Cross posted from dailyKos
I was in the WTC when the planes hit. I wrote a diary on this over at big Orange.
But now, I’ve sent the diary, almost verbatim, to my Senators and my Representative. The text is below the fold.
If you have other ideas on how I could use this letter, please add a comment.
Thanks
My first diary here.
I’m a victim of 9/11. I was in the building when the plane hit.
Compared to some people, I was lucky: I wasn’t injured. I kept my job. I got home easily. But compared to the vast majority of Americans, I am a victim. I had glass in my hair. I lost a year’s work, and some irreplaceable items. My family went crazy for a while. My kid had nightmares. You explain to a 5 year old why (in his words) “They crashed into the building on purpose?” or reply to “I thought pilots were good people”.
But I am a victim another way.
I share part of this other victimhood with all Americans. I am a victim, not of terror, but of the so-called `war on terror’. I am a victim of a government that is out-of-control. I am a victim of crushing national debt. I am a victim because I live in a country that went from having the sympathy of the world to one that is a pariah, an outcast among nations, a rogue state. I am a victim because I now have to `watch what I say’. I am a victim because my rights are violated, not by some nebulous and inimical group of terrorists, but by my own government.
They do not speak for me
But in another way, I do not share this other victimhood. My victimhood is being abused.
I have watched for years as my government – our government – has whittled away my rights, stolen my freedoms, and wrecked the constitution in the name of a false security. I have watched and watched and watched, as they have used my name – my victimhood – to make me a victim once again.
They do not speak for me
So, I will post this diary, and I will take action. I will volunteer. I will give money. I will make a difference. This is MY country, this is MY victimhood, and I will not have it abused. I am no martyr; I have no death wish; I hope that no terrorist ever strikes anywhere again. But the founders of this country knew what they were doing. They wanted freedom. They DEMANDED freedom. They put their lives, their fortunes and their sacred honor on the line to win freedom. And now it is reduced to this.
But it is worse even than this; it would be one thing to pay too heavy a price to increase our safety. But we have paid the price for nothing. We have arrested thousands of people, and let them go. We have spied on our own citizens, and found out nothing. We have allied ourselves with torturers, and yet, we are not safe. Indeed, by making our enemies unite, we have made ourselves weaker, and our enemies stronger.
This victim demands an end to the ‘war on terror’ that is really a war on America. Impeach the president
Welcome plf515, and thanks for posting here. I think you’ll find a community of friends who willingly share the burden of your nightmares, even if they are very far from our own experiences.
Thanks too, for writing to your ‘Representatives’ – there’s nothing more inmportant than that they hear the voice of the people as much as possible.
Since they often refuse to listen, we need to make them hear.
I remember reading this over at dKos. Thank you for sharing it here.
plf515: Welcome to Booman Tribune, where your important voice will be heard and not censored by the diary police. Continue to speak out. Continue to tell the truth. We WILL win.
Dear plf515:
By the way you speak you sound more like a survivor, not a victim.
I do know what you have gone through, since I am also a survivor of terrorism. Mine happened little over 28 years ago. I know the panic, the terror, and the desorientation you must have felt those moments after.
There are a lot more of us, survivors than what you can imagine. Those like me abroad, Oklahoma, those that were terrorised with Anthrax (members of Congress as well as reporters like Keith Olbermann). I would also write these people. You should also wite the Families of 9/11 and of course the Jersey Girls.
To be honest I would like to see an organization that would gather all of us, that would speak for us. Just know this: I will stand by you any time. Anything I can do, I will. If you need it, my e-mail is at the bottom.
You take care,
A fellow survivor
Thanks
I did write to Olberman – no response.
I sent it to Common Dreams, and was published.
NY Times Op-Ed, no response.
Families of 9/11 seems to shun politics.
Who are the Jersey Girls?
They’re a small group of 9/11 widows who pressured the bush administration to move forward with the 9/11 commission.
Kristin Breitweiser, Mindy Kleinberg, Lorie Van Auken, Patty Casazza, and Monica Gabrielle came together out of the tragedy to become active critics of post 9/11 America.
Here’s Kristin speaking courtesy of The Nation.
343 of my brother firefighters didn’t come home from that job. It is still a very emotional issue for me.
I have their e-mail addres somewhere. give me a few and I will give it to you.
Check your e-mail :0)
Duhhhhhh. Repied to myself :0( Check your email:0)
I believe Olberman is in NY. Call MSNBC and ask to talk to the producers. Also you should try BBC world news. Don’t write them. Be bold and call them and ask to speak to the producers. Maybe the folks over here will come up with more sugestions. You already have my e-mail.
Nico