A Survivor Speaks Out

[jh45gun]

(Michael  Niewodowski, a chef at the Windows on the World restaurant, was
supposed to  report to work there at the top of the World Trade Center at 9:00
a.m.--the  first plane hit at 8:46. He's not a professional writer, but his take
on this  man Michael Moore, could not be better  put.)
---------------------------------------------


Sarasota Herald-Tribune ^  06/30/04  Michael Niewodowski

"From Here to Eternity", " Tora, Tora, Tora.", "In Harm's Way".  These are
three films made about Pearl Harbor. There have been more than  20 films made
about Pearl Harbor, and over 200 films made about World War II.  These films
inspire patriotism, courage, and nationalism. They tell us about  the honor and
bravery of the soldiers and the nation that supported them. Two  and a half
years after the attack on Pearl Harbor, the world watched American  forces fight
on D-Day. Two and a half years after the Sept. 11 terrorist  attacks, the
world is watching Michael Moore's "Fahrenheit 9/11."

Moore's film is the first major motion picture about Sept. 11, 2001.  This
bears repeating. When future generations look back on the Sept. 11  massacre,
their first impression, through the medium of film, will be a work  in which the
president and the government are blamed for the attacks, and the  soldiers
who are protecting this country are defamed. Instead of a film  version of Lisa
Beamer's book, "Let's Roll," or Richard Picciotto's "Last Man  Down," we are
presented with this fallacy. How could this happen?

It  would be a colossal insult to insinuate that Franklin D. Roosevelt or the
U.S.  government were in any way responsible for the attacks on Pearl Harbor.
Can  you imagine the indignation of the men and women who lived during that
period?

"Fahrenheit 9/11" is indicative of a nation that has become too  apathetic,
ignorant or deceived to face the enemy at the gate. America, where  is your
fury?

On Sept. 11, 2001, I stood across the Hudson River,  watching the Twin Towers
burn, knowing that if the plane had struck at 9:46  a.m. instead of 8:46
a.m., I would be dead. As a survivor and witness to the  attack on the World Trade
Center, I am more than insulted by this film. I am  outraged. This film is
based on conjecture, hearsay and propaganda. At a time  when this country
desperately needs to rally in support of our brave soldiers  and our strong leaders,
Moore is content to spread discord and divisiveness.  The base of his
argument is that the Bush administration had strong ties with  the bin Laden family.
However, sound facts are conspicuously absent from this  "documentary."

The 9/11 commission did not indict President Bush.  According to the report,
the president's actions before, during and after the  attacks are fully
justified, including the military action in Iraq. The  commission did not find a
direct link between Saddam Hussein's Iraq and the  Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. A
similar commission in the 1940s would not have  found a direct link between
Hitler's Germany and the attack on Pearl Harbor.  In both instances, the threat
was imminent; the president and the military  acted decisively.

Could we have been more prepared for a terrorist  attack on Sept. 10, 2001?
Certainly.
Could we have been more prepared for  an attack on Dec. 6, 1941? Most
definitely.
In the weeks and months  following Pearl Harbor, there were reports and
criticisms that the government  and military should have been more prepared. The
difference is that the people  of the nation did not waste a lot of time
pointing fingers at each other.  Rather, they unified and engaged the enemy head-on.
I guess that is why we  call them "The Greatest Generation." How will future
generations refer to us?

So, how do we explain Moore's film to future generations?  I  wonder.  More
than that, I wonder how I would explain this film to Nancy  D., Jerome N. or
Heather H.  I am sure you don't know their names, but  their faces haunt me day
and night.  How would I explain to them that a  film was made accusing the
president and vilifying the soldiers, the same  president and soldiers who are
attempting to avenge their murders and protect  other citizens?  Moore has not
only insulted the nation, he has insulted  the victims of the terrorist
attacks.

During his acceptance speech at  the Oscars, Moore said, "Shame on you, Mr.
Bush."  Well, I say, "Shame on  you, Michael Moore."  Shame on everyone who
supports this travesty of a  film.  Shame on a society that allows this sham of a
film.  You have  weakened the nation.

[Patriot_1776]

After reading these comparisons, I begin to wonder just how much of Michael Moore's brain is nothing but lipid cells.  Tell him to stay off the stage and get on the treadmill.  Patriot

[FWiedner]

The gentleman who is the object of the article undermines his own creditability in my eyes.

He claims that he is a survivor of the attacks at the World Trade Center and then admits that he wasn't even there.  He watched from the other side of the Hudson River.

He is a man attempting to capitalize on a sympathy that isn't his to accept by claiming the authority and experience of something that didn't happen to him.

Is he really claiming that the military commanders at Pearl Harbor could not have been better prepared?  I seem to recall that after the attack the command staff to a man was relived and replaced.  Even the pentagon thought that their performance was grossly incompetent.

