(1) 9/11. A Thread.

This will not be the kind of thread you think it will be. Ive been thinking all day about what kind of thread I should do for 9/11. And I just couldnt settle on an idea.

So many of us are aware of what happened. I mean, what *really* happened.

(2) In many ways, what we are experiencing now is very similar to 9/11. Many of you are younger, and a few of you werent even around when it happened.

So let me explain; you know the angst you feel right now over CoVid? The anger? The confusion? The hate? The frustration..

(3) the sadness? Well, this has all been building in you for 6 months. Its been a slow roll so to speak.

Imagine waking up at 7:00am on 9/11, and by 9:30, ALL of those emotions were present, and on full blast at that.

So - this thread is going to be from *my* point of view.

(4) It will be how I saw the day, what I felt, and what I saw unfolding in the days afterwards. Im setting aside *ALL* conspiracies here. Im setting aside what we all know about that fateful day, and I am going to be speaking on emotion.

That of the individual, and collective.

(5) I dont suspect this thread will become as popular as others I have done. But you know what? I’mma come from the heart here, and just ... write. No agenda. No mission. Just me spilling my guts about the day that altered the course of the modern world. I really hope yall enjoy.

(6) In 2019, I began taking yearly trips to NYC to spend time training @RenzoGracieBJJ’s gym. NYC has always kinda called to me. My family is from NY, and being a NY sports fan wasnt foreign to me, either.

When I went in 2019, I had the opportunity to visit the WTC memorial.

(7) It was beautiful. It was somber. It was “heavy”.

This video was taken from WTC1.

(8) And this one from WTC2. At the end, I pan over to, and up the Freedom Tower.

I wish I could truly express how standing here made me feel. As an empath - it was seriously heavy. What I felt cant be put into words. Seriously dark stuff took place that day, but I digress.

(9) At the time, I was 19. I was working at The Charlotte Coliseum in the warehouse. A crap job, but cool no-less.

I got to work around 8:30am, and began my usual work of unloading trucks, checking deliveries, etc. it was a normal day.

At 8:46, my boss came over the radio

(10) and said we should all get down to the warehouse office post-haste.

I walk in, and the first plane had just hit. His comment was “a plane just crashed into the WTC!”. Me, having already been “awake” for a few years instantly thought otherwise. At this point, it was obvious

(11) We were all dumbfounded. No one really knew what to say. And then BOOM. 9:02am. Flight 175 strikes the South Tower.

(12) It was stunned silence for what seemed like hours, but was probably in reality closer to 5 minutes.

Live broadcast of 9/11 as it happened;

(13) Around this time, my boss received word that the Charlotte Coliseum would be turning into a makeshift holding center for all the passengers whose flights had been redirected when airspace shut down.

For those unaware - the Charlotte Coliseum was *massive*.

(14) At the time, it was the largest arena in the NBA, and sat but 2 miles from the Airport. Cots were being brought in, as well as workers to open concession stands. It was a ridiculous undertaking to out together within hours.

(15) As hard as it was to peel away from the TV, we knew we had to. Not that what I did was super important, but we knew there were gonna be a lot of worried travelers, including some from NY, and we wanted to try an accommodate them as well as possible.

(16) As we are beginning to organize, and get our plan together, another “plane” strikes the Pentagon at 9:37am.

I mean look - at this point, “woke” or not, everyone was shitting bricks. This was unlike anything I had ever experienced. Think about it;

(17) The last time American soil was attacked by an enemy was 1941. ‘Member?

(18) I wouldnt say I/we were panicking, but there was a sense of urgency. There was a “looking over your shoulder” kind of feeling.

The devastating kick to the hang-low came at 9:59am, when the first tower collapsed. At the time, we were all certain we’d just witnessed the

(19) deaths of 10’s of thousands of people. My heart sank. I literally began crying. I couldn’t help it. The emotions just became too much. Here we are, in real time, watching our country being attacked.

We are witnessing the symbolism of our financial, and military might

(20) take a serious blow. It was as if you could feel the entire nation take a gut punch at once.

Ever had the wind knocked out of you? Yeah. That. Except for 300 million people - all at once.

If you were too young, or not alive - I cannot accurately describe how quickly

(21) you could feel the will, strength, and energy get sucked out of the collective psyche of America. It was a shit right on the button. It was Mike Tyson unloading on the 90 year old guy who requires a Rascal to get around.

It. Was. Brutal. It offended every human

(22) sensibility we contain. It wasnt long after that (10:03am) that Flight 93 went down in PA. Yet another shot to the gut. It was like that scene in Saving Private Ryan when the medic (Wade) starts screaming “just give us a f@cking chance!!” at the Germans during the invasion.

(23) at 10:28am, the North Tower came down.

Just. What can I say, what *could* I say. I cant speak for those around me, but I was gutted. In less than two hours, the WTC was gone, the Pentagon was in flames, a plane had crashed in PA, and reports were more on the way.

(24) I can safely say I was paralyzed with fear. It wasnt long after the North Tower collapse that the plan to use the Coliseum as a holding/layover area was cancelled because of security concerns and we were all sent home.

(25) South Tower Collapse;

(26) North Tower Collapse;

(27) I got home and just for absolutely soused. I mean, I was drunk enough for an Irishman to take my blood and not miss a beat. I was scared. I was PISSED. I wanted vengeance, and I didnt give a damn how.

That morning/day hurt. It cut deep. There isnt a single American

(28) that was alive when it happened that cant instantly recall the fear and confusion that set in. Which, of course was the point - but that is another thread (I promise, I’ll have a proper 9/11 thread soon).

It was insane. It was a hollow, empty feeling. We all felt

(29) isolated, alone, unsure ..

And then something amazing began to happen - America did what America does. We rose up. We unified. Thousands from across the country flocked to NYC to help.

People donated. People lifted each other up. Race, religion, creed or sexuality

(30) didnt matter. All that mattered was healing, and it was beautiful. Utterly, completely, and remarkably beautiful. Is there anyone reading this who didnt get goosebumps over this performance??;

(31) Now I wanna drop a couple 9/11 Docs for you to check out before I wrap this up!

9/11: Loose Change - (You will need to rent this one, but it is worth it).

9/11: In Plane Sight -

(32) Of the 2,977 victims of the WTC attacks, 343 were FDNY, 37 were PAPD, 23 were NYPD, 8 were private EMTs, and 1 was a patrolman for NYFP.

When you think of the war we are in now, remember the 2,977 victims. Remember their mass murder.

Remember that we are fighting

(33) for THEIR freedom. We are fighting so that THEIR deaths are not in vain. We fight for JFK. We fight fir the millions who [they] have toyed with and oppresses for eons.

Our time is now. It is time to rise. It is time to remember your freedom, and those who died for it.

(34) A Fireman’s prayer for those who never came home;

(35) The same for the men and women in blue;

(36) A prayer for the non-emergency civilians who perished;

(37) I will leave you with some touching, and inspiring memes, and photos from that day. We stood tall through 9/11, and we will stand tall through this current war.

American Spirit *always* shines when her back is against a wall, of this I have no doubt. God Bless America.

(38)

(39)

(40) Never Forget.

God. Bless. America.