Comments on: Radio Killed the Video Star

By: Evelyn

Evelyn — Sat, 14 Sep 2002 14:50:31 +0000

Like you two, I heard the Sept. 11 news from NPR only because it never occurred to me to turn the T.V. on! I had lived my whole adult life without ever owning a T.V., until January 2001 when I purchased one from a co-worker who was moving to another coast and didn’t want to move his T.V. Instead, I have been a dedicated public radio listener since the early 1970’s. I still hadn’t developed the habit of using that old T.V. by September 11th, so it never occurred to me to turn it on. I was awakened by my clock radio in Tucson, AZ tuned to NPR, to hear live coverage about the Pentagon and the WTC. Ever since, I have avoided excessive exposure to television images of those events. It is clear to me that the television industry uses those images not to inform the public, but to sensationalize the events and manipulate emotions of the viewers.

By: Michele

Michele — Sat, 14 Sep 2002 05:51:15 +0000

I’m in NJ, and since NY is our neighbor it really felt like it happened right here at home. I didn’t feel like I was more than 100 miles away. I often wanted to go there during the first few weeks because I felt I needed to DO something rather than keep watching the media go over the same images repeatedly. This year, I decided that I would not watch ANY television on that day because I remember every detail. I will NEVER forget. One of my best friends went to work in one of those buildings at that same time every day for three years. She moved to California a year before the attacks. It was the first time I was glad that she moved so far away. I’m really glad to hear your mom was safe. Mentally you start to take inventory of the ones you love and count your blessings during a tragedy. I’m still counting mine one year later and I’ve never stopped thinking that it could have been any one of us, anywhere.

By: tara

tara — Fri, 13 Sep 2002 20:00:12 +0000

At the time I worked in PR/PA for a large insurance company, so we were in front of the TV all day. I do not watch a lot of TV anyway, so it was very scary, disturbing, and draining.

I did not watch any coverage this year. But then again, September 11th is also my birthday, and there was a part of me that(and surprisingly, everyone I know vehemently told me the same thing) told myself to *try* and have a nice day, as it always was and always will be my birthday. I do not need to watch TV to silently mourn those who have passed. Fortunately I have a husband and good friends who made it one of the most wonderful days of my life.

I am glad to hear your mom is OK. My friends long-distance love worked in one of the towers, and by some small miracle he did not set his alarm the night before and was still at home when he should have been at work. My husband also has family friends who live downtown, but they were out of town. I hope your mom flies again soon. I did this year, and yes I was a little nervous, but we must get on with our lives. We cannot live in fear.

By: porkchop

porkchop — Fri, 13 Sep 2002 17:16:39 +0000

We were in the wilds of Utah on that fateful morning. We did not hear of attacks until the following afternoon when we came off of the river. Our commentary comprised of a really freaked-out river guide’s announcement and a soggy day-old Moab paper with some of the articles illegible or missing altogether. It wasn’t until that night did we see anything on the tele for the first time. As a result, I don’t respond much to the question “where were you when…”. For the last year, I have always felt removed from that day, the incident, and even the aftermath. And sometimes, but not always, I’m real glad of that. It doesn’t surprise me that your ma was safe and sound that day. She’s a great woman and will probably outlive us all.

By: jordanbrock

jordanbrock — Fri, 13 Sep 2002 14:07:03 +0000

I understand what you are trying to get at. Being in Australia, we were channel hopping and came across the odd image of smoke coming out of one of the towers. This was on our government funded channel, which is kind of like PBS, except they aren’t always begging for cash (more like the BBC in Great Britain).

So, it was a more conservative commentary than was going on the other channels which generated a much more reasonable response from me and my partner(american).

Good that your Mum’s fine, though not so good that she hasn’t flown since.

Congrats on the eloperation. (My beloved and I are running away to Sweden for our nuptials. Less hassle)