I was a shy beginner on Xanga in 2001 and was trying my first short entries. At this time there was no picture and I did not get “premium” yet. When the tragedy of the World Trade Center in New York happened on September 11, I made a post to express my horror and my solidarity. We all felt ourselves American. . Here is, below, this 18 year old post and the comments from some of my first readers
Tuesday, September 11, 2001
Sans voix.Nous restons sans voix devant ce qui vient de se passer aux Etats – Unis . Nous sommes horrifiés .Toutes nos condoléances à nos amis américains .
Voiceless. We remain voiceless at seeing what it has just happened in USA . We are horrified . All our condolences to our American friends.
Thank you michele.. I live 3 hours from the city.. to close for me. I saw the skyline today after the buildings fell and it looks odd with the tall buildings gone.Posted 9/11/2001 10:33 PM by Sada – delete – block user – fix language – recommend – reply
No words can reflect our feelings in this case. Praying is the only thing we can do at this moment. Well spoken Michel. Love, BiancaPosted 9/12/2001 8:06 AM by bianca_b – delete – block user – fix language – recommend – reply
Vous avez droit, le voix est perdu quand on est temoin a une scene comme cela. Nous avons perdu le voix, les terroristes ont perdu leur ames.Posted 9/15/2001 11:56 AM by Nala – delete – block user – fix language – recommend – reply
Horrified is the word. And we continue to be horrified after each bombing, fire, mass shooting. When we recognize that we are all part of one, perhaps we will stop killing each other.
I do recall this human tragedy, as I was living in Houston, TX by then… I used to watch the morning news(CNN) every day, when suddenly, they switched to NY and I did see the 2nd plane “entering” the 2nd twin tower; I stayed “frozen” in denial for several minutes, it looked like a “film-catastrophe”, but… sadly and unfortunately, all was cruel reality!!! 😦
I checked my Xanga entry from that day. Apparently I had no words, so I quoted Byron.
Oh God! it is a fearful thing
To see the human soul take wing
In any shape, in any mood.
The memory of that day will never go away for those who lived through that day. When I was in Rhode Island last week I visited the tiles on a wall in the city that the children did after 9/11 to remember those who lost their lives on that day
I was living on the east coast at the time, not all that far away. I remember the day, clear and bright, and a very blue sky. When I got to work, I got the news. People were sent home early, no one knowing what else might happen that day.
Those days are hard to forget. Later on, I met one person at guitar camp who had been watching the cloud of dust and debris coming roaring down the street from the site that day. Someone in a shop behind him opened the door, grabbed him and pulled him in to safety just in time. He lived to tell the tale due to someone pulling him in to safety.
I remember this cloud , Lavinia . It was frightening to watch at the TV . This man was near the death and has been saved by someone who had good reflexes.
It is awful but WW II had many sacrifices for many people. My grandparents talked about rations. Said they were lucky to live rural where meat and vegetables were plentiful.
I was in a store when the first plane hit. There was a radio by the check-out counter, and I could tell the announcer was saying something serious. Asked the check-out clerk what that was about, and she said a plane just hit the World Trade Center. I hurried home and turned on the TV just in time to see the second plane hit. I spent the rest of the horrifying day watching the happening and the aftermath. Terrifying! Not only the trade center, but the plane hitting the Pentagon, and the plane crashing in the field. It made me realize a bit better what the people in Europe faced during the Second World War—-which you had first-hand experience with Michel!!! ❤ Nancy and Ken
I did not see this when you first wrote it. We were in our Motor Home in a campground near Cleveland when this happened… It was shocking and devastating. It was weeks while our nation was in mourning…Thank you for being a friend. France has always been our friend. It was the French who came to our aid during our revolution against England.
The primary ally for the American colonies was France. At the start of the war, France helped by providing supplies to the Continental Army such as gunpowder, cannons, clothing, and shoes. In 1778, France became an official ally of the United States through the Treaty of Alliance.
I was at work when I a coworker from another department told my office about the first jet flying into the first tower. We turned on a radio to learn more about the “accident”, then the second jet flew into the other tower. I had to hold myself up by the cubicle divider. “This is war,” I thought, and it started on American soil at that moment.
Later, on Photo Booth, I mentioned a South Korean apartment design that suggested the 9-11 terrorist attack on the Twin Towers, noting I found it in poor taste. The response from the internationals on the site were brutal! Americans needed to forget the Twin Towers, they whine and moan about this every year on the anniversary. (I believe this was on the tenth anniversary.) We somehow deserved this horror, the internationals implied, so shut up about it.
