Even for Fodor's.

Me? I was escaping from my office next door to the New York Stock Exchange. My brother-in-law - well, he's gone without a trace :(

Robespierre," Date: 09/11/2006, 11:46 pm
Until the south tower fell at 9:59, all that was known was that three buildings had been hit by airplanes. The damage seemed significant but manageable up to the collapse."

Just an FYI, the damage did NOT "seem manageable" from the moment a commercial airlier hit the first tower. I trade stocks, and almost everybody in my business was at his or her desk and watching CNBC or a similar news channel and getting ready for the trading day. Any of us who have been in the business for any length of time knew people who worked in the towers. The Cantor offices were on an open mic to their office in the Tower. We watched people jump to their deaths instead of being burned alive.

Manageable? HOW DARE YOU?

Fodors. it may be time to pull this thread. We're heading into a political minefield.

Fodors. it may be time to pull this thread. It has absolutely nothing to do with travel.

This tragedy is much too sensitive for a travel forum. We are all heart-broken for the loved ones who are gone.

Actually if you read the manifestos of many of the terrorist groups (including Al-Qaida), they do detest the Western world's version of freedom.
They find much of it an affront to their interpretation of the Koran and an insult to the will of God.

It is a religious war for most of the Islamic terrorist groups--with a major stated aim to make the entire world Islamic (and ultra-conservative Islamic at that). Ladies, you won't have to worry about what your college major should be or advancement in your work careers if they should win.

Actually, if you read the transcript of Peter Arnett's 1997 interview with Osama bin Laden, you will find that &quot;freedom&quot; isn't even mentioned when Arnett asks why <i>jihad</i> has been declared.

The fundamentalists view the attack as retaliation for U.S. foreign policy in the mideast. You may disagree with that position, but for Americans to at least <u>look</u> at the issue from the enemy's point of view might be helpful. Emotional proximity to the sacrifice detracts from clarity.

By the way, I think the day will come (soon) when we regret having 138,000 troops in Iraq instead of guarding our ports and critical infrastructure.

In my apartment three blocks away from the towers.

Some of the comments on this thread are deeply insensitive and at best offensive to anyone who had personal exposure to this event beyond that of a TV screen.
Robespierre, I think it would be good if you would email the Editors to request the removal of the thread. If it's not gone soon, then I'll email them. But I think it would better if you made the first move.

I too was in Paris on 9/11 and after pondering what was left of the day, we decided to skip our dinner reservation. The TV coverage took away our appetites.

Robspiere your name tells us alot about who you are!

My screen name is a <i>nom de plume</i>. It tells you no more about me than the color of my eyes does.

I was on my way to Manhattan, driving to the ferry terminal in Staten Island when the radio announcers came on to say a plane had crashed into the WTC. We didn't really think much of it, they went back to their music. We saw huge billows of smoke overheard, though we couldn't yet see the towers. My father noticed a plane in the sky and remakred &quot;look at that idiot, he's heading straight for the smoke..&quot;. Seconds later they announced a second crash into the other tower.

Got near the ferry, had an appointment, finished my business and for some reason we still headed over to the ferry terminal (I had a job interview that day). Stopped along the way at a clearing where we could see everything. Saw the first tower collapse. Knew I wasn't going anywhere that day. I will never forget the shock, sounds, smell, sights of that moment.

I remember every second of that day like it was yesterday.

<b>&quot;...the radio announcers came on to say a plane had crashed into the WTC. We didn't really think much of it...&quot;</b>

See? Manageable.

Most people, when they are in a hole, quit digging.

And when that doesn't work, they'll try to browbeat everyone else into believing there is no hole. And when that STILL doesn't work, they'll invent a new nom de plume and continue browbeating in stereo.

Since when is the presentation of facts &quot;browbeating?&quot; Do you have the slightest concept of how a dialogue works?

September 11 is my birthday also, and I was teaching a 6th grade special educaiton class in Pearl, MS. The previous year on September 11, my father in law died. I have not stopped celebrating my birthday, but I an usually very anxious about what could happen on that day.

apparently, some people have difficulty distinquishing the difference between fact, opinion and feeling.

Or the difference between debate and character assassination, for that matter.