And PLEASE, Mr. Man, demonstrate the German involvement in the attack at Pearl Harbor.

What blubbering BS.

The 9-11 Commission hearings were a white-wash.  A costly sham to make it appear that the government is "doing something".

The commissions "findings" will serve as the "non-partisan" basis for the claim of necessity to  futher undermine the foundations of American liberty.

Does anyone happen to recall that the Patriot Act was on a shelf ready and waiting to be signed into law immediately after the attack on September 11, 2001?

A lot of people questioned the fact that the bill was rushed into law without so much as a casual review by lawmakers.

Well, this time they put on a show for us, and I guarantee that we'll each spend WAY more than 8.00 bucks a head to see how it ends.

[myronman3]

call me silly; but the guy lost his place of work, a good number of folks he worked with everyday; and probably knew alot of the folks who died that day.  and if it would have happened an hour later, he would have died.   that day shocked us all.  i consider us all survivors of that day.  we all suffered that blow.   and we owe it to those that didnt survive to make those responsible pay.
  moore is a facist bastard.  and above all a liar.  i cannot believe the left embraces him.  even he admits it isnt true; but no matter.  the sheeple follow.  and if they have their way, this nation is doomed.   with this election, either our fate will be sealed,  or my hope in the american people will be renewed.     i have to believe the americans have had enough of double talk with clinton and prefer truth.  

"that depends on what your definition of 'is'  is"  

give me a break.

[Graybeard]

FWiedner, Picky, picky, picky.  :cry:

Would you have been more happy if he was one of those who always show up 30 minutes early to work and died?

I think being that close to his report time and the planes hitting just before he arrived and having so many of those he worked with and knew there that died should qualify him as a "survivor". For sure he wasn't a "casualty" and he was on his way or so he says which I'm willing to give him the benefit of a doubt on for now.

He is a man attempting to capitalize on a sympathy that isn't his to accept by claiming the authority and experience of something that didn't happen to him.

I don't see where he is trying to capitalize on anything. He's just making some comments from the stand point of one so close to the event.

Is he really claiming that the military commanders at Pearl Harbor could not have been better prepared?

Where the heck did you read THAT into his comments?


This is what he ACTUALLY said:

Could we have been more prepared for an attack on Dec. 6, 1941? Most definitely.

In the weeks and months following Pearl Harbor, there were reports and
criticisms that the government and military should have been more prepared. The difference is that the people of the nation did not waste a lot of time pointing fingers at each other. Rather, they unified and engaged the enemy head-on.

And PLEASE, Mr. Man, demonstrate the German involvement in the attack at Pearl Harbor.

Really now. I'm beginning to question your reading skills.

Again this is what he said:

A similar commission in the 1940s would not have found a direct link between Hitler's Germany and the attack on Pearl Harbor. In both instances, the threat was imminent; the president and the military acted decisively.

Note he merely said THE THREAT, meaning the threat Germany posed to the world. Separate and apart from the Japanese or Pearl Harbor.


As for the rest of the mess you posted? Well I'm not exactly sure what to infer from it. Kinda almost seems you're trying to infer maybe it was all a plot by Washington to get the Patriot Act passed.

While I must certainly agree that act stands as one of if not THE worse single piece of legislation ever made into law and while I do believe it to be grossly Unconstitutional, that in no way makes me think our own government was responsible which it seems to me "maybe" you do.

What blubbering BS.

Cool yer jets. Not all of us agree with you as to what in this particular thread the above quote applies to me thinks.

[FWiedner]

We're all survivors?

Reminds me of a game of T-Ball.  Everybody gets a turn, nobody keeps score, and as long as everybody has fun it was a good game.

To hell with the truth.  The most important thing is that we all have high self esteem, right?

Did this fellow escape from one of the towers?  Did he have to run for his life so that he was not crushed under falling rubble?  Was he dragged from beneath the twisted metal at ground  zero?  Did he receive some grevious injury from falling glass, get enphysema from choking on dust, or go through months of hospitalization or surgery?

This guy isn't a survivor, he was a witness.  He' a slacker who was late for work, and now he's tryng to give his opinion weight by claiming that he was involved.  He's a wannabe.

The fellow says that Americans wouldn't have put up with any criticism of the government or the miltary after Pearl Harbor.  BS.  The military pretty well cleaned house afterwards becuse of the criticism that they did receive.

He equates the U.S. invasion of Iraq to the U.S. joining the Allied forces in the war against the Nazis.  Iraq had nothing to do with the events of Sept 11, 2001, and the Nazis had nothing to do with Pearl Harbor but the Nazis were allied with Japan who DID attack a U.S. installation, and they were also actively engaged in combat with our European Allies.  Who was Iraq allied with?  Where were they actively fighting against our treatied allies?  There is simply no parallel.

