HeroicStories: The Attack on America - Reader Comments Page 2

Terrorist Attacks on America

More Reader Comments

Comments and messages of support keep coming in response to the events of September 11, 2001, and the "special issues" of HeroicStoris we published. This is Page 2. Page 1 is here.

Thank you to all those from other countries who have written in support of America. I am deeply moved and comforted by their letters and prayers. --Katie, no location given.
I just read the letters from the people from all over the World and would like to say thanks for the comforting worlds to all of us here in the USA. I could not believe the figures of the dead that were being tossed out until I saw a listing of all the companies listed on a web site that occupied the Twin Towers. I work in a midwestern town that has a population of right at 10,000 people. It hit me this morning when I was going to my van that the entire population of my town had lost their lives in New York yesterday. That is when reality set in. Please do not let these people be forgotten. They were Moms, Dads, Brothers, Sisters, Aunts, Uncles and Grandparents of us all. --John, Illinois
I have never been motivated to write a response to one of your stories before but the events of the past few hours have stirred me into action. I have been watching the events unfold on TV here since 2:00 am local time, about an hour after the first crash. I feel sick in the stomach and share the anguish and sense of loss and disbelief at what has happened. --Greg, New Zealand
All of my family are horrified for the (insane? cruel? absurd? illogical?) attack of yesterday (there are no words for that). It's really really a pity Reality goes always beyond our worst nightmares and even the imagination of the best Hollywood scriptmaster. --Tomas, Spain
I have just read your heartfelt plea for Americans to give blood after the New York disaster. I just want you to know that we in Australia have been following closely the terrible events that have happened. We witnessed first hand the actual events on late night TV and today all Australian TV and radio stations have been informing us of the terrible catastrophe. On a personal level, I wish to offer my sincere condolences and even though I do not know what you are feeling, I have been appalled, saddened, and in shock over what has happened. Even though this tragedy has happened in the U.S it feels as though it is a tragedy for the world. Please know that you have the support of all of Australia and our prayers are with you all. Take care and above all, know that you are supported by many people in many countries. --Lee-ann, Australia
I've never e-mailed you before but I felt I had to today. All my problems in everyday life were brought into perspective yesterday when my Mum rang me at work to tell me what had happened in America. Two of my friends at work knew people who worked at the World Trade Centre (one of them is trying to contact her brother who worked there). Events like this make you realise how vulnerable we all are and how this was an attack on values we all hold dear. However, aside from the criticism of those who carried out the attacks, this is 'HeroicStories', so I'd like to mention the true heroes -- the members of the emergency services who are saving lives as we speak. We all appreciate what you do. --Tom, United Kingdom
We don't know who did this heinous crime against all people, including their own, but remember that whatever their "country", the people helping with and included in the devistation have no "country", all races are blank because of the dust on their faces. Their only thoughts are for the survival of either themselves or others around them. The person beside you may be from the "country" that houses the ones that organised this crime, you don't know because you can't see their real faces. Just see their person. We all need to care and protect the people beside us regardless of their "country". Everyone is being hurt in some way because of this devistating event. The only ones immune are the ones who caused this, or the ones who just forgot to care. I pray from another country for all in your country, but are we realy other countries, or just brothers and sisters parted by a large tear??? --Joanne, Australia
America may not fully know who and where its enemies are is in this dark hour but I would have you know where your friends are. Australia stands with you in this. Our national anthems both speak of freedom. Australia has stood at the side of the United States in many conflicts in the past to defend those freedoms. Now we are being called to do it again. --Reefe, Australia
September 11, 2001 will be a day etched into peoples' memories not only in North America, but around the world. Now all we can hope for from this is that we all have learned. To some, peace and kindness may seem so far off. However, it is closer then we may think. In the news we hear mostly horrible cases of crime and terror. We hardy ever hear of the good one does. Heroic stories tells you of individuals who choose kindness. For many us, in such a dark time questions go though our heads or hate enters our hearts. But we still have to know that there are many, many more kind people in this world then there are evil. People from all counties are already winning the war against evil by banding together. This will not break any of us -- it will only make us stronger. America, you're in all our thoughts. --Cassandra, Canada
I was in work at the local hospital when the attack happened -- it was like a nightmare that is so realistic that you don't realise it's not a dream until you wake up -- except this time it was real! All the TVs started showing the disaster footage over and over with voiceovers telling us what they knew about it. It's taken me a couple of days to completely accept that it's actually happened -- as my Dad said, it's something that no one could have predicted. I just hope and pray that there aren't any copycat attacks, but I'm afraid there may be. My thoughts and prayers are with those who are waiting for news of loved ones, and the emergency crews working among the wreckage, and also with the hospital workers who must be even more over-run than usual! --Anna, England
I'm writing from Ontario, Canada and I want to let you folks know how much my wife and I feel for our American brothers and sisters in this time of trial. New York City is only hours away from us and though it was not us, we feel truly wounded because we know it could have been. Words cannot express the emotional devestation that we feel, but I have never been more proud of Americans than I am now. In the face of great adversity, America's strength and resolve shine through. I hope that the cowards that planned these attacks are brought to swift justice. Canada supports you and feels for you. I heard recently that our Prime Minister is announcing a day of mourning tomorrow (Friday). We have mourned much already, but I think such recognition is absolutely appropriate and even necessary to show those that would kill innocents, that the United States does not stand alone. These attacks have saddened me, but also have made me so indignant that if we had a flagpole, we would run a US flag along with our Canadian as two peoples in complete solidarity. --Jason, Canada
If the world is to survive, we must -- absolutely must -- forbid ourselves hatred of the people who did this. Hatred eats at us and can warp us into someone we will then end up hating. Hatred means the other guy wins. Hatred is blind and destructive. Hatred kills, and usually it kills the innocent. The company my son works for has sent home -- with full regular pay -- every employee who even looks Arab or Muslim, regardless of nationality. Why? Because someone allowed hatred to take over yesterday, and two American-born employees are currently hospitalized as a result -- because they looked like "one of them." Hate the act, hate the fact that religion has once again been twisted into something which goads people into killing "In The Name Of God" ... just like the Christian Crusades and who knows how many other religious wars. Know that no true God would ever encourage such acts. If any God wanted to destroy, then surely such an entity would hardly need the "help" of mere mortal fanatics. If there is a hell, then surely it is reserved for those who claim to speak and act for God, and then say and do un-Godly things. And if you hurt, please allow yourself to cry. --L.D., Ohio.

