How many jumped from the WTC towers?

[ErnBatavia]

The media has seemed to suppress this (how many poor souls that felt compelled to jump from the burning towers) for whatever reason.

I, for one, would like to be armed with some sort of number who leaped to their certain deaths. I have a feeling, due to the "Vietnamization" taking place now, that this tidbit of data might come in handy.......right about the time some clown gets my '5 across the lips'.

Anybody have an idea as to the numbers involved here? Thanks in advance.

[Jennifer in Florida]

I am losing patience with afghanistan and all our tears for them. They let these people, the taliban, take over with hardly a fight.

I feel the same way. They can't make this our problem.

[Black Agnes]

Absolutely they were people just like us. A friend of mine was due in early in WTC1 that day, he'd have been right there when the plane hit right WHERE the plane hit. Fortunately, he had car trouble and was running an hour or so late that morning. He was pulling into the train station to park his car when he heard the radio broadcast about plane into the wtc. He had no idea it was a terrorist response, but knowing NYC and Manhattan traffic in general, he knew that whatever it was things would be completely impossible so he decided to stay home.

[proud American in Canada]

I heard that about the Spanish language station, too--actually from the Mike Gallagher show out of NYC. And I agree with you, Kempo, and others, that we should be shown reminders of this over and over. Where's Bill O'Reilly when you need him? I agree that the fundraising irregularities are important--and I don't get Fox News up here--but it pales next to our tendency towards complacency. Bill is the only person on the media today who would have the guts to make us remember. Please, Bill, let's have a remembrance episode.

[Black Agnes]

I read in one of the local papers that one of the firemen (who did manage to escape) actually made eye contact with one of the jumpers just before they hit the ground. He still wasn't able to deal with it a month later...

[meridia]

I agree with you Sandy, EXCEPT in one way.... I read an article weeks ago by a journalist over in Afghanistan interviewing 11 year-olds in one of the madrassah schools.

The reporter had one of the commemorative Time Magazines about 911.... and NONE of these young Afghani children, who've lived through war and bloodshed reacted AT ALL to any of the photos of 911... until they saw one photo in which one can see people in mid air, having leapt from windows. THAT was the image that struck them, none of the others, which they invariably compared to something they'd seen happen locally, in their own young wartrodden lives.

[not-an-ostrich]

I think there is going to be a problem with the death toll. I don't know how Mayor Rudy is going to handle it. AP has been seriously researching and gathering data and say at most it was 2,500 to 3,000. That's about 1,500 less than offical NY total even after several purges of the list. By not publishing their list they are setting themselves up for major PR problem. I think people all over the world will be saying "you should have published your list and public/media could have helped keep accurate." Could there possibly have been 1,500 illegals at work in the building?

[contessa machiaveli]

we should obsess on the gruesome aspects of the 9/11 outrage because before too long the media will move on to another news story....which is why the media are freaking out over the "anthrax scare". they'd like nothing better than to have anthrax be the work of a demented homegrown monster. we don't want to stereotype the poor mideasterners who are being so victimized, do we?

[RodgerD]

Victims and villains on one page: Never Forget 911

[Elihu Burritt]

Please explain how the number of people who jumped can be known? Who was counting, and were they positioned all around the building? Who coordinated the counters to come up with a total? If you were there, would you be counting as people jumped, or would you turn away in horror?

When other events of this nature have happened, it has been the unquestionable fact that most people will stand and watch in horror and also fascination. How many people you know like to watch slasher films and murder programs and shows?

It is because of our own inevitable deaths that we are fascinated by the phenomena. In most cases the landing doesn't hurt, but the stress of the fall could quite reasonably give you a heart attack.

[Arabesque]

My heart is broken...just remember Americans, those youthful Afghani faces that didn't react to the pictures in Time Magazine of the "ordinary deaths" are just a few years away from being psychopathic killers. I will not cry if they are collateral damage.

[zlala]

Thank you for the link to the 911 website. Tears are streaming down my face. We can NEVER forget.

May the Lord bless all the troops and nations on the side of righteousness.

[habs4ever]

It's quite likely that from such a height, the victims have already hyperventilated and were unconscious when they hit the ground.

[blu]

The 911 site (attacked911.tripod.com/) is horribly wonderful. If you think you might be becoming a bit jaded by all this, if you think the war is starting to drag on, if you think "Oh, gee, maybe we shouldn't be bombing those people", you need to see this site. If you don't cry....well, then maybe you are just a bit jaded.

Thanks austingirl

[TexasKamaAina]

I think those pics should be kept for when we see the poor victims of our bombs in afghan

I printed out the picture of the poor folks standing in the windows of the WTC just to sustain my resolve if I ever begin to doubt the justness of our military response...and to show others when their resolve falters.

[APBaer]

"They let these people, the taliban, take oveer with hardly a fight."

You have put your finger on a key point.
If we want to supress future terrorism we must ensure that no country will allow them harbor.
To that end we want future people to know that to allow terrorists to reside near them will result
in horror being visited on *them*. Therefore, not only do the deaths of Taliban have a good effect, fewer
of the vermin, but also the deaths of "innocent" Afghans is of some benefit as an object lesson to others.

[RummyChick]

Someone posted a site that showed some of the 'reality' photos that the media isn't showing..anyone know the link? I think those photos might come in handy as a reminder of this horrific event. Bomb the taliban so they become the "piles of blood". NO NEGOTIATION WITH THE MURDEROUS BAST#@D$

[GWfan]

That is an experience. I am still crying. Everyone should see this. Thank you, through my tears I thank you.

[eeriegeno]

I would suggest that this thread be kept alive and be sent, on a daily basis, to those who we call leaders in Washington. Surely, Ms Clinton, Mr Kennedy, Mr Daschle, Mr Gebphart, Mr McCain, et al, will feel the pain of these poor souls and will ultimately realized that their inactions caused this horiffic scene..........

Any person, any person who can ignore this thread and talk about the poor citizens of Afghanistan, who did absolutely nothing to prevent this attack, needs to move immediately to the Afghan state to share in their coming misery. God bless the USA...