9/11 Commission Report: Some thoughts on Heroism
Reading the 9/11 Commission Report, I’m struck by the extent to which they attempt to create heroes of the rescue workers responding to the disasters at the World Trade Center, instead of painting them in a more realistic and foolhardy light. As far as I can tell, the only real hero of the WTC evacuation was Morgan Stanley, who ordered the evacuation of twenty of its floors in the South Tower only minutes after the first impact, around 8:49, while the deputy safety fire director decided to wait until he could contact his boss, around 9:02, to start the evacuation (287-289).
The time it took to get the emergency staff on scene was excellent–perhaps only ten minutes had passed before hundreds of police and firefighters arrived. However, the text used to describe it is unusually melodramatic:
The FDNY response began within five seconds of the crash (289)
Whether or not this statement is actually true–it may be hard to verify–it’s clear that the use of such a sharp time-specifier is intended not convey a fact, but an emotional impression of urgent immediacy. When the commission describes how the second 9/11 plane hit, they create another exaggeration to further their agenda of heroism:
What had been the largest and most complicated rescue operation in city history instantly doubled in magnitude (293)
Actually, striking a second tower does not double the size of the rescue operation, but only the scope of the damage to WTC assets. The rescue operation itself, already mobilized in response to the first plane, does not need to substantially redeploy to respond to a second instance of the same threat. An analogy should be made to a fire breaking out in a residential neighborhood. An excessive number of firefighters respond and begin to put out the fire when the house next door catches aflame, as well. Obviously the “rescue operation” does not “instantly double in magnitude,” as the firefighters who were not fully utilized at the first site will simply divide their efforts and work more efficiently.
I have two last jabs at the Heroism chapter. First, when the commission writes, “Many civilians were in awe of the firefighters” (299), are they intending to impress us with a sort of group hypnosis, intoning the virtue of the firefighters and its (so-called) universal acknowledgement? Second, the commission selectively looks at the firefighters it apologizes for:
Climbing up stairs with heavy protective clothing and equipment was hard work even for physically fit firefighters (299)
Well, this implies that all of the firefighting personnel were in excellent shape, rather than acknowledging that the men were actually a mix of elite troops and fat grunts waiting for their retirement to roll around.
This entry was posted on Saturday, February 4th, 2006 at 6:31 pm and is tagged with emotional impression, fire director, residential neighborhood, emergency staff, first impact, morgan stanley, excessive number, safety fire, south tower, city history, heroism, specifier, exaggeration, immediacy, firefighters, 9 11 commission, analogy, magnitude, world trade center, disasters. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback.
16 Responses to '9/11 Commission Report: Some thoughts on Heroism'
Leave a Reply
Please take time to enjoy the archives: June 2008 (2) May 2008 (1) April 2008 (1) February 2008 (1) January 2008 (3) October 2007 (2) September 2007 (1) August 2007 (3) July 2007 (4) June 2007 (3) May 2007 (2) April 2007 (5) March 2007 (3) February 2007 (3) January 2007 (1) December 2006 (3) November 2006 (4) October 2006 (1) September 2006 (3) August 2006 (2) February 2006 (3) January 2006 (2) December 2005 (3) November 2005 (2) October 2005 (4) September 2005 (1) August 2005 (5) July 2005 (4) June 2005 (1) May 2005 (3) April 2005 (8) March 2005 (8) February 2005 (8) January 2005 (11) December 2004 (6) November 2004 (6)
Fresh, related resources:
- The Conservative Blog Network Feed
Here's some Monday afternoon inspiration for you. Ivan Castro joined the Army, and was a Ranger before completing Special Forces training. He earned his officer's commission and joined the 82nd Airborne Division as platoon leader. ... - The Actual Date In Which The FBI Began Its Criminal Operations In ...
This, in addition to the 9-11 Commission Report, which due to its complete lack of credibility, is now being compared to the Warren Commission Report, regarding the assassination of President John F. Kennedy; a piece of complete ... - local stuffs
Last week the Law Commission asked the government for an urgent inquiry into the way sex-offence trials are held, saying it hoped the move would provide some comfort to victims fearful of coming forward. Commission ... - 26 new messages in 25 topics - digest
timeline did, was simply omitted from the 9/11 Commission Report. The Commission's systematic timeline alteration and omission of incriminating evidence thereby suggest that its mission was damage control, a deliberate cover-up of ... - Websites Shut Down by US Government
Some time after 9-11, the Times SCRUBBED this article, replacing it with a completely different article that Burns wrote on 9-12. Both articles discuss a 2-hour videotape by Bin Laden that intelligence agencies first saw in June 2001, ...
on May 12th, 2006 at 4:40 am
First off… you may want to pull your head out of your ass. That bright light you would see is not the Great Beyond looming over you, but rather the sunlight that shines down upon the rest of us. How dare you question the FDNY’s bravery or how the 9/11 Commission portrayed them! Hundreds responded to the worst disaster in American hisotry and 343 FDNY, 23 NYPD, and 37 NYC Port Authority officials didn’t go home to their families. IF they are not heroes or courageous, then I do not know who is.
