Overcome

Within 48 hours of the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center, documentarians Camera Planet pieced together footage taken from the site, which had already come to be known as "Ground Zero".  They submitted the video to VH1, with Live's 'Overcome' as a backing track.  The network aired it without hesitation, before receiving clearance from the band or its label.  The following message would scroll along the bottom of the screen:

"HOW TO HELP:  TO DONATE MONEY TO THE FAMILIES OF THE VICTIMS OF TUESDAY'S ATTACKS:  UNITED WAY (THEN A PHONE NUMBER)...AMERICAN RED CROSS (THEN A PHONE NUMBER)...SALVATION ARMY (PHONE NUMBER)...CATHOLIC CHARITIES USA (PHONE NUMBER)"

When Ed Kowalczyk, Live's frontman and 'Overcome's songwriter, saw the video later in the week, he eagerly gave MTV Networks permission to use the song.  In fact, the footage was later re-edited and became part the track's "official" video.




It seemed as if the video played every ten minutes, like clockwork, on every single music video channel on cable television.  In the week immediately following September 11th, I must have seen it over a hundred times.  The video has become one of my strongest memories.

It has been 12 years, and I still can't wrap my head around it sometimes.  It's so surreal....

'700 Club': '9/11 Was Foretold In The Bible, Dreamed Of By Hitler'

Rabbi Daniel Lapin was on yesterday's '700 Club' with host, Pat Robertson.  They were discussing the events of September 11, 2001.  Rabbi Lapin had an interesting take on what happened that day.  He claims that the Bible prophesied about 9/11 in the book of Zachariah.  He went on to say that the attacks were "based on a dream Adolf Hitler had in 1943".

And Robertson falls for it, hook, line and sinker:



Of course, Pat Robertson is the individual that blamed the Washington D.C. earthquake on gay marriage in New York. (I'm still trying to figure that one out.)  He also blamed the earthquake in Haiti last January on a literal "pact with the Devil" the Haitian people made over a hundred years ago.  So, it's no stretch of the imagination that he would believe that a terrorist attack was 70 years in the making.

So, Al Qaeda in a round about way, collaborated with the Nazis?  Right...

Tweet Of The Day

I just realized...this was when I became an Atheist.

Goodnight.

Video: State Farm's 'Empire State Of Mind' (Remembering 9/11)

Today State Farm is debuting a heartwarming new commercial.  Directed by acclaimed New York City director Spike Lee, it features nearly 150 NYC area schoolchildren between the ages of 8 and 11.  They walk throughout the city, stopping at four firehouses along the way, singing 'Empire State of Mind'.  It's an extremely touching tribute to the city of New York, and to those that risked, and lost, their lives to save others ten years ago.

Grab a tissue.



For those who were wondering, many of the kids in the video were part of the PS22 Chorus at one time.

Sunday Confessional: How 9/11 Changed Me

This is the third year in which this article has been posted.  It was the first story published on "The Daily Twitch".

Growing up as a Jehovah's Witness, I was always told that it was wrong to salute the flag. I wasn't allowed to say the Pledge of Allegiance. I had to remain seated for the National Anthem. It's not that I had been intentionally disrespecting or desecrating the flag as a child. My parents never instilled in me the reasons why the symbols of our country, and the flag in particular, should be respected.

You can imagine the uncomfortable situations I had found myself in growing up. In the classroom everyday for years. At school assemblies. At sporting events. Countless dirty looks. People making comments under their breath. Even the occasional thwack to the back of the head with the words, "What's wrong with you? You a Commie or somethin? Stand up boy".

In my younger days, I saw it as an opportunity to "witness". To share my beliefs with others.  I would tell them that I wasn't standing because my religion wouldn't permit me to. Usually, that would be as far as I got. The offended spectator would turn a more enraged shade of red and that would be my que to face forward for the rest of the event and not make eye contact with anyone for the next 3 hours.

As I got older, I got wiser. I realized that by being in my seats during the National Anthem, I was only asking for trouble. So, I would generally take that time of the pre-game to go to the bathroom or grab a drink or a souvenir. Most times, I would just intentionally show up late to a game - skip the first 2 minutes of the period or the top half of the first inning altogether.

