I just wish that sometimes the jokes and rants can be turned off. What the helll is wrong with us?
Mourn folks, tell your stories of where you were and leave the political ranting, and replies to perceived flamings, alone. Should our personal stories overlap with opinions, leave it alone. Let the words of those members who post here speak for themselves.
Here is, after all, part of what yesterdays remembrance was about.
Quote: On September 11, 2001, terrorists flew two hijacked airplanes into the World Trade Center (WTC) in lower Manhattan in New York City (NYC), destroying both towers of the WTC. This report presents preliminary vital statistics on the deaths caused by the terrorist attacks and describes the procedures developed by the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (NYCDOHMH) to issue death certificates in response to the attacks. These data underscore the need for legal mechanisms to expedite the issuance of death certificates in the absence of human remains and the need for vital registration systems that can be relocated in case of emergency.
As of August 16, 2002, a total of 2,726 death certificates related to the WTC attacks had been filed. All but 13 persons died on September 11; of the 13 persons who were injured on September 11 and died subsequently, three persons died in other states, one each in Massachusetts, Missouri, and New Jersey. Of these 2,726 decedents, 2,103 (77%) were males and 623 (23%) were females. The median age for these decedents was 39 years (range: 2--85 years); the median age was 38 years for females (range: 2--81 years) and 39 years for males (range: 3--85 years). Three persons were aged <5 years, and three were aged >80 years. These data represent 97% of the estimated 2,819 WTC deaths; fewer death certificates have been issued than the estimated number of decedents because some families have not yet requested certificates, and investigations into several requests are still in progress.
Of these 2,726 decedents, 1,659 (61%) were non-Hispanic white males, 407 (15%) were non-Hispanic white females, 177 (6%) were Hispanic males, 81 (3%) were Hispanic females, 136 (5%) were non-Hispanic black males, 79 (3%) non-Hispanic black females, 122 (4%) were Asian/Pacific Islander (API) males, and 54 (2%) were API females. A total of 1,837 (67%) had graduated from college or had postgraduate education (males, 69%; females, 63%) (Table 1).
A total of 2,158 (79%) decedents were born in the 50 U.S. states, compared with 59% of the NYC population (1). A total of 568 (21%) decedents were born outside the 50 states, including the United Kingdom (n=56), India (n=36), Puerto Rico (n=34), the Dominican Republic (n=26), and Japan (n=25). By place of residence, as reported on the death certificates, 1,169 (43%) decedents were residents of NYC, 593 (22%) were residents elsewhere in New York (NY) state, and 674 (25%) were residents of New Jersey (Table 2). A total of 27 (1%) were residents of foreign countries. A total of 90 decedents were residents of Massachusetts, the origin of the two airplanes that struck the WTC, and 29 were residents of California, the destination of the flights.
NYCDOHMH processing of death certificates includes assignment of underlying cause-of-death codes. The NYC Office of Chief Medical Examiner (OCME) classified all reported deaths as homicides*. (Death certificates for the 10 terrorists on the two airplanes have not been issued and are not included in these data; these deaths might be classified as suicides.) As of August 22, 2002, OCME had issued 2,734 death certificates, including 1,373 for decedents whose remains had been found and 1,361 for decedents whose remains had not been found; the discrepancy might reflect the later date, and these data might contain some duplications. Methods used to identify decedents included DNA (645), dental radiographs (188), fingerprints (71), personal effects (19), and photographs (16). Multiple methods were used to identify 407 decedents, and 966 were identified by a single method (Shiya Ribowsky, OCME, personal communication, 2002). Death certificates listed the cause of death as "physical injuries (body not found)" for decedents whose remains were not found and were specific when remains were found (e.g., "blunt trauma to head, trunk, and extremities").
This is part of what shaped our world 7 years and one day ago and what continues to shape it today. Seems like no one wants to admit what happened anymore. To those that can't take it, please do not watch the below video.
I repeat kidhaf's sentiments,
"Peace & Respect to all those who lost loved ones. Peace & Respect to all those who gave to help. Peace & Respect to those who never made it home from work. Peace & Respect to all my brothers on this site. "