You quote the commission report as saying “The FDNY response began within five seconds of the crash (289)” and going on to say that this is an emotionally targeted statment with little eveidence. It is an emotional statement, but it also states the FACT that FDNY’s Engine 7, Ladder 1 company was on a routine “gas leak” call only blocks from WTC plaza. They witnessed the first plan hit; they even had a French camera crew with them shooting a documentary that caught the first impact on film. Within second (actually…. FIVE seconds) they were loaded up and responding to the WTC. They arrived two minutes after the first plane hit and were personally credited for having organized the rescue opperation and evacuating over four hundred vicitms.
The men and women of the FDNY, NYPD, NYCPA, and other city agencies laid down their lives, their existance, so that others could have the chance to live and see another day. How dare you question their bravery or dedication! How dare you soil their beloved memory. As an EMT, Firefighter, and an American, I am ashamed of you.
Oh and by the way… those “fat grunts” are multi-year verterans of the FDNY that have probably saved more lives through their careers than the number of pounds their belts hold back. Hang your head in shame you sorry disgrace for a human being.
on September 7th, 2006 at 9:45 am
You white collar disgrace. I would never wish death on anyone but to sit there behind you computer and tell the world that 343 of my brothers are not heroes, that takes balls. If running in to those buildings when they knew they probably wouldnt be coming out. Their response time was unbelievable. Off duty firefighters drove from their homes to help out at Ground Zero…they didnt have to risk their lives to save others…but they did. What did you do?
on September 11th, 2006 at 11:14 am
srry if this may sound slightly rude i just found this but u know what GO FUCK YOURSELF ASS HOLE those are brave men and women what the hell did you do sit behind your computer and insult u probably ddin’t even donate blodd you lazy scumbag asswipe
on October 4th, 2006 at 1:29 pm
fuck you. my father and brother put their lives on the line fighting fires every day, and my mother is a police dispatcher who had to hear the calls of people who are facing certian death. if you cant realize that those people ran inside that building because they had a chance to help people they’ve never met before, i hope your house cathces on fire, and one of them save you. because then you will realize how important these people are. once again, fuck you.
on November 26th, 2006 at 1:33 am
Ok when i found this on the web, and read the damn thing my blood as never boiled so much in my life.
I AM a FIREFIGHTER, and as much as i wont to say what i really think of u, i wont ill hold it back. Chris post is about what i would have said added alittle to, but other wish about it.
I think u need to think befor u post any stupid bs on the web, and maybe u should get out behind that computer, and ride along with BRAVE firefighters going to a fire. Hell put our gear on, and lets see if u will run into that hose with fire coming out every where to save that family from the horror they face.
Personally i think u would stand there by the rig, and wait for one of those BRAVE firefighters to run in and get the job done because we dont think twice. There safty is more importent then ours. The BRAVE mean and women on 9/11 showed that, and they deserve the respect for they or HEROES in my book!
on December 4th, 2006 at 3:53 am
ny was on a routine “gas leak” call only blocks from WTC plaza. They witnessed the first plan hit; they even had a French camera crew with them shooting a documentary that caught the first impact on film. Within second they were loaded up and responding to the WTC.
on December 7th, 2006 at 10:05 am
Smoke and dust and heroism
I havent seen United 93 yet. Soon, maybe. Everything Ive read suggests its as fine a film as Id hoped it would be. Nothing else Ive read comes close to Gerard Van der Leuns Of a Fire in a Field. I first read it several days ago and was …
on December 7th, 2006 at 6:16 pm
All i can say is that you should go rot in hell. I am a fire fighter and we lost 343 fellow brave fireman in that disaster that struck this nation.
“No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.”