So how does this tie in to 9/11? I'll get to that in a second. But first: February 13, 1983. The Forum, Irvine, California. It was the NBA All Star Game. For some reason my dad was watching it on TV. I never remember him being much of a basketball fan. I've never been much of one either. But something special happened that night. The time came for the National Anthem. This is what we saw:




It gave me chills. As a 7 year old, I didn't know why. I had a feeling then that I couldn't put into words, that I wouldn't feel again until 18 years later. I left the church in 1996, but, out of habit I guess, continued my "tradition" of not standing for the National Anthem.

Then came September 11th, 2001. It's a day that, 8 years later, I still think about on a daily basis. We all tend to re-live the shots of the people running in the streets, the towers falling, and the planes hitting the towers. Today though, I had a different memory for the first time. I remembered the firefighters going into Ground Zero to tie an American Flag onto a beam of the World Trade Center. This was still while the area was unsafe. There was still a possibility of the surrounding buildings collapsing. It was their way of saying "We're still here. We're still standing".

When I saw that flag amongst the rubble, that feeling I first felt as a 7 year old had returned. It was pride. The flag reminded me of the anthem's lyrics itself: "Gave proof through the night, That our flag was still there, O say does that Star Spangled Banner yet wave, O'er the land of the free, And the home of the brave". It waved over many a brave volunteer in the days and weeks following the attacks.

September 10, 2001, was the last day I refused to sit for the National Anthem. Since the events of 9/11, not only do I show my respect to my nation and its flag, but I sing along with the Star Spangled Banner, and get choked up at the end. Every time.

Video: Herman Cain's 9/11 Tribute

Yesterday, Republican presidential candidate Herman Cain posted a tribute to the victims of 9/11 on his YouTube page.  It is, to say the least, insulting.  In the clip, Cain is singing 'God Bless America', while footage of planes hitting the towers of the World Trade Center are shown.  His backing track?  Screams.  The video ends with the words:

"WE MUST NEVER, NEVER, NEVER, NEVER FORGET - HERMAN CAIN - 09-11-11"


A quadruple negative?  This is someone that wants to be the President of the United States of America.  The video was paid for by "The Friends of Herman Cain", and ends with "Herman Cain - President 2012, hermancain.com".  So yes, this is technically a campaign ad.



Fucking disgusting.

Video: Paul Simon Performs 'Sound Of Silence' At 9/11 Memorial

At today's dedication of the 9/11 Memorial in New York City, Paul Simon was asked to perform 'Bridge Over Troubled Water'.  At the last minute, he decided to sing 'Sound of Silence'.  As you can see from the video, the lifelong New York area resident looked devastated.

After ten long years, we still have not "healed".

Video: Blue Man Group - 'Exhibit 13' (Remembering 9/11)

The world grieved the events of September 11th in different ways.  Performance artists Blue Man Group created 'Exhibit 13'.  Generally known for exciting numbers, 'Exhibit 13' is a somber and haunting piece of music.  The title comes from a piece of paper that was found in the Carroll Gardens neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York.



One of the images of the video is of a partially burnt memo from Cantor Fitzgerald.  When the towers fell, 658 employees of the firm, located on floors 101-105 of Tower One, were killed.

It didn't occur to me until months after seeing the performance, but the rate at which the pieces of papers fall behind the group coincides with the first tower being hit, then the second tower, then their collapse.

A very somber, yet touching memorial.

Smile...

I thought that this would be the appropriate way to start off the morning...all things considered.



Thank you, Charlie...and Nat.

Video: Live - 'Overcome' (Remembering 9/11)

Within 48 hours of the attacks on the World Trade Center, documentarians Camera Planet pieced together footage from around the site, which had come to be known as "Ground Zero".  They submitted the video to VH1, with Live's 'Overcome' as a backing track.  The network aired it immediately, without receiving clearance from the band.  The following message would scroll along the bottom of the screen:

"HOW TO HELP:  TO DONATE MONEY TO THE FAMILIES OF THE VICTIMS OF TUESDAY'S ATTACKS:  UNITED WAY (THEN A PHONE NUMBER)...AMERICAN RED CROSS (THEN A PHONE NUMBER)...SALVATION ARMY (PHONE NUMBER)...CATHOLIC CHARITIES USA (PHONE NUMBER)"


When Ed Kowalczyk, the singer of the band and 'Overcome's songwriter, saw the video later in the week, he eagerly gave MTV Networks permission to use the song.  In fact, the footage was later edited and became the track's "official" video.



