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Amen

I went to ground zero the following January. I didn't know how I would react. I didn't know about the smell. I've never smelled anything like that. I never felt anything like that. It changed me. It took a long time to realize that. It changed a lot of people. New Yorkers are not the same as they were. I'm in Manhattan every month or so, I see the difference it has made. I can't see how anyone would not be profoundly affected and NOT show some form of respect or mourning on that day.

New Yorkers are very polite and helpful. NBC has learned that a radical group will be honoring the hijackers in London. People like this make me sick. http://www.msnbc.com/news/958200.asp?0cv=CB20

" In an interview with NBC News, the group’s spiritual leader, Sheik Omar Bakri, says the hijackers deserve to be honored. “The word magnificent is to attract if you like really the attention of the people to those particular 19 Muslims who in our eyes we see as Muslims what really they are — they are more than magnificent,” Sheik Bakri said. “In our eyes, they are the people who sacrifice their own life and that’s the most valuable thing and they offer it. It must be for a good reason. It must be for divine reason.” " God. You know, they might be right. What if the divine reason was that Allah was tired of the Islaic fundamentalists, and decided it was time to 'moderate' Islam by having it purged from without? J.

While I personally agree with your sentiments about September 11th and keeping the day as a day of rememberance, I think it is important to note that people grieve in different ways and should be allowed to do so both psychologically and politically in a democratic and free society (something we have less and less of these days). Even among the families who are directly involved I'm sure that you'll find them acting on their grief and anger in different ways that might be totally contrary to each other and contrary to how you might. I can very easily see one of the protesters being a parent or a spouse who's so hurt and angry about it all that they are driven to know what happened. There are some people who may honestly believe the best way to remember the dead is to hold those who may be responsible for not protecting them to account. "Desecrating" the day with protest, I think, is a lot less offensive than moving a political convention to coincide with the anniversary. While one might be disruptive to the genuine sanctity of the day itself, the other intentionally and shamelessly exploits the dead and the pain of the nation for political gain. I for one will do what I did last year. Not work. Go to church. Reflect on the victims. And hope that someone with wisdom can protect the nation from having to suffer through it again. Respect, -a

"But, 'peace activists'? If you are in favor of peace, must you also believe the anti-Bush conspiracies (right up to the hoary debunked claims no plane ever hit the Pentagon)?" I wouldn't consider myself a "peace activist", although I participated in most of the larger anti-war demos, and I'm very skeptic of most of these conspiracy theories. That doesn't mean I cannot stand by the side of someone who believes in them. I don't really see the point of your question. "Do you have to be an anti-globalist as well? And anti-Israeli?" No. No. (Although, you are aware of how loose those terms are, right? I'm very anti-Sharon, like I'm very anti-Kissinger or anti-Pinochet or, in general, anti-guy-running-from-justice-for-human-rights-violations; would that make me "anti-Israeli"?) "Is it possible to be pro-peace, and still mourn the thousands killed in an atrocious attack Al Qaeda has proudly claimed as their own?" Most definitely. "Is it possible to mourn ... Period." Yes. But wait, what exactly do you mean by "mourn"? You mean in silence? When the death of your family and friends is used as propaganda for the neo-fascist "War on Terrorism" (a.k.a. "Wipe-out the Opposition") agenda, you keep silence? Should you? Should the mothers of Plaza de Mayo, the mothers of those dissapeared during the Argentinian dictatorship, mourn in silence, too? Should the relatives of the union workers murdered in Colombia mourn in silence, too? You may choose to be silent, but I don't think you should expect others to. If that is what you call "pointing fingers", then yes, you can sit silent and reflect, but I see very little respect in doing that. "Perhaps most pointedly, will any minds be changed?" I don't see why anyone's mind would be changed by any single event like this. But keeping them going should show that at least there is dissent, something pretty healthy for a democracy. "And while you also have the right to do these things on September 11, one would think most any human would have the requisite empathy to realize that no matter what your political stripe, your age, your religion, your hair color or number of piercings .... no matter who you are, someone very much like you was killed that day." Help me out here: what do you expect people to do? Do you expect them to shut up while they know that not far away some people are profiting from the death of someone very much like you? I think this is the moment to be outraged, not only on 9/10 or on 9/12, but specially on 9/11. The best way to fight the demagogical use of the signs that synthesize your sorrow and pain is to reclaim the use of those signs out of the demagogues. And let me place bet #3: Mr. Bush will give a very emotional, yet meaningless, speech on TV/Radio, in support of his reactionary political agenda... so that would be respectful, right? If you guessed that I would out there in NYC on 9/11/03, you guessed wrong. As you know, I'm not American, and this is a moment for Americans to reflect on the events commemorated and their aftermath. Out of respect, I'll step aside. I just hope that due respect is paid, and enough noise is made to reclaim the memory of those who died.