I found the remarks shockingly insensitive to the deaths of nearly 3000 people in three events on that one day. The people were more than just Americans, after all, with people from over 70 countries killed that day. The least sensitive remark came from a Scot in America learning how to fly jetliners!
The link shows the building in South Korea that caused the furor. Up close, the part that suggests the 9-11 terror attacks actually softens into something I can approve of: aerial “forests”.
This was a horrible event wich we cannot neither forget nor make architectural dsign with it . Besides it was the first time sinece the Independence that the USA was attacked on their soil . I hope this will incite the politic responsibles to search peace by all means.
The current president could be thought to be part of the effect – his racism expressed itself early when a housing development he and his father (who belonged to the KKK) were fined by the federal government for excluding blacks from that housing.
I may not remember dates now like years but I knew where I was and the gut wrenching feelings. I worried as Wil was out of city delivering cars. No way to contact him. Didn’t have a cell phone then apparently.
Michel, thank you for posting this. I am not sure if we had known each other on Xanga yet. I remember I was a new immigrant in Sweden at that time, and I was riding the subway home when a classmate of mine told me a plane crashed into the World Trade Center. At that time we thought it was a plane accident but soon the details came out and I was horrified. We shall never forget this day.
I do not think we knew each other at this time, Louisa . I remember you via Multiply and the last image of you on Mutiply was you dancing on the beach by the sea ! I believe you were in Hong Kong .
Je n’ai pas perdu l’horreur de ce jour là. J’étais au 7ieme étage au travail en Angleterre. Larmes, personne ne parlait. Pas de mots.
J’espère que la paix des années précédentes reviendront. J’ai des soucis pour la paix et la liberté, avec ce qui se passe en Royaume Uni et États Unis, contre les autres pays du monde.
Amitiés a toi, Janine et toute la Famille Fauquet. Xx
PS. Nous sommes en plein déménagement de l’appartement à Rémusat, pour rentrer en Angleterre…. Samedi, c’est fini pour nous … Nous sommes triste mais il fallut faire une décision, et avec le Brexit,, trop difficile pour nous attendre voir si nous prouvons trouver un nouveau bonheur en France…
J ‘ avais l’ habitude de vous localiser dans la Drome et de suivre vos étapes dans la vie . Cela me fait quelque chose de vous savoir partis Outre-Manche . J ‘ espère que Boris Johnson ne réussira pas son coup et que vous pourrez aller et venir tranquillement.
Amitiés à vous deux
It really touches my heart that we have so many friends over there, we have felt the pain when terrible things have happened in over there to our dearest allies. Thank you Michel! Love , ❤
Most of my xanga or wordpress friends are American Holly but I have some friends in Europe, Asia and Australia .
French people have a special feeling for the USA since the Independence .
Je viens de regarder a la TV un documentaire scientifique disant que les World Trade Towers ( Les Tours à New-York) ont tombés aussi vite ( env. une heure) à cause du mélange de l’aluminium (des avions) avec le matériel (acier, eau, placoplatre, bois stratifié etc) de l’immeuble. Ce qui a fait tomber les tours si vite.
Pour toi, puis que tu es science chimique…
Merci, Stéphanie pour cette précision . Cela me fait penser à la flèche de la cathédrale Notre Dame de Paris qui était recouverte de plomb lequel a fondu presque instantanémént dans l’ incendie ..
Thank you for this post, your love, support, solidarity, compassion, and kindness, Michel.
No matter where we live, we are all human beings with so very much in common. And we should all be united as one when anything bad/wrong happens to other people.
It is so sad that such things continue to happen around the world and innocent people suffer and die. 😦
We were getting ready for work that morning and our kids were getting ready for school. A neighbor/friend down the road called and said, “Is your television on?” and I said, “No.” Then she said, “You must turn it on.”
We turned on the TV to see images of the first plane hitting and then continued watching and saw all of the other horror as it happened. 😦
I can’t believe that it’s been eighteen years – someone born on that day is now considered an adult.
I was twelve and sitting in my math class when the televisions were turned on and we watched the breaking news. At the time I was a misguided and very stupid child, so it took me several years to finally grasp everything that 9/11 was and is. But I guess with age should come wisdom and insight, and that is what it took for me to properly understand and process.
Thank you for sharing these thoughts and the comments. This was one of those times when asked: “Do you know where you were, & what you were doing at that time?” — the answer is YES! I had a doctor’s appointment, and then picked up my private student. Because I hadn’t been around any news, I had no idea until my student got into my car — and told me. We went to my house, but we didn’t get much work done that day. We were shocked by all we were seeing and hearing. No, I won’t ever forget! Love and hugs ❤ Carolyn
Sometimes it seems it happened a life time ago and other times it was just yesterday… It was an event that had a ripple effect far outside the USA – It defined a generation and made clear that we are all connected.
