Pentagon and the World Trade Center towers in New York - and another hijacked plane headed for Washington that passengers courageously crashed outside a small town in Pennsylvania - caused unimaginable tragedy and losses that will never be forgotten. For days, air transportation was shut down, the markets were closed and we prayed for the rescue efforts and the rescuers. The men and women of the [Agency] were rescuers, too. Thanks to the efforts of the [Agency] and many others working together, the reopening of the stock markets just six days after the attacks sent a powerful message of unity and resolve.
I don't see how the attack or the attackers were cowardly. (Freely giving one's life for a cause is not usually considered cowardice.) And I don't think they were trying to diminish the "American dream". I thought they were reacting to America's influences on their beliefs and their ways of life, changes in their society that were consequences of our actions in the world. Perceived insults.
I'm not saying that what they did was right, or even justifiable. But if we fail to understand other people's motivations, we will also fail to dissuade them from continuing their responses. They clearly thought it was right and justifiable, or they wouldn't have done it.
[This entry was originally posted as http://syntonic-comma.dreamwidth.org/626664.html on Dreamwidth (where there are
comments).]
I was going to take a day off from biking today, but I had no idea what 9/11 does to traffic in DC. Various closures for observations, accidents, and a fallen tree have created all manner of traffic problems. I thought the subway would be isolated from this, but my bus route is running 20 minutes late. And there may be drivers who can diverting to METRO.
Apparently I left my Kindle turned on last night - or some rogue app got lots of CPU cycles after I put it to sleep - and it won't have much charge when I leave here today, so I may not have podcasts to listen to on my ride.
Of course, my bike route could also have road closures. Yesterday I went past the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial, where there's an observance today for first responders.Date: Wed, 11 Sep 2013 17:34:47 +0000
We got this today from the agency's new chairman:From: [Agency Chairman]
Sent: Wednesday, 2013 September 11 12:01 PM
To: ALL [Agency] USERS
Subject: Reflections on 9-11
Dear Colleagues,
Twelve years ago today, terrorists attacked America and symbols of American strength and greatness in a cowardly attempt to strike fear in our hearts and diminish the American dream. The attacks on the Pentagon and the World Trade Center towers in New York - and another hijacked plane headed for Washington that passengers courageously crashed outside a small town in Pennsylvania - caused unimaginable tragedy and losses that will never be forgotten. For days, air transportation was shut down, the markets were closed and we prayed for the rescue efforts and the rescuers. The men and women of the [Agency] were rescuers, too. Thanks to the efforts of the [Agency] and many others working together, the reopening of the stock markets just six days after the attacks sent a powerful message of unity and resolve.
I don't see how the attack or the attackers were cowardly. (Freely giving one's life for a cause is not usually considered cowardice.) And I don't think they were trying to diminish the "American dream". I thought they were reacting to America's influences on their beliefs and their ways of life, changes in their society that were consequences of our actions in the world. Perceived insults.
I'm not saying that what they did was right, or even justifiable. But if we fail to understand other people's motivations, we will also fail to dissuade them from continuing their responses. They clearly thought it was right and justifiable, or they wouldn't have done it.
[This entry was originally posted as http://syntonic-comma.dreamwidth.org/626664.html on Dreamwidth (where there are
comments).]