~~John 15:13~~
I want to see your ass get into full bunker gear, an airpack, and all the rest equipment that each man carries you sorry piece of shit. Actually, take that back because that would be an insult to the heros that lost their lives. The last thing that i have to say is that you are an ignorant asshole and you should go screw yourself.
on January 26th, 2007 at 5:46 pm
I have to agree with all here any one who says they are not the Bravest in the world must have lost their fucking mind.
on April 25th, 2007 at 10:25 pm
Being a firefighter and judging by what you have said, i will not put in writing what i think of you. all i have to say is that you are the sorriest execuse of a human being i have ever seen and you should be ashamed of yourself
on April 26th, 2007 at 10:35 am
I disagree with your assesment of the rescue operation, your analogy of a fire in a neighborhood is not a good one as fighting fire is very different from a rescue operation. When the plane his the second tower you immediately had approximately twice as many people to rescue and consequently, in my opinion, have a rescue operation that has doubled in size.
I am a firefighter and can tell you that none of the men and women who responded to that incident where thinking of being heroes, they were doing their job. I am also tired of the hero talk, as I am sure most of the firefighters who survived 9/11 are. I peronally think they did heroic things and deserve some recognition. I don’t however, feel their heroism and sacrifice should be politicized. I can tell you heroic things were done before 9/11 and are being done today, firefighters are what they are, because they do the things they do people think they are heroes, but very few firefighters are comfortable with that thought.
I hope your comments are based on the fact that there was quite a bit of politics involved in the statements.
I do agree that the decision to evacuate early by Morgan Stanley was an excellent one, however without being in the situation it is unfair to question the deputy safety fire director’s (what ever that is) decision making process, I am sure many factors had to be considered.
All in all I think you are not educated enough in fire/rescue strategies, tactics or procedures to make the assumptions you are making.
on April 27th, 2007 at 8:15 pm
how dare you!!! you werent there and you probably didnt lose anyone in that tradgedy. how fucking dare you!! you are a pathetic excuse for a human being and i hope you read this and realize how much affect what you said has on people. now ive never had to deal with losing anyone that way ( and apparently neither have you) but to go and say the things you said shows that there really are ignorant people out there who dont give a damn about other people and the suffering they put up with so that you can sleep easily at night!!! you pathetic S.O.B!! i hope that if your house cathes on fire that they save you just so you can regret everything you said about the men and women who risk their lives to save your sorry ass!!!
on April 28th, 2007 at 11:25 pm
Ok look here you little motherfucker. Every person, firefighter, emt, nypd, nycpa, civilian, that died in thoese towers, pentagon, and field are heroes. They are all better human beings than ur sad excuse for an american could ever be. They layed down their lives for unknown friends. I wittnessed it all. I was there on that day. I only wish you were there to see the firefighters, even as the buildings were collapsing, still running in to try to save one more life. many knew they would not return home. they are true american heroes. you on the other hand will never amount to anything other than a lump of shit! we all fight what you fear so that you can live with the peice of mind knowing that when you are in need even though you dont deserve it we will be there. we dont discriminate or hold this agenst you. we will save your sorry ass because it is what we do. we save lives! I only wish you knew what goes on in one day of a firefighters life. maybe than you would have some respect for courage. so untill you have some respect you should just go fuck yourself
on August 10th, 2007 at 2:22 pm
I REALLY THINK YOU SHOULD CONSIDER SUICIDE–DO US ALL A FAVOR. THE EVIL AND IGNORANCE THAT YOU HAVE SHOWN IN THIS POST IS WHAT IS PLAGUING THE WORLD AND CAUSING TRAGEDIES LIKE THIS TO HAPPEN ALL AROUND US. HOW DARE YOU QUESTION THE BRAVERY OF ANYONE INVOLVED IN THE SEARCH/RESCUE OPERATIONS ON 9/11–ESPECIALLY OUR FIREMEN. SCUMBAG!!!
on November 7th, 2007 at 10:48 pm
I could not agree more with what these people are saying about your post, I have family that are firefighters, and they lost people they knew in 9/11. These people [the firefighters] are some of the most generous, selfless, and amazing people I have ever had the opportunity to meet. If you can say that about a group of people who would not only forgive you for dragging their name through the mud, but would still save you should your house ever catch fire, then you dont deserve their kindness.
on November 29th, 2007 at 9:11 pm
are you kidding me? what would the world be like without these people? think about that? my dads a firefighter and went down on 911 to help out, he said it was one of the hardest things to whatch your freinds who are basically your brothers go in and never come out… i hope that you can one day truly feel the pain that these men and women went threw! they are the definition of heroes