Nine Years Ago a Moment Changed The World

At this time nine years ago I was sitting in a office in Edinburgh. Behind me was the Firth of Forth and the flight path into Edinburgh Airport at that time.

A friend of mine was on a plane about to land at Philadelphia Airport. The previous morning, his last in New York, he'd gone to observation deck on the South Tower of World Trade Centre to take some panoramic pictures. The last of these had a time stamp of 10:28 and at that time the following day the Tower in the fore ground was collapsing to the ground, the one he was standing on was already gone.

There was stunned disbelief and for the first time in the Internet age we were waiting for friends, people we often hadn't met in real life but whom we considered friends, to log on and tell us they were OK.

During the 2002 Superbowl U2 were the halftime show. During their last song Where the Streets Have No Name behind them scrolled the names of the 2,977 innocent victims on this day nine years ago. It is a right a fitting tribute to those that either fell from the sky, or where killed in their place of work, or the members of the FDNY, NYPD or the Port Authority Police who had embarked on a evacuation and rescue operation.

Especially poignant are the lines:

I want to feel sunlight on my face
I see the dust cloud disappear
Without a trace
I want to take sheltered from the poison rain
Where the streets have no name

New Yorkers Rally FOR Islamic Centre

Yesterday was the last day of Ramadan as well as the eve of the remembrace of 9/11. However, a few blocks away from Ground Zero in Manhattan there was an interesting gathering (watch here).

At the site of the proposed Islamic centre ordinary New Yorkers mingled with Muslims neighbours to hold a rally in support of the centre being build. I particulary like the comment of one personn the clip who say the people of New York had welcomed the centre and already approved it there was no opposition from the city of New York. all the objections came from elsewhere.

Let us not forget on this day that the people of New York want, desire and deserve to get back to normality. For them a city of many cultures, many faiths, many mother tongues they have been co-existing tooth by jowl since the establishment of the city as the disembarkation point of the immigrants.

Does Barack Obama Read My Blog?

I'm not sure if PoTUS* reads my humble little blog. I did get a number of hits from Washington yesterday so you never know. However, I do know we are on the same wavelength over what I posted yesterday.

Speaking after a Muslim Iftar dinner, breaking the daily Ramadan fast, last night at the White House he said:

"We must all recognise and respect the sensitivities surrounding the development of lower Manhattan, Ground Zero is, indeed, hallowed ground. But let me be clear, as a citizen, and as president, I believe that Muslims have the same right to practice their religion as anyone else in this country.

"That includes the right to build a place of worship and a community centre on private property in lower Manhattan, in accordance with local laws and ordinances. This is America, and our commitment to religious freedom must be unshakeable. The principle that people of all faiths are welcome in this country, and will not be treated differently by their government, is essential to who we are."

Well done to President Obama for taking a stance for what is right and enshrined in the constitution against the upsurge of of Islamaphobia. Separating out the rights of ordinary law abiding Muslims from the responsibility to deal with Al-Queda and other terrorist groups who are not a true representation of their faith. Showing respect for the victims, all victims, of Al-Queda including those on 9-11 and the many Muslim victims too.

A President who is calm enough to get the facts straight, to keep the Constitution in mind and show balance in his comments is someone worthy of the job. If you are reading this Mr President keep up the rational thought patterns even it all around you seem to be losing theirs.



* President of the US for all non-West Wing fan readers.