EXPLORATIONS -September 11, 2002: Reaction to September 11
By Mario Ritter
VOICE ONE:
This is Mary Tillotson.
VOICE TWO:
And this is Steve Ember with the VOA Special English program,
EXPLORATIONS. One year ago, the United States suffered the worst
terrorist attack in American history. There are many stories being told
about that day and its effects. Today, we will tell about messages from
some of you, our listeners. We will also tell how one company is dealing with the effects of September eleventh.
((THEME))
VOICE ONE:
One year ago, Islamist terrorists hijacked two passenger airplanes and flew them into the World Trade Center in
New York City. The two huge buildings were destroyed. Another hijacked plane struck and damaged the Defense
Department headquarters near Washington, D.C. Still another hijacked plane crashed near Shanksville,
Pennsylvania.
The events of September eleventh did not only affect Americans. The attacks united people around the world in
sympathy for the families and friends of those who were killed. Millions of people in all areas of the world were
touched by the events of that terrible day.
People who were not Americans were also killed in the attacks. The media company C-N-N keeps records of the
victims of the attacks. Almost five-hundred foreigners were among the more than three-thousand people who lost
their lives September eleventh. They were citizens of at least thirteen foreign countries. They were in the World
Trade Center and on the airplanes that crashed.
Soon after the attacks, expressions of sympathy from all around the world reached those of us working in VOA
Special English. Hundreds of letters and e-mails offered support for the American people and denounced
terrorism. We received messages such as this one from France: “Deeply in my heart, I am American now. I pray
for all the victims as if they were cherished friends.
”
VOICE TWO:
Listeners of many cultures and religions wanted to express their sympathy. One listener
wrote: “I’m Egyptian and Muslim. I want to say that all Egyptians (Muslims,
Christians and Jews) condemn these killings. God help you, God help America.
”
A listener in Somalia wrote, “We extend our heartfelt sympathy to you during this period
of hellish tragedy that occurred to the American people in [the] New York and
Washington attack.
”
One listener in Costa Rica wrote reminding us that courage and wisdom cannot be
separated: “.Have for the present courage in front of the sadness, and a great wisdom
when you will answer your enemies.
”
Still others pointed to the important ideas that America represents to them. A listener in Cambodia wrote us:
“It’s an important fact that the two buildings and a part of the Pentagon have already fallen . but
.
democracy is still alive and even getting stronger.
”
Among the World
Trade Center victims:
hundreds of
firefighters, police
officers and other
rescuers.
VOICE ONE:
Some listeners who have experienced the effects of terrorism offered advice.
A listener in Spain wrote that the United States should “try not to cause suffering to civilian populations,
because the medicine will be worse than the sickness.” He said that the Spanish people have an understanding
of terrorism from thirty years of fighting the separatist group ETA.
One listener in England wrote: “I know you.will have thousands of messages like this but, as a victim of I-
R
A attacks, I know what it feels like. My prayers are with your country tonight.
”
VOICE TWO:
Terrorist attacks are not new, but the huge size of the September eleventh event was something never seen before.
Many people from very different cultures wrote saying they felt a new connection with Americans.
A listener in China wrote: “I am shocked at the news about the terrorist attacks. I am really worried about many
citizens’ lives. They and I may be strangers to each other, but we are human beings with the same feelings, life,
and love of the world.
”
VOICE ONE:
Radio, television and the press throughout the world covered every detail of the attacks and their results. Video
recordings of the World Trade Center buildings burning and then falling were broadcast continuously for a long
time — even days after the events.
New York City and Washington, D-C, are among the largest media centers in the world. This meant that the
attacks and their effects were broadcast to the whole world as they were happening.
VOICE TWO:
The pictures and descriptions affected almost everyone who saw them. Many messages from listeners offered
friendship and support that helped us get through a difficult time.
A listener in Tajikistan wrote, “It was really horrible to hear that bad news about the crashes of planes and
buildings in New York and about the death of thousands of people. Please accept our deep feelings and
sympathy. We are with you dear friends!!!
”
((MUSIC BRIDGE)
)
VOICE ONE:
The World Trade Center not only represented American economic power, but also international business
cooperation. Businesses and governments of many countries had offices in the World Trade Center. The attack
affected people all over the world not only economically, but personally.
The greatest loss of life on September eleventh was not among a group of rescue workers. It was a business.
Cantor Fitzgerald occupied five floors in the north building of the World Trade Center. Those floors were hit
almost directly by American Airlines Flight Eleven, a passenger airplane that carried about ninety people.
VOICE TWO:
Cantor Fitzgerald is a financial company. It trades certain investments. It creates moneymaking instruments that are highly complex. Cantor Fitzgerald also has developed services
to trade what are called “greenhouse gas credits.” These kinds of credits are required by
the international environmental agreement, the Kyoto Protocol on Climate Change. The credits are traded among
countries that have agreed to the Kyoto Protocol. The United States is not one of them.
The most recent reports show that six-hundred-fifty-eight workers at Cantor Fitzgerald were killed on September
eleventh. About one-thousand people worked for the company in its New York offices. The business could have
failed because of the loss of sixty-five percent of its employees. However, the chairman of the company, Howard
Lutnick, and other officials wanted everyone to know that the company had survived the attack and still was
strong.
VOICE ONE:
In May of this year, Cantor Fitzgerald started a television campaign. The four-million dollar campaign was meant
to show that the company was open for business. In it, current employees and survivors of the September
eleventh attacks spoke about the event and its effects.
The television campaign shows how the workers at Cantor Fitzgerald want to move to the future by connecting
with the past. Each brief television presentation shows an employee explaining his or her reaction to the loss of
friends.
The Cantor Fitzgerald employees seem to express the need to continue on with life even after experiencing a
tragic event. In one presentation, employee Chris Crosby says, “Everyone who I lost would have said ‘go to
work.’” Phil Marber says the victims he worked with would demand that the survivors move forward. He
says, “Every single one of them would have wanted us to be rebuilding.
”
Joe Noviello says, “There is only
one thing that we could do.restore what is ours.
”
VOICE TWO:
Some people have criticized Cantor Fitzgerald for using the September eleventh attack as part of a television
campaign. However, the company says it has made a great effort to help support the families of the victims by
providing health care and sharing profits. The company says it also is trying to make sure that it is successful in
the future.
The television campaign by Cantor Fitzgerald shows survivors dealing with the tragic events of one year ago. It is
part of a national effort to move to the future.
((MUSIC BRIDGE))
VOICE ONE:
Many of the stories about the September Eleventh attacks and their worldwide effects are evidence of some of the
best human qualities. The employees of Cantor Fitzgerald showed how human nature seeks to return to normal.
They decided that returning to work was the best way they could honor their friends who died in the attack.
Messages from Special English listeners show the strong links between people of different countries, religions
and cultures. A listener in China expressed it this way, “I think all our world is a big family, so we should live
peacefully.
”
((THEME))
VOICE TWO:
This Special English program was written by Mario Ritter and produced by George Grow. This is Steve Ember.
VOICE ONE:
And this is Mary Tillotson. Listen again next week for another EXPLORATIONS program on the Voice of
America.
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