9/11 Remembrance

 The 112th Precinct conducted a moment of silence in remembrance of 9/11

A view of the memorial lights from Forest Hills

New Poll: September 11th Museum

Talk on Muslim/Jewish Relations at Forest Hills Jewish Center

In the wake of September 11, two of the most prominent Muslim and Jewish leaders in NYC forged an unlikely friendship. As the city reeled from the events of the day, many people reacted with anger and bitterness. Rabbi Marc Schneier and Imam Shamsi Ali instead made the courageous decision that they would bring their communities together to work for peace. 

On Sunday, December 15 at 2:00 p.m.., Rabbi Schneier and Imam Ali will discuss their new book, which grew out of their conversations, Sons of Abraham, at the Forest Hills Jewish Center in Queens. 

In their new book, Rabbi Schneier and Imam Ali confront the differences between Muslims and Jews with great honesty, while also looking for the values that unite us.  They challenge both Jews and Muslims to step outside their comfort zones to find common ground. 

Tickets to this event, which also includes kosher desserts, are available through the Central Queens Y, at (718) 268-5011, ext. 151 or online at www.cqy.org/tickets.  Advance tickets are $15, with tickets at the door at $21. 

Rabbi Marc Schneier was born in NYC into a community wary of outsiders.  Son of a distinguished rabbinical dynasty, his passion for Israel made him suspicious of Muslims. Imam Shamsi Ali grew up in a small farming village in Indonesia and attended Muslim schools in Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, where he was taught that Jews intended to destroy Islam and its practitioners. Despite such extraordinary differences, these two men become close friends, as well as passionate advocates for mutual understanding between the world’s most bitterly opposed religions. Rabbi Schneier and Imam Ali confront such difficult questions as the legitimacy of both Israel and a Palestinian state, the idea of the chosen people, the meaning of jihad and shari’a. Rabbi Schneier and Imam Ali do not agree on everything, but when they disagree, the manner in which they do so sets an example for this necessary dialogue. 

More information about this event is available at 718 268-5011, ext. 151, or online at www.cqy.org or at  (718) 268-5011 ext. 151, or pkurtz@cqy.org. 
                          

NYC's New Tallest Building

Some time this afternoon, if all goes as planned, 1 World Trade Center will become New York City's tallest building, surpassing the Empire State Building.

Just Not That Concerned?

Today, we learn of this...

WORLD
On the Run, Bin Laden Had 4 Children and 5 Houses, a Wife Says
By DECLAN WALSH
Published: March 29, 2012
Testimony to Pakistani investigators by Osama Bin Laden’s youngest wife offered the most detailed account yet of the family’s life on the run preceding the raid in May 2011 that killed the Al Qaeda leader.


Which made me immediately recall this:



And while all those people were still mourning their loved ones here... It just made, and still makes me, so incredibly angry!

Is it any coincidence that just a short time after we got rid of the Bush Administration we then brought Bin Laden to justice? I don't think so... Something never sat right with me about the whole damn thing. Still doesn't. One day, hopefully, the whole truth will come out...

Remembering 9/11

I thought I'd post some of the photos I took back on that day ten years ago. I hadn't looked at these photos in a long time. But looking at them today reminded me of how everyone who was there that day forgot about themselves. We all became one. You can see it in my photos below.

I remember when the first tower fell. An elderly lady was left howling in the crowd as we all ran away. I didn't even think about it - I put my arm around her and comforted her, telling her it was going to be all right. We took a few steps together and then I looked up and saw a police woman looking at us both. I passed the old lady to her without a word, and kept stumbling up the street, heading away from the destruction.

So we all became one. And if anything the insanity of those who were behind this horrible act had the opposite effect—instead of pulling us apart, it brought us all together.

A Good Ground Zero Overview

Confused about what is going on at Ground Zero, what is being built there, and when things will be finished? Here is a good video that pretty much explains it all:

Ground Zero Photos

Thought you might like to see some of the progress they've made at Ground Zero, one month away from the 10th Anniversary of 9/11.

Some Thoughts

Firstly, here's a link to a really cool thing The Times is doing to get a feel for how significant people think the death of Bin Laden is:

The Death of a Terrorist: A Turning Point?
Published: May 3, 2011
President Obama’s announcement Sunday night about Bin Laden’s death produced an outpouring of reaction. But has the killing of the most wanted face in terrorism made the world safer?

Now, some of my own thoughts.

While I think violence of any kind is uncivilized and beneath us as human beings, there are definitely times in history when those who make the innocent suffer should be dealt with swiftly and strongly. I think we could of and should have captured or killed Bin Laden 9 years ago. I don't think Bush and his administration wanted to because it didn't serve their agenda - providing an excuse and distraction to invade Iraq (for what reason, oil? some vendetta? Maybe all of the above? I don't know.) I will never, ever forgive the Bush administration for putting this nation through 8 years of phony "terrorism alerts" for what was obviously political purposes. Spreading such terror among the American population was doing the dirty work of the terrorists themselves. It was disgraceful.

Am I glad Bin Laden is out of the picture? Absolutely. I was down there myself on 9/11 and could have been killed by the first tower's collapse if it weren't for the brave work of the NYPD, who risked their lives in evacuating everyone from the immediate area and did countless other acts of bravery on that day, along of course with the Fire Department.

It also seems to me that Bin Laden's death will come to be grouped by historians in the current context of the revolutions for freedom taking place in the Middle East. Young people by the millions in the Middle East have rejected "Bin Ladinism" in favor of pro-democracy movements. And that is the best news of all.

Bin Laden's Death

What are your thoughts on Bin Laden's death? I'm curious to hear what readers of the blog think... I'm a little busy today with my regular job, so I will hopefully get a chance to share some of my thoughts later today.... All I can say right now, is having been one of the people who had to run for his life as the first tower fell, this brings up a lot of memories again for me.

President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden, along with members of the national security team, receive an update on the mission against Osama bin Laden in the Situation Room of the White House, May 1, 2011. Seated, from left, are: Brigadier General Marshall B. “Brad” Webb, Assistant Commanding General, Joint Special Operations Command; Deputy National Security Advisor Denis McDonough; Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton; and Secretary of Defense Robert Gates. Standing, from left, are: Admiral Mike Mullen, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff; National Security Advisor Tom Donilon; Chief of Staff Bill Daley; Tony Binken, National Security Advisor to the Vice President; Audrey Tomason Director for Counterterrorism; John Brennan, Assistant to the President for Homeland Security and Counterterrorism; and Director of National Intelligence James Clapper. Please note: a classified document seen in this photograph has been obscured. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

Things Not To Do in Post 9/11 NY

Running through the Lincoln Tunnel in combat fatigues is one of them. But, hey, they're not from the Big City. How were they to know? Running Through Lincoln Tunnel in Camouflage Not Ideal