The Patriot Act?  I do indeed believe that our goverment was just waiting for an event to occur so that that criminal action might be inflicted on the American People.  After Waco, I don't put it beneath the character of our politicians or law enforcement to actually stage the event.

When will people realize that our government doesn't give a d_mn about people, all they want is to secure more power.

The results of the 9-11 commission hearings and the recommended actions "in response" have been on the drawing board for YEARS, just like the Patriot Act was.

Moore may be an arrogant and annoying loud mouth, but in my opinion, he speaks the truth about the government's deliberate incompetence in the days leading up to Sept 11, 2001 and about Bush protecting the Saudis at the expense of the truth and justice for the REAL survivors of Sept 11, 2001.

[myronman3]

so because this guy aint dead, by your words he is a slacker.  put me down as being glad those that narrowly escaped did.   in regards to what has already been said in response to you, i dont think reason matters to you.   you seem blind with hate.

[Graybeard]

Yup. I've got a power pole down in the orchard I'm gonna go argue with. It is more reasonable and actually listens when I talk. Now so far I've not hung around and listened to what it has to say in response.  :-D

[FWiedner]

Not giving up a quart of pity for this fellow doesn't make me blind with hate, myronman3, it makes me tired of listening to the b_llsh_t flowing from whiners who try to attach themselves to tragedy so that they can feel like "somebody".

Mr Graybeard, if you are going to spend what little time you have left talking to inanimate objects without really expecting results, I'd suggest you try unplugging your household telephone and carrying it around with you.

Or maybe buy yourself a GI Joe, you can pretend that he's going to do as you command and is just speechless with awe.

The neighbors will at least pretend to understand... :wink:

[Patriot_1776]

For what it's worth:

FWiedner,

If some whacko nut goes on a rampage at your place of work(God forbid) the time it opens, do us one simple favor, according to your logic. Don't use this forum to express your thoughts on what would have happened had you shown up for work alittle earlier than usual.

  BTW, too high a self esteem can lead to symptoms of: Never accepting truth when it is offered; kidding oneself due to feeling I am always right; and lashing back at those who blow the "emperor's clothes" off his remarks :eek:    
   
Patriot

[FWiedner]

P1776;

Why would you wish that such harm would come to me and my co-workers just because I don't care to care to buy into the falacious whinings of some snivelling little attention seeker?

Talk to someone, dude.

Were I you, I wouldn't rush out to hang a shingle claiming to have any level of expertise in psyhoclogical evaluation.

There has been no lashing back at anyone in any of the posts that I have made.  I just offered my opinion on a posted subject, and have tried to provide some helpfull advice to assist a couple of fellow posters with their hobbies.

[Patriot_1776]

Terribly sorry about my last post...I hate typing while I myself am a little fried.  But my point I'm trying to say is, FWiedner, that have a little compassion for this guy.  When one witnesses an attack that was carried out that day, three yrs ago, it can have a tremendous impact on how you view life thereafter.  And that was where he worked.  I was somewhat shocked about your responses because they seemed too sharp with the situation at hand.  Please accept my apologies for my other post and know that this is what I MEANT to say.  Patriot

GB, I know this may be silly, but if you could delete the other post and put this one in it's place after deleting this sentence I would appreciate it, thanks

[Graybeard]

Actually Patriot_1776, I see nothing wrong with the original post after reading it several times. The problem is with FWiedner's reading comprehension and the "in your face" attitude he continues to display. Let's let it stand for the world to judge. I'm sure most will NOT view it as he did.

All I read into it was that IF he should find himself in a similar situation to use his own logic and don't come here whining about it. Since you even put (God forbid) in parens after the comment I see no way a logicaly person with average reading comprehension skills could deduce you would as it was put:

Why would you wish that such harm would come to me and my co-workers just because I don't care to care to buy into the falacious whinings of some snivelling little attention seeker?

The problem here doesn't lie with you. It lies elsewhere.

[FWiedner]

Looks like the rules only apply to the little people.

Bush / Cheney will certainly appreciate your support.

[BUGEYE]

I watched it on TV from several hundred miles away and even though I am a grown man, I cried and I prayed for those peoples souls.
I also prayed for the families and friends of those who were killed.
The blame belongs to the terrorists, not our government.

It seems that someone here is really in need of counseling.

[myronman3]

Yup. I've got a power pole down in the orchard I'm gonna go argue with. It is more reasonable and actually listens when I talk. Now so far I've not hung around and listened to what it has to say in response.  :-D

seems that this post had it nailed.  the more FWiedner yaps the more evident this becomes.  

i havent seen this kind of logic since 'crossbow'.