Souvenirs intacts. Nous venions de quitter New York 2 mois plus tôt, et nous trouvions à Stuttgart. Entendu la nouvelle à la radio. Emotions fortes. Pensées en particulier à nos amis sur place.
Puis quelques années plus tard, doute sur l’origine des attentats. Probable inside job comme on dit là-bas. Folie humaine en tous les cas 😦
Such a long while ago now. I remember it struck me, as it always does, how much solidarity we got from those abroad. It shouldn’t be surprising, because I feel just the same when a calamity strikes elsewhere, of course. But one thinks first that such a thing is only one’s own trial. No one will ever forget those ones who jumped from the towers hand in hand.
I did not realize that you were new on Xanga in 2001. I miss Xanga in many ways. I keep thinking I will start to blog again, but I don’t know if I will. I think it is more meaningful that facebook, though.
It was so kind of you to post about the World Trade Center catastrophe. I remember it well. So horrifying!
fauquetmichel
fauquetmichel 
Horrified is the word. And we continue to be horrified after each bombing, fire, mass shooting. When we recognize that we are all part of one, perhaps we will stop killing each other.
I share what you feel .
I do recall this human tragedy, as I was living in Houston, TX by then… I used to watch the morning news(CNN) every day, when suddenly, they switched to NY and I did see the 2nd plane “entering” the 2nd twin tower; I stayed “frozen” in denial for several minutes, it looked like a “film-catastrophe”, but… sadly and unfortunately, all was cruel reality!!! 😦
I imagine your feelings of horror
Thanks for sharing this with us, Michel. I clearly remember the horror that unfolded that day – unbelievable! 😦
Yes, Marion, we cannot forget such horror .
I checked my Xanga entry from that day. Apparently I had no words, so I quoted Byron.
Oh God! it is a fearful thing
To see the human soul take wing
In any shape, in any mood.
–Lord Byron
They were appropriate verses , Cheri.
The memory of that day will never go away for those who lived through that day. When I was in Rhode Island last week I visited the tiles on a wall in the city that the children did after 9/11 to remember those who lost their lives on that day
This wall and those tiles are a good memorial made by children , Julie.
I was living on the east coast at the time, not all that far away. I remember the day, clear and bright, and a very blue sky. When I got to work, I got the news. People were sent home early, no one knowing what else might happen that day.
I guess your emotion must have been intense in those days and still now, Lavinia
Those days are hard to forget. Later on, I met one person at guitar camp who had been watching the cloud of dust and debris coming roaring down the street from the site that day. Someone in a shop behind him opened the door, grabbed him and pulled him in to safety just in time. He lived to tell the tale due to someone pulling him in to safety.
I remember this cloud , Lavinia . It was frightening to watch at the TV . This man was near the death and has been saved by someone who had good reflexes.
Even in rural America we felt violated. I remember a freak out on fuel shortage and it was a numb time.
I was too frightened to see such a horror and immediately written a post on Xanga to support our American friends.
The horror has spread around the world now unfourantly
How many dead , wounded people ?, How many ruins? . Since the end of WW II there always were wars or terrorism everywhere in the world, unfortunately.
Yes and so many innocent people have paid the price
I remember my fear when I was under the bombings during WW II on the French coast.
That sounds scary.
Yes it was : war is awful .
It is awful but WW II had many sacrifices for many people. My grandparents talked about rations. Said they were lucky to live rural where meat and vegetables were plentiful.
I remember too this . Where did your grandparents live ?
Kansas. Within 20 miles of where I still live. And two hours away for the other set.
I was in a store when the first plane hit. There was a radio by the check-out counter, and I could tell the announcer was saying something serious. Asked the check-out clerk what that was about, and she said a plane just hit the World Trade Center. I hurried home and turned on the TV just in time to see the second plane hit. I spent the rest of the horrifying day watching the happening and the aftermath. Terrifying! Not only the trade center, but the plane hitting the Pentagon, and the plane crashing in the field. It made me realize a bit better what the people in Europe faced during the Second World War—-which you had first-hand experience with Michel!!! ❤ Nancy and Ken
You said the word , Nancy: terrifying. I have been immediately invaded by the horror
I did not see this when you first wrote it. We were in our Motor Home in a campground near Cleveland when this happened… It was shocking and devastating. It was weeks while our nation was in mourning…Thank you for being a friend. France has always been our friend. It was the French who came to our aid during our revolution against England.
In 2001 it was my beginning on Xanga, Françoise . I think we befriended later.