Al: I think it is important to note that people grieve in different ways and should be allowed to do so both psychologically and politically in a democratic and free society (something we have less and less of these days). I'm not calling for anyone to be denied their rights on any day. In fact, I said, “you also have the right to do these things on September 11...” The example given isn't about whether people are allowed to grieve in different ways, it's about a valid point you make later in this comment. There are some people who may honestly believe the best way to remember the dead is to hold those who may be responsible for not protecting them to account. I have no doubt you are right. But reading the page about the plans for protest, one doubts the percentage of people with that sincere belief will be very high. In their own words, here's the focus: “The Mass Murders on September 11th were the Bush administration's green light for permanent war. The most important question now is HOW CAN WE STOP THOSE PLANS?” The focus is stopping Bush. On any other day, that partisan tack would be perfectly appropriate for anyone with that viewpoint. I'm just asking, is it appropriate for that one day? In a way, you seem to ask the same question... "Desecrating" the day with protest, I think, is a lot less offensive than moving a political convention to coincide with the anniversary. You'll find no argument from me about the timing of next year's Republican Convention. If they play that time as it looks they will now, I firmly believe there will be a big backlash. But I take it your point is that it would be wrong to use that day as a lever to for partisan political statements. It appears to me that's just what these protesters are planning. I hope I'm wrong, and I only see photos from Union Square of people trying to “to find reason, discourse, compassion...” But those five words are awfully lonely on that page of rhetoric. Federico: ...I'm very skeptic of most of these conspiracy theories. That doesn't mean I cannot stand by the side of someone who believes in them. I don't really see the point of your question. My point was that the conspiracy theorists seem to dominate this particular agenda, and by standing "side by side" with them at such events, you give them credence. The ends does not justify the means, or the motivation. You may seem to share similar goals, but it's been my experience that you should watch your fellow travelers (and their motivations and actions) nearly as closely as those you oppose. Precisely because you stand by their side. When the death of your family and friends is used as propaganda for the neo-fascist "War on Terrorism" (a.k.a. "Wipe-out the Opposition") agenda, you keep silence? Do you really think the crowd in Union Square will be composed of such people? I've heard the families of the victims complain about compensation, release of transcripts, plans for a memorial at the site, and the 9/11 investigation (those complaints were that not enough was being done by the Bush administration), among others. Whenever a significant number of victim's families have a point to make (in the case of the 9/11 investigation, it was 4 women who moved mountains), the press is all over it. Have you heard any of the families (nevermind a significant number) complaining that the Bush administration is using those deaths as “propaganda for the neo-fascist ... agenda”? I haven't, and I'd appreciate a pointer. Help me out here: what do you expect people to do? You answer your own question: As you know, I'm not American, and this is a moment for Americans to reflect on the events commemorated and their aftermath. Out of respect, I'll step aside. Pardon me for implying I have any idea about your thought processes, but it sounds to me like you're a person of strong beliefs, one who made the decision that your beliefs could stand to be put aside ... out of respect ... on that one day. I'm simply asking people to do the same thing. Expend some mental energy thinking about what is appropriate for you to do on that day, not “the crowd.” By doing so, it's possible you might realize that respect for those lost is more important than any political statement, from the right or the left, be it a thinly veiled protest march, or an ill-timed political convention. Obviously, your mileage may vary, from the right, and from the left. I'm just sitting here on the fence, throwing splinters. Observing. And asking questions.