Responses to my site pages commemorating 11 Sep 01

From David in Florida, 2002:
Appreciated your thoughtfulness in sending over a copy of the 'Daily Mirror' article. As a person whose ancestors came to America from Great Britain, and whose Grandfathers both fought to free Europe from tyranny in World War II, it was good to see that some in the English media aren't afraid to stand up and say out loud and in print that their American cousins aren't at the root of all evil. One of my Grandfather's brothers died in the Ardennes Forest fighting Germans in World War I. My youngest son is named in his honor. I'm also a Rotarian and enjoyed the help you provided last year with the Austin Healey car information I requested.

I sometimes wonder how so much of the world has come to see America as responsible for many of their problems. I am a 45 year old banker, born to a middle class family, who grew up in the 60s and 70s. My mother was a school teacher and my father worked in the business department of a state University. We were just a regular, run-of-the-mill family, with 2 kids and a dog. I made the most of a public education and was taught the importance of a strong work ethic and a good character. Through diligent, hard work over the last 25 years, I have been fortunate to achieve a reasonable measure of success in my profession, and with that a home and a modest degree of financial security. My family attends the neighborhood Presbyterian church, and we work in our kid's schools and support events to help our local community. We keep up our home, enjoy our friends and care for our family. We teach our kids to always to be kind to others, to treat everyone with courtesy and respect, and to always do what is right. We're pretty typical Americans, and find it hard to understand how being hard working, law abiding, god fearing, tax paying, considerate citizens equates to being representatives of the 'Great Satan' as many in the Mid-East have come to label us. Our ancestors came here to America from England, Scotland and Germany with little or nothing. Over several generations of hard effort in the USA, freedom and democracy has worked for our families.

While we stay abreast of world events in the news, we frankly find it difficult to understand the level of hatred evident in other parts of the world. I certainly do not understand what my neighbors and I have done to contribute to it, nor what those who have come to hate this country seem to think we should do to solve their problems, which seem to me to be many generations in the making, and of a far more local nature than anything we could have contributed to. It appears the current tactic of the enemies of western democracy stems from a belief that if enough pain and suffering is inflicted here, then their problems become our problems and we'll step in and solve them. Rarely, I think, does the murder of one's innocent neighbors and countrymen result in a desire to do anything other than simply eliminate the threat. That shouldn't be difficult for anyone to understand. And if America is so bad, why are so many millions of immigrants still coming here? Particularly from the mid-east ! There are muslims all over this country now, like nothing I've seen before.

No one I know wants war. We know well enough its horrors and its human costs, and everyone I know values the life of all nationalities. However, I would not vote to put my family at risk to avoid war, and would personally take whatever action may be required of me to keep my wife and children from harm. If keeping further tragedy from our shores means we have to go to the source and eliminate the threat, I will support my government fully in that effort. No one's political or religious agenda supersedes our right to exist in peace in our own country. If the people of any country are unwilling to exercise their responsibility to ensure that their leadership and government is just and equitable, then they risk having to pay a heavy price for letting the corrupt or power hungry take over their government. Freedom has always carried a dear price, as paid by the lives of tens of thousands of Allied forces during the 20th century. The people of Iraq now risk great destruction as a result of not getting rid of their corrupt leader long ago, just as the people of Germany did almost 70 years ago and the people of Afghanistan did 15 to 20 years ago. Tyrants are an abomination, regardless of ideology, and inevitably cost innocent lives before they can be rooted out and destroyed.

From our standpoint, it makes absolutely no sense to wait for a Hussein or a bin Laden to pop a nuke on U. S. soil killing untold thousands of additional innocents before taking action. While I've never personally been much of a 'politico,' I must agree with George W. Bush when he tells other countries, 'you're either with us or against us in this struggle. 'That's the way it is. Al Quaeda has brought mass murder into our front yard. There are millions of everyday, ordinary, peaceful Americans just like me who agree that murder of innocent U. S. citizens will not be allowed to stand. Fortunately, we have the means to take it right back to the aggressors and deliver devastation the like of which has never before been seen. I hope your countrymen do not have to suffer a tragedy similar to 9/11 to develop an understanding of the issue. Many are still there in England who lived through the blitz, and understand the reality of the threat. I don't know what impression your countrymen get from watching British news reports on American political debates, but the reality here is that regular people are solidly behind winning the so-called 'war on terror,' whatever it costs. I wouldn't recommend any long-term investments in Baghdad real estate. If historians think Japan awoke a sleeping giant in 1941, they haven't seen anything yet . . . .

I hope you will convey to your countrymen when the subject comes up that a great many of us regular, ordinary, everyday Americans greatly appreciate the steadfast support your Prime Minister has shown to our government. Mr Blair has been a good friend to America, and the United Kingdom a true ally. We value your good will and your friendship. When my children are a little older, we would like to bring them to England to see if we can find any remaining family there and see our 'roots.' Thank you for sending the article.

From Gini Otway in NY 2002:
I saw your web site and read it with fascination as my family is an old Norfolk one. I then viewed your tribute to the World Trade Towers attack.
The best I can say is thank you from the bottom of my heart. With kind regards.

From Fred, 2003:
As an American, I deeply appreciate your love and affection for NYC, which also happens to be my favorite US city as well. I want to thank you for taking the time to maintain this page. At times I have been saddened and discouraged after reading Paul Routledge's deeply venomous cutting into not just the US Govt. but the American people and culture; however, then I read Tony Parsons and Sue Carroll and feel much better. Of course there is also the enormous good will and solidarity shown by you and so many British friends. It makes a big difference.

When I think of NYC, I also think of the London my dad described during the Blitz, when he was with the Seaforth Highland Regt of Canada. He recounted the aplomb the ordinary Londoners showed in the face of Nazi aggression and bombing. I would like to think that our New Yorkers have likewise earned the good will of the world. In any case, we won't forget your standing with us after our one-day blitz.

Best wishes & friendship to you and your wonderful nation, which I've had the great privilege of visiting.

From 'Bred and Born US Citizen, 2003':
I went through 9/11, shocked with disbelief.

I made it through, all my loved ones untouched.

But the attitude of Europe has ripped my heart to shreds.

I am so used to standing firm, that I did not notice, until I read Tony Parsons' article.

I found your website and those lovely love letters.

Then I cried.

Thank you.

From Lee, 2003:
Thanks for this page, most especially at this time of war. America doesn't have many friends in the world and it is nice to know when we do. It is unfortunate that other individuals and countries have forgotten when they need help and turned to us we were there.

May God Bless you and yours.

A selection of photographs taken 11-15 September 2001 by Sara K Schwittek