It seemed like that video played every ten minutes, like clockwork, on every single video channel on cable.  In the week following 9/11, I must have seen it over a hundred times.  It's one of the greatest memories to stand out from that week for me.

Photo: Would You Buy Your Child This Coloring Book?

This is a page taken from a new coloring book called, 'We Shall Never Forget 9/11 - A Kids' Book To Freedom'.  It's from a company called Really Big Coloring Books, Inc.  I'm not going to link to their site.  If you would like additional information, Google them.

Is this appropriate for a child?  In my opinion, no.  Is it Islamaphobic?  You be the judge.  My little girl will stick with Rapunzel and Hello Kitty, thank you.

Hurricane Irene Could Threaten 9/11 Memorial

In the event that a hurricane should ever hit New York City, the city is set up in "Zones", depending on how close they are to the water, and the topography of the city.  "Zone A" are areas that would be in danger in the event of a Category 1 hurricane.  "Zone B" is for Category 2, "Zone C" is for Category 3, and so on.

With Hurricane Irene expected to make landfall in New York City tomorrow morning, mayor Michael Bloomberg has ordered mandatory evacuations for those living in "Zone A".  That comes to roughly 370,000 people that have been asked to leave their homes by 5PM today.  To make things worse, all public transportation (subways, buses) were stopped as of noon, in advance of the storm.  They will not be back online until Tuesday.

At the bottom left hand corner of Manhattan (Manhattan is the area that is entirely wrapped in "Zone A"), you'll see an area that looks like a notch is cut out of the island.  Between the spots on the map that say "Battery Park City" and "Bowling Green".  This is the location of Ground Zero.

Next month, on the 10th anniversary of the terrorist attacks, the 9/11 Memorial is being dedicated at the site of the former World Trade Center location.  The memorial was designed to have water gently falling, from ground level, into the imprints of the towers.  Here are a couple of photos taken during construction showing how massive this project is.  Since completion, developers have tried to keep a lid on photography of the memorial until it's official unveiling on September 11th.

With only two weeks to assess and repair any damage made to the memorial, the city is going to be on a tight schedule.  As is, the site has been embroiled in a mass of controversy concerning designs and countless delays.  It has been a struggle for crews to meet their ten anniversary deadline for the memorial.

I will keep you posted.

Soundtrack Of My Life - 05/02/2011 'Everyday'

Last night, with the news that Osama bin Laden had been killed, it was near impossible for many of us not to think of September 2001.  If anything positive was gleamed from the events that tragic day, it was that people became more neighborly.  For a short time following 9/11, though the vast majority of people were severely depressed, they were friendlier than what they were on September 10, 2001.

I found that people would say hi more often, when passing them on the street.  Someone would hold the door for you, or would hold an elevator, when before they wouldn't take the time to.  The nation, for lack of a better term, was polite.  In time, the civility went away, and everything went back to normal.

It was an atmosphere that I hoped to see return last night.  Instead, the scene outside the White House looked more like a Grateful Dead concert.  People were throwing beach balls and climbing light poles at two in the morning, chanting "Na na na na.  Hey hey hey. Good bye."  To the rest of the world, especially the Middle East, the citizens of the United States looked like jagoffs.

On September 11, 2001, the Dave Matthews Band was coincidentally scheduled to release the song 'When the World Ends' as their third single, off of their album 'Everyday'.  Based on what happened that morning, the single was pulled, and the video was scrapped.  The band and studio decided to release the album's title track, 'Everyday', instead.

The video featured (then unknown) '30 Rock's' Judah Friedlander, walking through the streets of New York's Greenwich Village asking random people for a hug.  It was filmed shortly after 9/11, and features a few cameos from some New York celebrities, such as Conan O'Brien, Blue Man Group, and Tiki Barber.  At the time, it was very touching and heartwarming to watch.  Even with his relative television fame, I don't think Judah Friedlander would be able to get enough hugs to fill three minutes of video in 2011.  It's sad how people have grown colder in the last 10 years.

