I Remember That Day – Guest Post
August 18, 2010 by admncc
Here at The Constant Complainer, in addition to my own posts, readers can submit Guest Posts on topics they’d like to complain about. Leo Nevoli is back with another Guest Post today. His post discusses a relative of his affected by the September 11th attacks. So without further adieu, here’s Leo…
At least once a year, I go through my saved e-mails and read the one my cousin sent me at 8:37 a.m. years ago. I always read it on the anniversary of the day he sent it to me, because it helps me remember the events of that day in my own way. It was nine minutes after he clicked “send” that a plane struck the North Tower of the World Trade Center. He sent that e-mail on September 11, 2001. Minutes after that he made a call to his mother to tell her that he was fine, a general announcement was made in the South Tower, where he worked, to remain calm and stay in the building. Despite that announcement, he began to make his way out – he had reconstructive knee surgery a few months before and was slowly walking with a cane. Seventeen minutes after that first plane hit, another plane struck his South Tower.
Just writing this I am recalling the emotions my family went through that day. The unknown brought uncertainty, worry, concern, and fear. Was this e-mail the last communication I was going to have with my cousin? What about that phone call he made to his mother? Was that the last she would hear his voice? Communications were down in New York, and the last time anyone heard from him – he said he was alright, but that was before the second plane hit. His mother waited for a phone call from him, and not one from someone telling her of other news. It was late morning when the call came, and it was him saying he had made it home. She received the call she hoped for, and experienced other emotions: relief and joy. Others did not receive a call from their loved one saying they were fine, or saying “I love you” one last time. My family was one of the fortunate ones to have someone walk away from those events, but the memories stick with my cousin and our family.
The events of that day bring painful memories to people who lost loved ones on September 11, 2001. They may relive the pain that day once a year, or may do what they can to avoid having to be reminded of that day. My cousin does not watch television on September 11th. He will go to the movies and/or stay outside (away from the news). Different things may remind people of that day; it might be the mention of the World Trade Center Towers, the date, a photo of a lost loved one, or the mention of the terrorist and their radical Islamic religious views. It is little reminders that people may not want to see or hear. That is why one has to wonder the motives behind a mosque being approved to be built 600-feet from where the Twin Towers once stood, and it is set to open on the ten-year anniversary of September 11th.
I am fine with freedom of religion and people practicing it – this is America and you are granted Freedom of Religion. However, by putting a mosque, a symbol of the terrorist’s religious belief near “Ground Zero” is rather insensitive to the families that lost loved ones that day. It is a clear reminder to people that visit “Ground Zero” who was behind it, and their beliefs. Some people believe that Muslims build mosques at the sites of what they consider to be “Great Victories”. If this is the case, then why is a mosque being built there? That building will have more then a mosque; it will have a pool and a daycare center. Kind of ironic to think that a daycare was destroyed that day, and the mosque will provide a new one.
This situation reminds me of a several years ago, when a guy who wanted to build a strip club and serve beer in a vacant lot in the neighborhood near where I live. The lot was next to a Catholic Church. Upon hearing the request, the people of the township and local politicians spoke out against it, and the guy decided to build it elsewhere. The people spoke up because it was in bad taste to have a strip club next to a church, and they did not care if he built it a mile away from the church, just as long as he did not build it next to the church. In this case politicians and people had the right idea, and stood for what they believed in. But what about building this mosque? Some politicians are supporting it being built, while others have spoken out against it.
To me, building the mosque close to “Ground Zero” is like building a halfway house for child molesters next to a grade school; (it is going to end badly). Maybe the people that support the mosque feel that true Americans will allow it to be built without people vandalizing it as retaliation for the events in 2001, because the people doing it will be no better then the terrorist that flew the planes. To me, building it near “Ground Zero” is rather insensitive to the memory of the firefighters, police officers and everyone else who lost their lives as innocent victims that day. I’m Leo Nevoli, and that’s my ponderings.
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I’m glad your cousin made it out OK.
As for the mosque, it may not be tasteful, but Muslim as a religion does not support terrorism. The terrorists that attacked us on 9/11/2001 were extremists. There are also Christian extremists that have committed terrorist acts.
There are many terrorists, Reforming Geek. I think Leo’s point was “perceptions.” Understandably so, 9/11 is still a sensitive topic for many.
Keep in mind ReformingGeek, some people are guilty by association. You may have a group of Muslims that mean well, but let one person do something wrong, they are all “just like that one bad one.” Some people who lost a loved one may be filled with so much hate towards the people they blame for taking their loved one, that they don’t see the good in the others.
