11 September 2010
In so many ways countries from around the world have stood by the United States since the 2001 attacks, despite the liberal mantra that America is despicable, hated around the world, and got what she deserved on that day. Yes, some people do hate us, but at Common American Journal we’re convinced that stems from their own poisons of envy, jealousy, and rage. That no matter what we do, however much we apologize (as Barack Obama has discovered), they will still hate us because a dark and evil heart is a cancer that cannot be cured by another. For our enemies, those feelings will not be resolved, we suspect, until the day America is dust.
Well, we don’t intend for that day to dawn. We are resolved that this nation will prevail and thrive once more.
In our research for today’s articles, we tried to find accounts of the help that stranded American air travelers were given by strangers for those days and weeks following the attacks. Sadly, those articles are virtually non-existent. But we did find this:
…Like a lot of pro audio industry folks, Karen Anderson and Linda Seid were flying back to the U.S. on September 11, 2001, returning from the PLASA convention in London attended on behalf of EAW. As the tragic, horrific events of that day unfolded to the shock of the free world, they were thousands of feet above the Atlantic, anticipating the comfort of home, family and friends they would enjoy within just a few hours.
The pilot abruptly interrupted these cozy thoughts, cryptically announcing that due to air traffic being closed on the eastern coast of the U.S., the plane would instead be diverted to Newfoundland. A bit later, the destination changed to Montreal, and finally, they would be landing at Halifax, Nova Scotia. Thus began an odyssey they’ll forever remember, one mixing profound sense of loss, fear and uncertainty with the kindness of strangers, the kinship of seemingly very different people brought together through fate and circumstance.
“Our pilot sounded very restrained; you could tell he was feeling some stress,” Anderson, explains. “After we landed, he read an official statement that was sketchy, basically telling us that two planes had collided with the World Trade Center, another at the Pentagon and a fourth plane was missing, but not much more.”…
…“We hadn’t had the ‘luxury’- for lack of a better term – to see it unfold piece by piece on TV like most everyone else at home,” Seid offers. “When we finally found a TV in the officer’s quarters and turned on CNN, we got slapped by the whole thing at once, the planes, the fire, the explosions…”
Anderson finishes the sentence: “…that was probably the most intense time, when 780 people collectively are seeing this for the first time. There was shock, there was crying, and it didn’t matter what nationality you were, people were just losing it. This is when it really hit us that this was real, it was very real, and we were stranded far away from home in this army camp with people we didn’t even know.”…
…“Both the Red Cross and Canadian reservists on site were tireless in trying to meet the emotional and physical needs of their guests. Food was plentiful, soccer games were organized, and even a day care and lending library was set up. Worship services were conducted for a variety of different faiths.
“The Canadian reservists were amazing,” Anderson adds. “They were gentle in their approach and language, making everyone feel safe and secure. They’d stop by and talk with you, asking if you were all right, and they would do everything possible to get you the information you wanted, even tracking you down with an answer in the midst of all these people.”…
…Later that day [9/14], she helped Tom get a bus that would push him further along to his final destination, and both Karen and Linda reported to work bright and early the following Monday morning, while some of their fellow employees were still stranded in London.
“It’s really difficult to come to terms with this tragedy and how to express our own story in any words that mean something,” Anderson concludes. “As I reflect, the one thing that stands out is that from out of the absolute worst in human behavior came the absolute best in human behavior.”
Please read the entire article at EAW. It reminded us of the stories our friends and colleagues told about being stranded in London and in Ireland where they, too, were treated with exceptional care and hospitality during those extraordinary days.
At Common American Journal we wish to offer thanks to some of our country’s staunchest foreign (or foreign-born) allies in the blogsphere. These people “get” what America stands for, and are tireless champions for greater freedom and dignity for people everywhere.
Thank you:
There are so many more. Thanks to all of you.
Updated 9/12/10