The primary ally for the American colonies was France. At the start of the war, France helped by providing supplies to the Continental Army such as gunpowder, cannons, clothing, and shoes. In 1778, France became an official ally of the United States through the Treaty of Alliance.
It was the glorious beginnings of the alliance France- USA which has never failed . ❤
I was at work when I a coworker from another department told my office about the first jet flying into the first tower. We turned on a radio to learn more about the “accident”, then the second jet flew into the other tower. I had to hold myself up by the cubicle divider. “This is war,” I thought, and it started on American soil at that moment.
Later, on Photo Booth, I mentioned a South Korean apartment design that suggested the 9-11 terrorist attack on the Twin Towers, noting I found it in poor taste. The response from the internationals on the site were brutal! Americans needed to forget the Twin Towers, they whine and moan about this every year on the anniversary. (I believe this was on the tenth anniversary.) We somehow deserved this horror, the internationals implied, so shut up about it.
I found the remarks shockingly insensitive to the deaths of nearly 3000 people in three events on that one day. The people were more than just Americans, after all, with people from over 70 countries killed that day. The least sensitive remark came from a Scot in America learning how to fly jetliners!
The link shows the building in South Korea that caused the furor. Up close, the part that suggests the 9-11 terror attacks actually softens into something I can approve of: aerial “forests”.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2072308/MVRDV-architects-reveal-plans-South-Korean-buildings-look-eerily-like-Twin-Towers-exploding.html
This was a horrible event wich we cannot neither forget nor make architectural dsign with it . Besides it was the first time sinece the Independence that the USA was attacked on their soil . I hope this will incite the politic responsibles to search peace by all means.
The bloodiest day in American history happened on 17 September 1862 during the US Civil War in the Battle of Antietam . https://www.nps.gov/anti/learn/historyculture/casualties.htm
11 September 2001 came close to matching that day, so became a day of significance to Americans, one that still is observed each year.
Thank you , Doug, to teach me about this other awful day in the history of the US .
The battle and the Civil War still have an effect on American life.
I do not know enough the reality of the USA but I was already told about this effect of the Civil War on American life .
The current president could be thought to be part of the effect – his racism expressed itself early when a housing development he and his father (who belonged to the KKK) were fined by the federal government for excluding blacks from that housing.
Your news above enlighten me, Doug.
I may not remember dates now like years but I knew where I was and the gut wrenching feelings. I worried as Wil was out of city delivering cars. No way to contact him. Didn’t have a cell phone then apparently.
Thank you for this post.
With the blogging we remember not only the event, Bonnie , but also the date ..I keep all of my Xanga ( but I canot post nor comment on it )
Michel, thank you for posting this. I am not sure if we had known each other on Xanga yet. I remember I was a new immigrant in Sweden at that time, and I was riding the subway home when a classmate of mine told me a plane crashed into the World Trade Center. At that time we thought it was a plane accident but soon the details came out and I was horrified. We shall never forget this day.
I do not think we knew each other at this time, Louisa . I remember you via Multiply and the last image of you on Mutiply was you dancing on the beach by the sea ! I believe you were in Hong Kong .
Je n’ai pas perdu l’horreur de ce jour là. J’étais au 7ieme étage au travail en Angleterre. Larmes, personne ne parlait. Pas de mots.
J’espère que la paix des années précédentes reviendront. J’ai des soucis pour la paix et la liberté, avec ce qui se passe en Royaume Uni et États Unis, contre les autres pays du monde.
Amitiés a toi, Janine et toute la Famille Fauquet. Xx
Je souhaite que la paix règne entre les nations et à l’ intérieur des nations . Espérons que la raison se fera entendre .
PS. Nous sommes en plein déménagement de l’appartement à Rémusat, pour rentrer en Angleterre…. Samedi, c’est fini pour nous … Nous sommes triste mais il fallut faire une décision, et avec le Brexit,, trop difficile pour nous attendre voir si nous prouvons trouver un nouveau bonheur en France…
J ‘ avais l’ habitude de vous localiser dans la Drome et de suivre vos étapes dans la vie . Cela me fait quelque chose de vous savoir partis Outre-Manche . J ‘ espère que Boris Johnson ne réussira pas son coup et que vous pourrez aller et venir tranquillement.
Amitiés à vous deux
An amazing and inspiring post Michel. ❤️
Ce post, Holly, says again my amazement and the horror that was in me on September 11, 2001. This expresses my dread for my American Friends
It really touches my heart that we have so many friends over there, we have felt the pain when terrible things have happened in over there to our dearest allies. Thank you Michel! Love , ❤
Most of my xanga or wordpress friends are American Holly but I have some friends in Europe, Asia and Australia .
French people have a special feeling for the USA since the Independence .
