September 11th New York City from Molly

I'd like to share the following correspondences with you. Here's an excerpt from an email from our friend Molly who moved to New York from San Francisco last year. Needless to say, we were greatly relieved to receive it. Phone service here is spotty at best and no cell service, but I just moved into a new apartment with Brandon and first thing we did was set up Road Runner which is working and of course has been an amazing life saver today. I'm not sure why we've had connectivity without any other service, but it's been the only way to communicate today. It's a weird sense of mayhem in NYC. It's been a very scary day here. I work five blocks from the WTC towers, downtown. I watched the first tower burn from the window of my work. I would watch it out the window and then would look up at a T.V. and watch the reports. It was surreal. But there was no way to know what would happen. Then I left work, realizing that it wasn't going to get under control, and not really knowing what to do but wanting to get as far away from ground zero as I could. I went to a rooftop at a loft in Little Italy, where I watched the second tower burn, and drip steel, and I could see the fire and flames inside the windows, burning about four floors below where the plane hit. Then, with out any warning or any sign, the entire building fell. Imploded. I couldn't believe my eyes. In a matter of seconds it was a ball of white smoke and rubble. It was truly the unimaginable. I'd say we're all in a state of shock here. A bunch of people came over to my apartment throughout the day to watch the T.V. and I think, just seek solace. We just now at 10pm walked outside to get something for everyone to eat and the streets were silent. Imagine, NYC and no one on the streets, no people, no traffic, nothing. It feels very strange. And then, there's the very real feeling of helplessness. The only thing we can do right now is give blood. So much damage has already been done. Thank you so much for writing, it means the world to me. And, of course reminds me of how much we are all connected. Molly's friend Matt, a doctor who went downtown to help in the disaster, has taken many photos like the one below, to post on his Web site. CORRESPONDENCE WITH MICHELE IN ITALY -----Messaggio Originale----- Sent: Tuesday, September 11 To: carla@carlaking.com Subject: Solidarity Hi Carla. Today, as you know, is a very bad day. I'm still threatened, shocked for this huge tragedy in NY. I'm feeling so bad that i can't make nothing in my house without a sense of anguish. I have seen the total horror. I never seen something of similar to this. I don't know what i must say. I have a musician friend that lives in Boston, i'm worried. But this don't means nothing. This is the worst day from the end of the second worldwide war. Not only for the USA, as you can think. I want to give you (you live in San Francisco, but i think that this don't means nothing, because all the americans, now, are shocked)- my solidarity, to you and to all your friends, for this tragedy. I think that you can't come in Italy, during these days. I don't know if is better to remain in USA, or if is possible to come in Italy, without a sense of risk. For me, is better to remain in USA. Waiting better days for the travel in Italy. But i don't know. Now, we are all under pressure, all the world is under pressure. Ciao Michele -----Messaggio Originale----- Da: Carla A : Michele Data invio: marted“ 11 Oggetto: RE: Solidarity Thank you Michele, It's very shocking, all of San Francisco is closed today, normally I look out from my balcony and see six or seven planes, the skies are clear and silent, the freeway is silent, downtown everything is closed, the schools, the offices. Tonight I am reading at a bookstore from a travel book and the event is still on, but we'll be reading about tragedy and war instead of the funny things about travel, and addressing questions from the audience which will be difficult but I am looking forward to it. I'm also looking forward to visiting Italy, I'm not afraid to come, but I will be sad that things like this happen. You're right, the world is under pressure, we travelers can only help to make it better by mixing cultures, promoting understanding. Thank you for your sentiments, Carla Da: Michele A : Carla Data invio: marted“ 11 Oggetto: RE: Solidarity I think that, since today, the world will be not the same. The people -especially the Americans- will be not the same. Now i'm back to my house, after a dinner with my friends. All the people, in the pub, had a strange expression on the face. Somebody tried to make (stupid) jokes about the rassmblance of this situation with american movies. For desperation, because also these persons have the knowledge of the situation. And it's hard to smile with the death in the heart. This is not a movie. Unfortunately. In the 1944, Bari was ravaged by an explosion af a great american ship, placed in the sea in the front of the "Lungomare" (the road near the sea), attacked by the Germans. This ship was full of "iprite" (the english name, i think, is "mustard gas"). The deflagration destroyed great part of the center of Bari. But, the city was saved by the worst effect, the gas, because the wind changed his direction, and transported the gas to the east. Bari is still alive for pure luck, my father is alive for pure luck, Bari it's not another Hiroshima only for an incredible luck.. In 1999, I worked as forwarding agent with a van. I driven on the SS-100 road with this van, and every day i have seen the american planes over my head, going from the NATO base of Gioia del Colle (40 km from Bari) to bomb the Kosovo. A sad situation. And now, this event. The "Fiera del Levante" is an international economical meeting of september, the second in Italy after Milan. Now, at the stands of the Fiera, there is the army, because there is also an israelian delegation. I can't believe that these things can still happen. This situation killed the spirit, after the lifes, the spirit of Americans, of Israelians, of the Palestinians. I can't believe that some people in Palestina can laugh about this tragedy, although the past tragedy of this people is great. This is a paranoid situation. Usually, i'm cold about the news that i see on TV, but now i'm feeling sad and anguished. Excuse me for the lenght of this letter, for the sad thoughts, and for the very confused english. But i feel a sensation of real nightmare. I must sleep, hoping that tomorrow will be a better day, although this event will be hard to forget, also after one year. Good night (now in Italy is night, this absurd, shitty day is end, and i hope that this day will finish soon also in USA). Michele MESSAGE FROM JOHN PERRY BARLOW As most of you know, I believe that the United States has gradually, subtly, invisibly to most of us, become a police state over the last 30 years. This morning's events are roughly equivalent to the Reichstag fire that provided the social opportunity for the Nazi take-over of Germany. I am *not* suggesting that, like the Nazis, the authoritarian forces in America actually had a direct role in perpetrating this mind-blistering tragedy. (Though their indirect role deserves a much longer discussion.) Nevertheless, nothing could serve those who believe that American "safety" is more important than American liberty better than something like this. Control freaks will dine on this day for the rest of our lives. Within a few hours, we will see beginning the most vigorous efforts to end what remains of freedom in America. Those of who are willing to sacrifice a little - largely illusory - safety in order to maintain our faith in the original ideals of America will have to fight for those ideals just as vigorously. I beg you to begin NOW to do whatever you can - whether writing your public officials, joining the ACLU or EFF, taking to the streets, or living visibly free and fearless lives - to prevent the spasm of control mania from destroying the dreams that far more have died for over the last two hundred twenty five years than died this morning. Don't let the terrorists or (their natural allies) the fascists win. Remember that the goal of terrorism is to create increasingly paralytic totalitarianism in the government it attacks. Don't give them the satisfaction. Fear nothing. Live free. And, please, let us try to forgive those who have committed these appalling crimes. If we hate them, we will become them. May God - or Whatever you want to call It - bless us all. We'll need it. Barlow -- John Perry Barlow, Cognitive Dissident Co-Founder & Vice Chairman, Electronic Frontier Foundation Berkman Fellow, Harvard Law School < back to dispatches

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