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Two Years Later

Two Years Later

September 11, 2003 (Thu)

One thing that especially moved me on September 11, 2001 was the fact that a good deal of interview footage that aired on television that day went uncensored. I remember staying awake until 3 AM that night, watching the towers collapse from every angle, and hearing what New Yorkers had to say about the attack on their city. There’s one man in particular that will forever stick out in my mind. I can still picture him: glassy brown eyes, black mustache, wrinkles across his forehead, dust and ashes dulling the hue of his dark brown skin, and tears that washed it all away in untidy streams. His voice trembled as he spoke, and he made little effort to disguise his grief. “I can’t believe this shit is happening,” he said. So few had anticipated the attack, and nobody wanted to believe the sad reality.

What I appreciated the most about the footage of that man was that it was part of a prerecorded montage of interviews, which meant that network producers had most likely screened the content before it was broadcasted. And despite the fact that this man had said a four-letter word, the producers let it slide. In light of the tragedy and carnage that the nation witnessed that morning, it seemed that everybody, for at least a single goddamned day, realized what truly matters. Nobody bothered to censor an uttered profanity because the entire day was marred by one of history’s most profane acts of human selfishness and stupidity.

The world is far from perfect, but it does have its moments. Realizing that fact alone almost makes life something worth tolerating. That’s a better start than many of us could have hoped for.

1 Comment

Natalia

September 12, 2003 at 1:37 pm Reply

I also recall the fact that the voices screaming "HOLY SHIT" on the home-made footage that was aired also went uncensored.

Great post, Kev.