9/11 - Five years on

I watched an amazing film documentary on Saturday night about a 3-man camera crew following a rookie fire-fighter as he graduated from the Training Academy to being posted to a Fire Station. The footage began in June 2001 and showed life behind the scenes and how he (Tony) fared in the early days. What was striking, as we saw footage from the summer months, was the camaraderie between the guys in the battalion, their commitment to training and professionalism, and how they felt they were contributing to society.

In the early morning of Tuesday 11th September a unit was called out to attend a gas leak. One of the film crew (one of two brothers [who were French]) was, as usual, present. The job was just about resolved when they heard an airplane, flying low, pass over them. The camera man panned left and upwards to focus on the jet, just before it hit the World Trade Centre.

The programme from there on was incredible, as the events unfolded, and very moving.

That anyone should have been filming as the first plan hit the WTC was unbelievable, but the camera man followed the crew into the lobby and continued to shoot as the attempted 'rescue' mission unfolded. We witnessed the fire-fighters at the command post try to grapple with the situation and respond appropriately. We met briefly the first recorded casualty - the Chaplain, pacing the lobby, praying.

We heard crashes from outside, loud enough to be picked up by the camera mic inside the building, that were, it transpired, people jumping from the upper floors as the fire raged where the airplanes fuel had ignited - you will remember the terrible smoke pouring from the tower.

The action switched between the lobby (of tower 1) and the other brother who was trying to get to the scene and was, also, still filming. So we had two views of the second plan hitting the other tower.

Later, as the second tower collapsed into a mound of rubble we, as all in the lobby did, heard and 'felt' the rumble as the foundations shattered and concrete descended. Everyone ran.

In the street they ran too. The camera continued to record even as the cameraman was tackled by a fireman from behind to save him from the tidal wave of debris - we saw clouds of dust and grime breaking across the pavement, papers from the former offices sticking and blowing away from the lens... It must have lasted a couple of minutes.

It is miraculous that such a record exists. Perhaps more so that none of the Battalion from that Station lost a life. Though the Chief's brother lost his.

Often the horror and the drama of an event is portrayed in theatrical mode - not so here. This was live footage, later mixed with interviews. Stunning. One officer, who retired six months later, shared that he thinks about 9/11 everyday.

I wrote a poem on 17/09/01 with the comment: Moved by, and a reflection on, recent global events. I haven't thought about this poem for years - I print it here for you now, though I am pondering whether it was a valid comment for then, or for now? What do you think?

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Tears weigh heavy on my heart
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When I think of all the life wasted,
Not here by famine or flood.
By some who took it so easy jet.
And look at your hands - is that blood?

Why do we cry now so freely?
With tears, for injustice; in pain.
I sense the moment surreally,
My senses doused andinflamedd just the same.

I wonder quite how we arrived here?
For we the High way was long.
Our carriage decidedly comfy?
We were much too alright to see wrong.

Afar the thousands pass through,
This world, in a moment alone.
Not wished for by us, that's true.
But if we could change it - wouldn't you?

So where do we queue and whom do we call?
To amend the worldly constitution.
There is nowhere perhaps, except the "I will",
To pass a new resolution.

Come the next chance to alter the course,
Of the path that we walk everyday.
Don't add or subtract, duck or detour,
When the traffic is coming your way.

For we had no idea,
Of suffering that's clear.
When ours is minutely...theirs secondly.
The multiple for many more dear.

Shall we still, wash our hands,
Or our neighbours feet,
Consider each soul as a grain of sand?
Thus, in time, who knows where next we'll meet?

Wait! "Someone must pay!"
What again; not again. Evermore?
Why can't we dismount this cycle?
Forgiveness would even the score.

History notes: one man resolved with His breath.
Settled the wages of war, and of death.
Be not liable for investment in stealth. Instead,
Share the dividend. Lives saved. Oh wealth!

So today may our voices be yelled,
Against global revenge and spillage.
Or the hope that tomorrow held,
May never shake, as yesterdays city nee Village.