Bin Laden Dead: A Look At How 9/11 Changed Me

I am sitting in a bed on the third floor of a Mesa, Arizona, hospital tonight, and watching thousands of people cheering outside the gates of the White House.  An hour ago, the President announced to the nation that Osama bin Laden was found and killed in Pakistan earlier today.  The man hated more than anyone in American history, second only to Hitler, is finally dead.

As the crowd of hundreds at Ground Zero at 1AM, stand together in celebration and sing 'The Star Spangled Banner', my eyes well up with tears.  I am proud of my country.  I am proud of the Navy Seals that entered the compound and shot bin Laden.  I am proud of my government and of my President.  Today, I am a patriot.  Looking back upon my life, I never would have pictured myself as a "patriotic" individual.  After all, I was never raised to be one.

In fact, it wasn't until September 11, 2001, that something within me changed.

The following is from a post originally dated September 11, 2009.  It was the first post written on this blog.

Growing up as a Jehovah's Witness, I was always told that it was wrong to salute the flag. I wasn't allowed to say the Pledge of Allegiance. I had to remain seated for the National Anthem. It's not that I had been intentionally disrespecting or desecrating the flag as a child. My parents never instilled in me the reasons why the symbols of our country, and the flag in particular, should be respected.

You can imagine the uncomfortable situations I had found myself in growing up. In the classroom everyday for years. At school assemblies. At sporting events. Countless dirty looks. People making comments under their breath. Even the occasional thwack to the back of the head with the words, "What's wrong with you? You a Commie or somethin? Stand up boy".

In my younger days, I saw it as an opportunity to "witness". To share my beliefs with others.  I would tell them that I wasn't standing because my religion wouldn't permit me to. Usually, that would be as far as I got. The offended spectator would turn a more enraged shade of red and that would be my que to face forward for the rest of the event and not make eye contact with anyone for the next 3 hours.

As I got older, I got wiser. I realized that by being in my seats during the National Anthem, I was only asking for trouble. So, I would generally take that time of the pre-game to go to the bathroom or grab a drink or a souvenir. Most times, I would just intentionally show up late to a game - skip the first 2 minutes of the period or the top half of the first inning altogether.

So how does this tie in to 9/11? I'll get to that in a second. But first: February 13, 1983. The Forum, Irvine, California. It was the NBA All Star Game. For some reason my dad was watching it on TV. I never remember him being much of a basketball fan. I've never been much of one either. But something special happened that night. The time came for the National Anthem. This is what we saw:

It gave me chills. As a 7 year old, I didn't know why. I had a feeling then that I couldn't put into words, that I wouldn't feel again until 18 years later. I left the church in 1996, but, out of habit I guess, continued my "tradition" of not standing for the National Anthem.

Then came September 11th, 2001. It's a day that, 8 years later, I still think about on a daily basis. We all tend to re-live the shots of the people running in the streets, the towers falling, and the planes hitting the towers. Today though, I had a different memory for the first time. I remembered the firefighters going into Ground Zero to tie an American Flag onto a beam of the World Trade Center. This was still while the area was unsafe. There was still a possibility of the surrounding buildings collapsing. It was their way of saying "We're still here. We're still standing".

When I saw that flag amongst the rubble, that feeling I first felt as a 7 year old had returned. It was pride. The flag reminded me of the anthem's lyrics itself: "Gave proof through the night, That our flag was still there, O say does that Star Spangled Banner yet wave, O'er the land of the free, And the home of the brave". It waved over many a brave volunteer in the days and weeks following the attacks.

September 10, 2001, was the last day I refused to sit for the National Anthem. Since the events of 9/11, not only do I show my respect to my nation and its flag, but I sing along with the Star Spangled Banner, and get choked up at the end. Every time.

Dude, Where's My Qur'an?

