monique

I know you did not mean to offend anyone, but I cannot understand how you can compare an act of evil and terrorism versus an act of nature, it is not about numbers, it is not about how many people perished in one versus the other tragedy. People are killed all the time in accidents, illnesses, etc., and although it hurts to lose someone in any way, it is a lot more difficult to accept losing a loved one in such a despicable, murderous way, this is what makes 9/11 and any terrorist attack different than any earthquake, tsunami, traffic accident, etc., it isn't the number of victims.

username 34

put it this way - due to media and spin there are things that are covered so extensively (many films, documentaries etcc) and so specifically (as in heavily targeted at personal stories) that it is meant to become something we are absorbed by.

Katrina, Tsunami etc etc get a fraction of the coverage because - honetly - this is not want the government and networks think will pull our heartstrings as much, or invoke such national pride and patriotism or network ratings.

and if you lose your loved one in a natural disaster be sure that your feelings of loss are no less than if they were a victim of a terrorist attack.

Its like Princess Diana - I had no real opinions on her when she was alive, but with the days of media coverage following her death I was one of those sobbing and wailing like a baby purely from the media coverage I watched and read - it made me feel much more, it was so intense and personal.

No tradgedy should be lessened, or forgottten but the reality of 9/11 is that the government and politicians NEVER want you to forget and will keep it at the forefront of American minds for as long as possible. Things like Katrina are minimised is relation and apart from a couple of network segments are largely quiet.

kingfisher241049

I was at home in Lincolnshire, emailing out some stuff during the afternoon, when an email appeared in my inbox from my ex-girlfriend in Michigan. She was writing to tell me that America was under attack and some planes had gone into the WTC. I put the TV on, and there it was all over the news. I was totally shocked but could'nt stop myself from watching as the planes hit the WTC as they re-ran the tape on the news.

tonrob

I'd taken a year out to go travelling and my (then) girlfriend and I had boarded the 20-hour train ride from Alice Springs to Adelaide at lunchtime on September 11th (still late on the 10th in the US at that time).

We were in coach, and I remember waking up in a groggy fashion just as first light appeared over the countryside and listening to a low muttered conversation a young and scruffy guy sat in front of us was having with a neighbour. He had a portable radio on low volume and with the rumbling of the train wheels and loud snoring of others in the carriage (girlfriend included) I was struggling to listen to what was being said. I was half-asleep, and perhaps should have asked outright as it was key words including "plane", "WTC" and (presumably misrepresented by the radio announcer) "10,000 dead" that had captured my attention. I must admit that after a couple of minutes I had already dismissed him as some sort of sick nutter.

We arrived in Adelaide at around 9am on the 12th, and still feeling uneasy I walked over to a news-stand only to find that they were sold out of every single newspaper. At this point I suddenly felt very, very sick. We found a small TV on mute in the corner of a crowded station waiting room, and could see clips of planes and towers looping over and over again but couldn't get near enough to see much.

We were due to stay with friends-of-friends who lived in the suburbs for a few days so we hoofed it across to their place and spent the entire day sat in front of the TV.

I remember suddenly feeling very, very far from home, and (in this emotional state) that world war three would surely errupt (assuming that the U.S. would surely retaliate immediately against whoever had done this) and we'd be stranded in Australia.

I still struggle to hold it together when I walk past ground zero.