Readers share solemn views on 9/11, how it changed America and how they have coped
9/11 aftermath
After reading “Extreme Prejudice: The Terrifying Story of the Patriot Act and the Cover Ups of 9/11 and Iraq” by Susan Lindauer and “Operation Gladio: The Unholy Alliance between The Vatican, The CIA and The Mafia” by Paul L. Williams, I have reached a few conclusions.
The U.S. government intended to invade Iraq before 9/11, the U.S. government continues to deceive everyone about its real agendas for manipulating foreign governments and invading foreign countries, and the U.S. government is committing horrific, unjustified acts worldwide under the secret veil of national security.
The Bush administration and Congress were warned in detail by the CIA about what would happen if they invaded Iraq. The unintended consequences from the U.S. invasion were exactly as the CIA described.
My sympathy goes out to all the people injured or killed on 9/11 and to the far greater number of civilians and soldiers injured or killed in the Middle East after 9/11, none of whom was responsible for 9/11.
Even the Pentagon acknowledges that the U.S. invasion of the Middle East is a repeat of the Vietnam War. In each case, the reason for the invasion was unjustified, the outcome achieved little and the end didn’t justify the means.
Financial gain and power continue to corrupt our government. Facilitate responsible decision-making in government with your vote.
Wendy Sime
Prairie Village
Opera’s therapy
“The Magic Flute,” an opera by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, healed me after 9/11. I returned from my morning swim when news broke of the Sept. 11, 2001, tragedy. The Kansas City Symphony had a 10 a.m. rehearsal at the Folly Theater for “The Magic Flute.”
It went on as scheduled; rehearsals are as important as concerts for the symphony. Could I manage my job that day? Our hearts were healed with the expressive, elegant score of Mozart. Sharing music with my colleagues and friends eased my soul after this horrendous event.
This transforming, jovial opera led our musicians through a devastating day. In the Kansas City Symphony, we have musicians from diverse cultures performing as one voice. Music heals our minds and spirits, enabling us to speak the same language.
Susan Goldenberg
Violinist
Kansas City Symphony
Kansas City
Changing world
Although almost 10 years old and a geography buff, I didn’t know on Dec. 7, 1941, where Pearl Harbor was or to which country it belonged. Radio newscasts didn’t say.
A newspaper the next day showed maps and detailed lost lives and ships. With half its Pacific fleet gone, America went to war.
To my generation, 9/11 became Pearl Harbor repeated. With contemporaries, I watched it in a Merriam IHOP on Jim Wymer’s portable TV but again couldn’t process it. The planes were not foreign, so no thought of war occurred.
Yet all had changed. Remarkably, from that horror and carnage came a worldwide outpouring of kindness and love for America and its people. This, seen here and abroad, I shall forever honor and never forget.
World War II lasted 3¾ years for America; the 9/11 war, so far, 15. We have no empire to defeat, only a nebulous Islamic State caliphate of dubious substance and worth. We found two countries to invade and occupy.
Osama bin Laden is shot dead and Russian President Vladimir Putin ravages noble Ukraine.
God is in his heaven and all again is sort of well with the world.
Fred W. McCraw
Merriam
Moving forward
After two years of preparation, on Sept. 11, 2001, all 15 members of the Kansas City Interfaith Council were scheduled to announce their Oct. 26-28 Gifts of Pluralism to the media at Pembroke Hill School. Before leaving home, I turned on the news and then called additional interfaith leaders to meet with us.
With a TV monitor in the background replaying scenes of horror, council members and guests, one by one, A to Z, American Indian to Zoroastrian, spoke urgently, condemning the 9/11 attacks and saying they wanted to work to strengthen our community by building understanding and relationships among all faiths.
The council continued its work. Out of the terror of that day, we struggled to make something good.
The Gifts of Pluralism conference, with triple the expected participation, produced local and national fruits of the spirit, some of which continue to grow.
Although there can be no compensation for the losses of 9/11, we have learned to move forward together.
Vern Barnet
Kansas City
This story was originally published September 10, 2016 at 3:00 PM.