Protesters in Amarillo stopped a nutjob from burning a Qur'an on Saturday.  The hero was a 23 year old skateboarder that snatched the gasoline soaked Qur'an from the guy's hands and delivered it to a local Islamic center.  The news story is kinda funny:

We Will Never Forget

Tonight in Manhattan:

How 9/11 Changed Me

This marks the second year that I have posted this piece on 9/11.  It was the first post to The Daily Twitch on 09/11/09.  I hope you enjoy:


Growing up as a Jehovah's Witness, I was always told that it was wrong to salute the flag. I wasn't allowed to say the Pledge of Allegiance. I had to remain seated for the National Anthem. It's not that I had been intentionally disrespecting or desecrating the flag as a child. My parents never instilled in me the reasons why the symbols of our country, and the flag in particular, should be respected.

You can imagine the uncomfortable situations I had found myself in growing up. In the classroom everyday for years. At school assemblies. At sporting events. Countless dirty looks. People making comments under their breath. Even the occasional thwack to the back of the head with the words, "What's wrong with you? You a Commie or somethin? Stand up boy".

In my younger days, I saw it as an opportunity to "witness". To share my beliefs with others.  I would tell them that I wasn't standing because my religion wouldn't permit me to. Usually, that would be as far as I got. The offended spectator would turn a more enraged shade of red and that would be my que to face forward for the rest of the event and not make eye contact with anyone for the next 3 hours.

As I got older, I got wiser. I realized that by being in my seats during the National Anthem, I was only asking for trouble. So, I would generally take that time of the pre-game to go to the bathroom or grab a drink or a souvenir. Most times, I would just intentionally show up late to a game - skip the first 2 minutes of the period or the top half of the first inning altogether.

So how does this tie in to 9/11? I'll get to that in a second. But first: February 13, 1983. The Forum, Irvine, California. It was the NBA All Star Game. For some reason my dad was watching it on TV. I never remember him being much of a basketball fan. I've never been much of one either. But something special happened that night. The time came for the National Anthem. This is what we saw:


It gave me chills. As a 7 year old, I didn't know why. I had a feeling then that I couldn't put into words, that I wouldn't feel again until 18 years later. I left the church in 1996, but, out of habit I guess, continued my "tradition" of not standing for the National Anthem.

Then came September 11th, 2001. It's a day that, 8 years later, I still think about on a daily basis. We all tend to re-live the shots of the people running in the streets, the towers falling, and the planes hitting the towers. Today though, I had a different memory for the first time. I remembered the firefighters going into Ground Zero to tie an American Flag onto a beam of the World Trade Center. This was still while the area was unsafe. There was still a possibility of the surrounding buildings collapsing. It was their way of saying "We're still here. We're still standing".

When I saw that flag amongst the rubble, that feeling I first felt as a 7 year old had returned. It was pride. The flag reminded me of the anthem's lyrics itself: "Gave proof through the night, That our flag was still there, O say does that Star Spangled Banner yet wave, O'er the land of the free, And the home of the brave". It waved over many a brave volunteer in the days and weeks following the attacks.

September 10, 2001, was the last day I refused to sit for the National Anthem. Since the events of 9/11, not only do I show my respect to my nation and its flag, but I sing along with the Star Spangled Banner, and get choked up at the end. Every time.

9/11 Happened To Us All

On a personal note, I am happy to see that the Imam in New York City has not agreed to move the mosque near Ground Zero.  9/11 happened to us all...Christian, Muslim, and atheist.  The following is one of a series of commercials airing in the New York City area to try to ease anti-Islamic tensions.  It was hard for me to watch.  Got a little emotional actually.  It really brought the point home.

Today In Bad Taste And Worse Timing

You see....If only the World Trade Center was shorter.  Then the planes would have missed the 83rd floor completely.  This tasteless ad is for a French weekly whose tagline is "Learn to anticipate".

If you'll excuse me now, all this French talk has me craving French toast.

Soundtrack of My Life 10/25/09 - Sting 'Fragile'

Depending on the phase of my life, I either absolutely love Sting, or absolutely loathe him. At the moment, I'm sort of in between. I've been thinking a lot about life...and health...and death lately. And, for some reason, this song came to mind.

'Fragile' was originally written about the assassination of John Lennon. The following video was recorded at a concert that was supposed to be telecast live worldwide. That ill-fated performance was scheduled to take place on the evening of September 11th 2001. Due to the events of that morning, Sting decided to perform this single song in memory of the victims of that day's terrorist attacks, then cut the live feed. This version of 'Fragile', I believe, later went on to win a Grammy for live performance.