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I am but one small insignificant person, but I am shocked and outraged by the attacks yesterday. The OKC bombing was an unspeakable horror, but this is thousands of times worse. Whatever else, I am behind my gonvernment one hundred percent and hope that we will show the world that we will no longer tolerate any kind of terriorist act in our country. I also have to acknowledge that I feel not only for the victims and their families, but also the arabs or muslims in this country who are innocent, but will be looked on with suspicion. --Mary, Oklahoma
Assuming Osama Bin Laden, the Taliban, Hamas, or some other Islamic group is behind the attack, this does not mean we should hold muslims or middle eastern immigrants responsible for this crime. Islam is not the motivation for this insanity, though it may be used as an excuse. Murder in the name of Islam is no different from murder in the name of Christ. No major modern religion teaches savagery and hatred. I was raised a baptist in southern Georgia, but I for one will not attach blame to Islamics or Middle Easterners in general for the actions of the rabid few -- assuming, as I said, that an Islamic or Middle Eastern group was behind this attack. This is a particularly important for Americans -- defenders of freedom, dignity, and equality -- to remember at a time like this. If we really believe we can hold a light aloft for the rest of the world, it's time for us to stop talking and start leading, with a lesson that we are now peculiarly suited to teach. --Don, California
I get the feeling that fingers are starting to turn to a certain terrorist extremist. Now I'm not of the Muslim faith, but -- just in case it needs to be said (my guess is that your readership is of a higher intelligence level, so it probably doesn't, but ...) it should be made clear that the Qur'aan -- the primary religious scripture of the Muslim faith -- in no way calls for violence; it calls for tolerance. Be careful not to make the assumption that what you have seen is related to some sort of Muslim cause -- nothing could be farther from the truth. Only assume you have seen the actions of a group of insane extremist terrorists. --Martin, California
Perhaps it is simply a time of confusion and frustration and we must all use caution in these days, and remember that in the U.S., all persons are presumed innocent until proven guilty, and in proving them guilty we must make pains to do so fairly, and without prejudice. --Ken, Virginia
What a joy to see the outpouring of support from around the world. And thank you for the reminder about not assigning the blame of the few on to the many. Most people of Arab background are decent (dare I say God-fearing?) people just as any of your other neighbors are. I heard of the events in NY on the way to work, yesterday. My reaction was the same as I felt when the Challenger exploded those years ago -- complete shock and disbelief. The people who are responsible may have bitten off a bit more than they can chew this time, however. Based on various news reports, most of the rest of the world (including Russia and China!) have condemned this cowardly (!) act. Now my hope and prayers are that these nations can come together in a joint effort to obliterate this form of political expression from the world. Those countries that support this sort of action need to be taken to task in no uncertain terms to ensure that this never happens again. America, Americans and the ideals we all stand for will not be cowed by cowards! I plan on sending this issue to everyone I know. Keep up the great work! --Don, Washington
Yesterday I heard an interview on NPR with an elementary school principal from Greenwich, CT. She talked about the activities in her school this week and the actions that the children would take on Friday. Two parents from that school are missing from the WTC incident. Today each child is packing a lunch for the rescue workers in NYC. I thought 'how wonderful'. They are showing the children that the youngest of us can act in time of sadness. Nearly every day I drive my 7-year-old granddaughter to school. This morning she finally talked about the events when she saw the newspaper photo of the woman in Manhattan who was able to rescue her two cats from her apartment. This is the first she has really talked with any of us about what has happened. I explained that she has a home that is damaged and that other people are helping her right now. That she has no clean clothes or a place to sleep or eat unless there are friends to help her. And if she has no friends nearby, there are shelters that volunteers have put together in schools or other buildings in a safe place. She then said that her school said children could bring in change for the Red Cross. She asked me all about the Red Cross and how they can help everybody. After all of this conversation, she asked if we could take the change she has earned from helping keep the back seat of the car clean and take it to school for the collection jar. She has been so proud of herself for learning to keep the clutter out of the car and has been waiting to fill the sugar bowl with her earnings and then take it to the bank. It is the generosity of children as they understand and respond in their hearts which gives me hope for the future. My guess is that teachers and families all over the world are guiding children toward a sense of responsibility and humanitarianism beyond themselves. My hope is that these horrible days will help many people think of others� essential needs before they think of their own immediate wants. --Grandma Bonnie, Wisconsin

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last updated: May 2005