We at The Gate want to take a moment to remember those who lost their lives on September 11, 2001. We also want to send our condolences to those who have either lost loved ones or have had been adversely affected as a result of what happened ten years ago today.
Here is a list of FlyerTalk threads which include the discussion of — or references to — the terror attacks that occurred in the United States of America on September 11, 2001:
- Anyone altering travel plans around 9/11? Practical Travel Safety Issues
- WSJ/Smartmoney.com: The True Costs of 9/11 For Travelers Checkpoints and Borders Policy Debate
- A 9/11 story of sorts CommunityBuzz!
- Is there heightened security at EWR due to 9/11 Anniversary? Continental OnePass (Pre-Merger)
- PBS Newshour: Drastic Changes in Airport Security After 9/11 Stir Controversy Checkpoints and Borders Policy Debate
- September 11, 2001: tell us your travel stories British Airways Executive Club
- Who’s flying on September 11? CommunityBuzz!
- How I spent September 11, 2001 Southwest Rapid Rewards
…and here are some classic FlyerTalk threads which began on September 11, 2001 — or shortly afterwards — from the CommunityBuzz! forum:
- Tragedy Roll Call – Please Sign In One can re-live the events of September 11, 2001 vicariously through content posted by FlyerTalk members in this thread, which is now locked.
- Terrorist attacks
- Any interest in a NYC meeting?
- Strategy and Tragedy
- National 3 minutes of silence get together
- Missing FTers Who Haven’t Posted In 4 Days
- Thank You FT Community!
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I would like to post a rare editorial commentary…
Even when I traveled short distances back in 2001, I used to take flights in case I needed to fly somewhere else at the last minute. However, for some unknown reason, I decided on the evening of September 10, 2001 to take a car to get to a client the next morning, rather than fly as a passenger on an airplane.
Not long after starting to do business at the office of the client, the news began to unfold over the radio. Being originally from New York and knowing the flight paths for all three major New York airports, I first thought that an aircraft accidentally flew too closely to one of the World Trade Center towers on approach to Fiorello LaGuardia Airport — until I heard about the second airplane crash into the other tower. I also heard about the attacks on the Pentagon in Washington, D.C. and the fate of United Airlines flight 93, both of which would have been major top stories if they had happened on their own. With all that was going on, it seemed like the world was coming to an end that day. Upon hearing that the towers both collapsed and realized the potential of many thousands of people losing their lives, the employees of the client company decided to hold a prayer vigil.
Believe it or not, I actually successfully completed my business at the client, despite the major distraction of the tragedy that had unfolded.
I remember driving home alone for three hours on an empty highway that afternoon. Electronic signs declared a national emergency and that the airports were closed. Few vehicles were on the normally-clogged highways at rush hour. It was quite an eerie experience…
…and then I was angry.
How dare some third-world terrorists come over here and destroy part of my home using conveyances carrying innocent people as weapons? How dare they kill thousands of my fellow citizens who were simply trying to live their lives as usual?
All I wanted to do on September 11, 2001 was to find the tallest building and get to the top of it, or fly on an airplane as a passenger. I wanted to shout to the adversaries that if they wanted a war, bring it on, for they will be sorry. I wanted to show those low-life terrorists that they don’t scare me, that our country will only be stronger, and that the United States will be better than ever despite their attempts to destroy it.
Alas, people were afraid. The routine life of air travel in the United States has significantly changed — and there are those who say for the worse, that the terrorists have won, and that the freedoms and liberties fought for by countless brave soldiers in many wars have diminished or disintegrated because they have been sacrificed in the name of safety and security.
A network of systems in the United States needs to be developed where a reasonable balance is struck between protecting the freedoms and liberties guaranteed to American citizens by the Constitution and ensuring effective safety and security without infringing upon those freedoms and liberties. The United States of America needs to once again be a favored place for foreigners to travel willingly without being subjected to what seems to be unreasonable security procedures.
Finally, terrorists must not be given the spotlight when they commit their heinous acts, no matter how big or small, as the attention only encourages them. People all over the world need to work together not only to fight terrorism effectively, but to also mitigate — and even eliminate — the reasons behind what causes terrorist acts to happen in the first place.
We cannot be afraid.