Likewise Michel. Your beautiful land is very dear and we share a history than should not be overlooked.
Thank you, Holly. ❤
My pleasure always! ❤
You are kind , Holly. ❤
❤
Je viens de regarder a la TV un documentaire scientifique disant que les World Trade Towers ( Les Tours à New-York) ont tombés aussi vite ( env. une heure) à cause du mélange de l’aluminium (des avions) avec le matériel (acier, eau, placoplatre, bois stratifié etc) de l’immeuble. Ce qui a fait tomber les tours si vite.
Pour toi, puis que tu es science chimique…
Merci, Stéphanie pour cette précision . Cela me fait penser à la flèche de la cathédrale Notre Dame de Paris qui était recouverte de plomb lequel a fondu presque instantanémént dans l’ incendie ..
So important to never forget.
Thank you for this post, your love, support, solidarity, compassion, and kindness, Michel.
No matter where we live, we are all human beings with so very much in common. And we should all be united as one when anything bad/wrong happens to other people.
It is so sad that such things continue to happen around the world and innocent people suffer and die. 😦
We were getting ready for work that morning and our kids were getting ready for school. A neighbor/friend down the road called and said, “Is your television on?” and I said, “No.” Then she said, “You must turn it on.”
We turned on the TV to see images of the first plane hitting and then continued watching and saw all of the other horror as it happened. 😦
My family will never forget.
(((HUGS))) and ❤
“No matter where we live, we are all human beings with so very much in common” . I agree totally with you, Carolyn.<3
We still feel the loss, so thank you Michel.
It was such a horror that we cannot forget, Nico.
Yes, for sure. Peace.
I can’t believe that it’s been eighteen years – someone born on that day is now considered an adult.
I was twelve and sitting in my math class when the televisions were turned on and we watched the breaking news. At the time I was a misguided and very stupid child, so it took me several years to finally grasp everything that 9/11 was and is. But I guess with age should come wisdom and insight, and that is what it took for me to properly understand and process.
May we never forget.
At this age, Marica, such a horror could be hard to be realized by a child not used to see attacks on the American soil.
Thank you for sharing these thoughts and the comments. This was one of those times when asked: “Do you know where you were, & what you were doing at that time?” — the answer is YES! I had a doctor’s appointment, and then picked up my private student. Because I hadn’t been around any news, I had no idea until my student got into my car — and told me. We went to my house, but we didn’t get much work done that day. We were shocked by all we were seeing and hearing. No, I won’t ever forget! Love and hugs ❤ Carolyn
I imagine the shock, Carolyn when the student told you the horrible and unbelievable news ❤
Sometimes it seems it happened a life time ago and other times it was just yesterday… It was an event that had a ripple effect far outside the USA – It defined a generation and made clear that we are all connected.
Yes, Val, the whole world was struck by the horror of this attack
😥💙🙏
Je partage ce que tu exprimes, Annalisa. ❤
It’s still horrifying to look back at those videos and pictures. You said the right thing. Xanga helped bring communities closer together back then.
Many people regret Xanga where strong friendships are born.
Souvenirs intacts. Nous venions de quitter New York 2 mois plus tôt, et nous trouvions à Stuttgart. Entendu la nouvelle à la radio. Emotions fortes. Pensées en particulier à nos amis sur place.
Puis quelques années plus tard, doute sur l’origine des attentats. Probable inside job comme on dit là-bas. Folie humaine en tous les cas 😦
Cet événement affreux a dû vous toucher d ‘autant plus que peu de temps avant vous étiez sur place, Anne-Marie.
a lovely tribute to such a tragedy
I imagined easily the horror of this event as during the War II I lived near of the French coast and had to endure bombings during four years .
also a tragedy as I’d imagine that long term relentless bombing left deep scars …
Deep scars , those are the appropriate words, Kate
That is lovely memorable post.
Yes, Angy, blogging make the memories more precise .
Such a long while ago now. I remember it struck me, as it always does, how much solidarity we got from those abroad. It shouldn’t be surprising, because I feel just the same when a calamity strikes elsewhere, of course. But one thinks first that such a thing is only one’s own trial. No one will ever forget those ones who jumped from the towers hand in hand.
Hand in hand to face the death . How would be able the witnesses forget this , Neil .?
It is a day we will never forget..never forget where we were when we heard the news, what we were doing, etc. It changed our country forever.
Hugs
💜
I did not realize that you were new on Xanga in 2001. I miss Xanga in many ways. I keep thinking I will start to blog again, but I don’t know if I will. I think it is more meaningful that facebook, though.
It was so kind of you to post about the World Trade Center catastrophe. I remember it well. So horrifying!