Geek’s comments just don’t add up. I’d love for someone to tell me once where a single Christian “extremist” hijacked 4 commercial airliners and used them as weapons to murder 3000 innocent people in the name of their “god”…not to mention the way these people treat their women, or the hundreds of other murderous acts they have committed against innocents. The worst christian extremists do is knock on your door and hand out pamphlets. Get off of your “evil christian extremist” pack of ignorant lies…because no one with an education buys it.
The mosque near ground zero isn’t the story here anyway. The radical muslim extremist Imam is the story…and the fact that the Obama Regime is paying him with U.S. tax dollars to travel around the intollerant middle-east to raise money for their “place of worship” near ground zero. This evil person supported the attacks on our country on 9/11, and favors Sharia Law courts in the U.S. I think it’s time for the Muslim community to start showing a little compassion and tolerance for the United States…
I have to agree with Reforming Geek. I see where people wouldn’t want any religion associated with terrorists built so close to ground zero. I realize it’s a very sensitive topic, but no religion teaches to hate and to kill. People aren’t born terrorists, they’re taught or shown by example.
It’s awful that 9/11 happened and I pray it doesn’t happen again. My thoughts and prayers go out to everyone.
I read that the St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox church that was destroyed during 9/11 was offered monies to rebuild, but they declined the offer. Anyone know why?
I’m torn because in my mind I know that all Muslims are not terrorists. I know they are a religion like any other. But in my heart it still feels wrong to put it there. Maybe that isn’t politically to feel that way and admit it, but I’m just being honest.
I feel like the terrorists will feel validated even if it isn’t meant for them.
I meant to write “politically correct”
A “Christian extremist” blew up the federal building in OKC. “Christian extremists” bomb abortion clinics. A “Christian extremist” set off a bomb at the Atlanta Olympics.
Those are lies, Geek…
I wondered when you would get to this CC.
I don’t think that the mosque should be built, but ultimately it isn’t up to me or you. When it comes down to it, this is a decision that should be made by the local NYC zoning board.
I love how Don is suddenly silent about the constitution when the outcome doesnt suit his views. He didn’t even mention it once. This surprises me because when there is a post about any other topic from Wal-Mart to Britney Spears, Don can somehow twist the comments to talk about how the constitution says this or that. Yet, he declines to discuss it here, interesting.
Also, to say that the worst thing a “christian extremist” might do is hand you a pamphlet at your door is extremely ignorant. Plenty of terrorism has come in the name of God instead of Allah.
That being said, build it somewhere else and stop using government money to raise funding for this project.
The profound ignorance of Timmy is once again on display…No need to bring up the Consititution, because it’s not part of the argument..Anyone with the very limited gov’t schools education in the U.S. know that there is nothing unconstitutional about this. So now the debate has to go to the next step…and the next step is to ask the question “is it right?” A majority of Americans say “NO.”
As for the christian extremeist vs muslim extremists:…Christians are not taught in their churches and in the bible to kill people in the name of God, Muslims are.
I try daily to be a Christian Fundamentalist, but since I’m human, I fail miserably. But the bottom line is this: A muslim that murders Jews and Christians in the name of Allah will live gloriously in heavan with a bunch of dead muslim whores. Christians that kill people in the name of God aren’t Christians, they’re insane.
It isn’t and shouldn’t be up to a majority of Americans to decide, numb nuts! It’s up to NYC. And you can’t exclude Christian extremists from christianity just because you don’t like their actions. They are what they are, whether you acknowledge them or not.
Either way I’m done feeding a troll.
Why should only NYC have the right to an opinion on this? 9/11 was an attack on America, and American ideals, whether the murders occurred at the Pentagon, WTC, or a field in Somerset County.
…and I’d love to see your list of Christian Extremeists that murdered people in the name of Jesus…too bad none exist.
This is a very touchy and tough subject.
I agree with Leo. But, I also want to outlaw all those damn Italians. I am sure they have done something to someone somewhere along their long and storied history. Because Leo’s last name ends in a vowel, I’m sure he would share my thoughts about those Italians…
Leo, get a fucking clue. Just because someone is a Muslim doesn’t mean they are a terrorist.
Lastly, I want to propose we lock Don in a crowded Islamic theater with a sign that says, “I LOVE Bush.”
Zig,
Buy a vowel, because you missed the point, which was that some people who lost loved ones will see ALL Muslims as terrorists. Someone like me who took world religion classes in high school and college, knows that not every Muslims is a terrorist. People who lost someone because of a Muslim’s belief, is not going to want that constant reminder of a mosque near the place their loved one was killed at. No matter how much good the people that run that mosque does in the community, there will still be people that believe they are terrorist or they have a hidden agenda, because they only see the bad that one Muslim has done.
Donald Trump just made an all-cash offer to buy the site and, as a part of the deal, have the mosque relocated. You can read his letter to the current owners at:
http://tmz.vo.llnwd.net/o28/newsdesk/tmz_documents/0909_trump.pdf