Five year anniversary of 9/11...

[Asylum Steve]

Wow, 2pm on the East Coast, and no one has mentioned the anniversary of 9/11 yet.

Anyway, it's hard to believe it's already been five years. I've been watching bits of some of the specials that have been on TV. The sadness has eased enough that I can finally re-live the events of that day. At least in small doses...

Has anyone in the NYC area taken part in any of the commemorative events? If so, any pictures?

[julsoph]

Yeah, it IS hard to believe that it's been 5 years already. I'm still unable to watch much, if any, coverage or specials about that day.

Emily

[megan]

The general consensus among me and my friends is that grief is a private thing. All of the media attention since the attacks occured has created a bit of a circus in NYC, and the hooplah surrounding the 5th anniversary is rather sickening. The "made-for-tv" controversy and sickening Oliver Stone movie only add to the disgust. While America stops to remember, NYC can never forget. Many of us pass by every day - how can we? We pass tourists, smiling with Ground Zero in the background, getting their pictures taken, then going to buy fake Louis Vitton handbags next to the illegal vendors selling bootlegged images of the attacks in little albums... yet I get a lump in my throat walking down Vesey every day, while the ghost limbs of the towers float above me. I never forgot - so no need to remember. People seem to feel this need to re-manufacture grief and pain - and sing "All You Need Is Love" all together, like pretending to love each other for a few minutes and giving a group hug is going to make it better. These people are frelling clueless.

There's a lot of anger in NYC right now that may not be reaching the rest of the US. Many people are getting sick, coming down with horrible lung afflictions, yet we are told it's coincidence and the air was safe. Then suddenly, just in time for today, EPA devices appeared on the corner to measure the air quality. It's mind-boggling, and the government is just giving us lip service.

I decided to go on with life as usual today. I slept late (I work Tuesday to Saturday), dropped film off at the lab, wandered over to Coliseum books, had a coffee, then went up to UBS to see the digital Walker Evans prints. In a few minutes I'm going to do laundry.

I was thinking of going through my images shot during the two weeks of unemployment, but I still can't get myself to. All I could manage through shell-shock those two weeks were going to the gym and hitting the bag and photographing. Yet - I don't want to see the contact sheets. Not today. Maybe someday.

Sorry this response is negative and angry. The true horror of what happened five years ago can't be expressed or soothed by insincere politicking and group singing - so my friends and I chose to reach out in private and stay low-key.

[Asylum Steve]

Sorry this response is negative and angry. The true horror of what happened five years ago can't be expressed or soothed by insincere politicking and group singing - so my friends and I chose to reach out in private and stay low-key.

As an ex-New Yorker, I understand completely. I'd much prefer an honest opinion from someone close to this like you are as opposed to the sanitized and glossed-over coverage much of the country is getting.

Still, perspective is everything, and those far removed physically from the event are naturally going to see it and remember it in a very different way, sometimes doing it in a manner (like you describe) that unintentionally upsets those who were there.

I also feel (not to defend them but) politicians and local municipalities are almost in a no-win situation. They try to be too low-key, and they catch grief from people who feel they are not paying enough tribute to the victims, survivors, and their families. They try to make things too ceremonial or too big a deal, they get it for not being sensitive enough and get accused of trying to gain political benefits from such a terrible event.

[dmm96452]

9/11 being my birthday has changed the way I celebrate. Every year I now add and extra candle for the victims and their family members. It creates a bit of a somber mood, but my friends and family being who they are, we recover quickly.

[Asylum Steve]

9/11 being my birthday has changed the way I celebrate...

Happy Birthday... :thumbsup: