9/11: The Falling Man

I thought this was an interesting perspective on that day. But at time 52:09 a house is pictured with a white picket fence - very americana. In the yard there is a flagpole flying an upside down American flag. I fail to see how that image belongs in a documentary on such a subject.

@ dunk

Its not called up syndrome.

Jacob,
That's an interesting perspective, but I see it differently. An image of a tattered flag would more inline with your view.

@ dunk

Jacob is not coming up with his own perspective, the upside down flag is a substantiated and accepted symbol in the US and it means exactly what he said. It would be a little hard to go out and quickly tatter and distress ones flag, besides it would render said flag useless in the future. On the other hand to simply turn it upside down and raise it takes little effort and in no way damages your property. Besides we usually look unfavorably on flag desecration in our country, though it is legal.

Very difficult to watch, but important to see.

This is a great doc. Focusing on individual families effected by that day... Often forgotten amongst all the crazy conspiracy theories and critical analysis.

'9/11: calls from the towers' is another great doc on this topic - Looking closer at the real people in the towers, and their families.

Many of us here in the Philippines watched these events on CNN while it was unfolding. We watched in horror to see evil at work, destroying lives for the sake of destruction. But in our hearts and minds evil never trimphed. As we watched, We prayed hard,as We still do even now, that these souls be taken up to the Creator and that their loved ones be solaced by the all-knowing and all-powerful One.

It makes me sick in a way that I need to be gut wrenchingly sick. The image is so much more enlightening than it was meant to be - this man in his ultimate grace and finality. It was a necessary document - horrifying or not - he was necessary - making him very important.

Chops,
Forget the big screen TV. Buy a kitesurfing kit and live near a large body of water that has regular windy days. Teach your kids to enjoy every new day by example, and eat fresh fruits, veggies and fish. And do not ever watch TV. The internet should be our only screen time.

Chops, sounds like you envy death. You dont need to wait to be trapped in a raging inferno to end your life if what you say is true. Its up to you whether you choose to buy in to the American Dream. If you dont then I hope you find another dream to go after. Just remember the "American Dream" is a choice and only binds you if you let it. The people that jumped or fell that day dont have any options now.Peace.

What fascinates me with this documentary is how one form of death so common, suicide, gets special media attention because of the 9/11 story. Whether we like it or not, and trust me I am not trying to pick a fight with those sensitive with this, it is just one another form of death and yes family members fantasize about the greatness of their friends or relatives.

As far as I know, we as human, as much as we create devices for comfort when the time comes, or when we fake our coolness facing the inevitable fate, it is still there making us humble and terribly afraid. Think about it, we know nothing about it, death is a place of fear and there is no way to avoid fear even watching people dramatize and revive their emotions from that day.

To me, since I do not know these people there in NYC, and because my logical mind goes "so hold on a second, how about all the thousands of dead children and women in Iraq and the depleted uranium aftermath and the real poverty and so on?" so I simply think it is not really a big deal and I dare to say it actually shows the selfish human condition first and foremost...

To me, despite the emotional reaction from the touching voices of aunties and mothers and smiling pictures of received friends, i say I would have done the same, whether if my job that day was to jump because I could not breathe, or to walk right in to help save others with a big yellow jacket. It is what trained humans do.

After watching this documentary, how can we possibly allow a mosque to built near this site? That is so cruel to the people who lost loved ones, and to the rest of America. The people who want the mosque to built should go before a firing squad

This is getting away from the topic of the documentary but it absolutely floors me that people still keep referring to the "ground zero mosque". It is NOT a mosque that was proposed. It was a community centre that would have a area for prayer in it. But even if, for the sake of argument, it was an actual mosque to be built, what are opponents saying; that EVERY Muslim and EVERYONE from the Middle East is a terrorist? Wouldn`t that be like saying EVERY Southerner in the U.S belonged to and/or supported the KKK? Generalizations of such magnitude are stupid and dangerous, no matter who they are aimed against.

I dont know what final thought's went through these poor people's mind's as they made thier decission to fall may thier god bless them. A very powerful and thought provoking documentary.
Linda ;-*

@Joe; You are right lets not relive. But thank you for your contribution at that time. NYers prooved one thing that day, that no matter how self centered and rude we are portrayed we rally to help others when the chips are down.
@Hemant; There are many reasons to dislike "dubya" but his dedication and response to what happened that day were admirable. He, as well as former mayor Juliani and former governor Petaki, stood above all politicos in that time of need. We can hate them for anything outside of the homeland response to that day. They were good to the victims families respectfull of the tragedy and available to the public needs.

@Emmanuel:

There was no all knowing and powerful "one", there that day at all! he must have been busy somewhere else! Your Gods are ineffectual!

Mr. Razor: God was there that day; I don't understand why things happened they way they did. It's not my place to answer.

However, I remember reading the story of one of the last women if not THE last person (a black woman) to be pulled from the rubble in what I think was the Pentecostal Evangel Magazine. She said someone held her had the entire time and even talked with her until they pulled her out. When she inquired who it was, they said, "No one was there when we found you. No one fits your description on our team." It was an angel. I wonder if I could find that story on-line. I'm going by memory, but the gist of the story is correct.

God might have saved hundreds if not thousands that we do not know about. We don't know everyone's story. You assume greatly when you say that "your Gods are ineffectual!"

I believe in angels and it was an interview of the woman herself. It was her belief also, as she was a Christian woman. If you believe angels are real and you meet someone that you feel is credible, then why not believe them? I might actually be able to find the story if I search hard enough so you won't have my filter. I bet they have the magazine on-line.

I was just responding to Razor's comment viewed through "Godless colored glasses".

okay so you believe the story is true due to a preheld bias. and you probably feel the woman is credible because of the emotional appeal for one, and two because she is confirming a bias you hold.

that is not very skeptical.

god holds this useless womans hand while countless die pointlessly, not only there but around the world. while countless are raped and tortured. god not doing a thing. but he saves that woman who i promise you will go on to do absolutely nothing spectacular.

can you TRY to be skeptical about things that DESERVE skepticism?

again with this double standard of evidence as well.

@charles, as far as saving one over the other i would consider even myself useless if i was some how miraculously saved and COUNTLESS UNIMAGINABLE others were being killed and tortured at that same time. even some who others would never know about. atrocities that nothing would be learned from. just pointless terrible things. we are all useless as far as that goes.

the reason that faithful comforter wasnt there was because he was NEVER THERE. there are a few options. one would be that she is making it up, that is the worst case scenario. a second would be that she was so affected by the trauma that was occurring that her brain made a comforting delusion, another could be that she was unconscious most of the time and dreaming that. ALL OF THOSE, are much much much more likely given the world we live in.

i understand you prefer your bias but my bias is not what I prefer. its what is, at least, falsifiable.

I will try to make this my last post.

Jono: That was a horrible thing to say! Islamic terrorists do not equal God. My link is still in moderation, but here is my post without the link. when I searched “last survivor pulled from the World Trade Center.” Here is the story about Genelle Guzman McMillan that came up. Read her story first before you comment. It was even in TIME Magazine and others.

She says via this article:

“On some weeknights now, McMillan can be found working a volunteer hot line at the Brooklyn Tabernacle Church. Sometimes the people on the phone have no idea she is the last survivor found in the trade center rubble. There is no reason to tell them, she says.

But sometimes, if her pastor asks, she speaks about her time in the rubble and her long talk with God. [asking for a miracle].

It’s then that she speaks of Paul [the angel].

“I wasn’t dreaming,” she says. “I was wide awake. I know it was an angel. That was my miracle.”

You guys do not believe in God, angels, nor the supernatural. It tants every thing you think and say. Yahoo her name, and then read the story before you discredit a valid story. She asked for a miracle and she got one. Perhaps others did too that made it out alive. Do you know for sure that they didn't?

My last thought: As Epic said, I didn't want to make this a religious debate, but yes, bad things happen to good people, and sometimes bad things even happen to God's own people. That's a given, but it is the evil hearts of man that create that evil (in concert with satan in one form or another). You cannot attribute to God the evil within our own evil human hearts.

In my eyes, His love and care for Genelle Guzman McMillan is no less a miracle just because He allowed others to stand before Him in person via death in the attack on the twin towers.

I wasn't expecting such a harsh reaction to such a heart-warming story. You guys never cease to shock me sometimes with your cold hearts.

There is no importance on the identity of the falling man, as finally the documentary concludes. That man, whoever he had been, represents the suffering of all americans and of all the world on that terrible day. It allows us no only to imagine the despare and the suffering of all those people who were in those buildings, but to have the real dimension of what was going on there. Let's pray for them and ask and have faith some day we will reach the peace.

Well I really enjoyed this documentary because I thought it was made with sensitivity, yet also shows the power of Media - and the emotion it evokes. that picture was dramatic in the sense that it horribly balances art and destruction with the loss of human life.
I would not be surprised if it did win the Pulitzer prize - the pictures and fooirage of 9/11 are so harrowing, yet that ONE picture summed it up. I will never ever come to terms with 9/11 - nobody should

I must say to watch this film is very heart wrenching & soul moving. In saying that, I mean that no matter whom this individual is, whether he is Mr. J. E. Briley or Mr. N. Hernandez, recognized as the “Falling Man”. He is a creation of God the Almighty, a Man & most of all a very brave & courageous individual. Put yourself in his shoes, NO WAY OUT but down or thru 1000+ degree fire, In the very last moment of his life knowing full well that his end in this world was very near & at hand by fire or fall. This man he, in my mind, took his final leap of faith knowing that everything he was, would be forever at the mercy of his creator, while embracing the inevitable end.

This man is BRAVE, even beyond Brave, to be able look death in the face and leave this world with such conviction as to seem to others as a faithful final leap. I believe this is what he was FORCED to do, what many brave individuals did that fateful day! But let us not forget they did not do it by their own volition…. they were forced to choose which way to leave this world by the EVIL, WICKED, SELF SERVING ABOMINATIONS known as “Radical Islamists”.

This is a message to us all, that message being even in death brought on by Radical fanatics, if we all have a choice to our inevitable departure from this world we should do it according to our OWN choice not that of evil men. No matter what let us not forget that these people were murdered, not suicidal people……just … unfortunate victims, that deserve remembering, respect & reverence as humans by birth & Americans by the grace of GOD! “NOT JUMPERS”

Religion Religion Religion!
everybody looks to religion for the answers - and also looks to blame Religion when this like this happen.
Find an answer - by looking into life - it doesnt have to be religious, but maybe Religion "works" for you?
I have my own way of dealing with horrors such as 9/11 - but I dont want to start another 'religious furor'!
We just have to find our own way -

@Sadie the Celt

Amen to that, he has the nuts to debate his beliefs.

Peace

Oh and slso ( and I hope Charles B. reads this)
I see him as a very compassionate man - he comes across as very very kind to everyone

oops used the Sh** word and its in moderation, strange I thought the board auto edited.

Go figure ><

@ jono

I most certainley do NOT expect you to subscribe to ANYTHING at all! .....because I dont subscribe to ANY of Charles B.'s beliefs either - neither to I 'subscribe' to any of the other religious 'rantings' Im reading on this site.
Nevertheless I respect and admire those that find comfort in their own beliefs, as I also find peace in myself.

Wanderer: You seem like an i-diot to me! I'm married to a Filipina and live in Korea; both countries are breathing free air today because of the U.S. of A.! I highly suggest if you live in the U.S.A. and talk like that you should move your opinion and live in AFGHANISTAN, IRAQ, VIETNAM, PANAMA, PAKISTAN, LEBANON, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC, CUBA, GRENADA, SPAIN, NICARAGUA, MEXICO, LAOS, PALESTINE, SOMALIA or YUGOSLAVIA and see how well you like the country. I removed the Philippines and Korea as I don't want to ever meet you, thank you very much.

@ Wanderer

Those remarks that you wrote augers well for a hot debate, which I, for one am reluctant to enter into - as I just dont know enough. I am learning so much from just listening to others though! (I just need to learn to keep my big mouth shut!)
@ Charles B.
No, & I must admit I am quite sad that Randy is not giving us the 'new jersey' approach, I DO so hope he is ok! regards to you and yours, The Celt

And korea and the Philliphines are breathing fresh air because of the U.S????

Please explain...

@ wanderer

Call me 'dumb' but I sense a little hostility in you towards America and Charles B.?
Now Im just thinking out loud here...can I ask have you ever been on this site with a differnt blog name? either A****t, F****A, or one of which made refence to Charles b?
(Oh dear, I really dont want to go down this road....again, but I cant seem to stop myself!)

@ wanderer
You are generalising way too much - and looking at things from your own (very narrow) point of view Sir. Im unable to reason with people like you but I respect you nonetheless

@Sadie/Charles B

What excactly am i´m generalizing about?

That the US went to war against Iraq because they had weapons of mass destruction (which they didn´t)

Or that the US went to war against Vietnam, even though Vietnam hadn´t lifted a finger against the US or that the US went to war against Panam just because the current government didn´t want to co-operate with the US? The list goes on and on and on and on............

Please give me an example of what i´m generalizing about Sadie/Charles B

Sure, i´m agnostic and i´m gonna ask for forgiveness for my rude comment towards Mr. Charles B

Let us see how forgiving this ´man of the only true god´is, shall we.

//Peace

@ wanderer

i just thought it was rude to mention charles wife in such a way regardless of yr beliefs or his - it was plain bad manners.
where do you think i should travel to - in order for me to see the things you claim are being said against americans? i dont follow politics or religion sorry.

They choose death...

I couldn't imagine a situation where I would suicide without a purpose. If would have to be giving up my life to save many others or my family.

I wouldn't have jumped. I would have died trying to navigate my way down. Why surrender? I think these people made the wrong choice. I don't care about the religious reasons. I just think it's wrong to throw away life because you seem to be in a hopeless situation.

Fight to the bitter end.

@ andrew c

I agree - neither could I imagine suicide without a purpose, but I think that was the whole point of thus documentary wasn't it? or was I missing the point?

The film portrayed how we are in denial. And yes I agree with the conclusion that his identity is not important because the falling man represents all of us. I would have entitled the film The Fall of Man due to our denial of our intense negative feelings that we all hold but are in denial.

@Sadie

I´m Swedish and i also live and work in Sweden now.

But i have both travelled and worked in many places around the world.

It´s hard to pick a specific place/land/city/spot as my favourite though. I´ve met wonderful people and seen beautiful places all over.

But one thing that maybe has left the deepest impact on me is that the poorer country i´ve been in, the happier and "warmer" people are to eachother. That is something i think we in the "rich" countries should learn from. :)

//Regards

@ wanderer
yes I agree that we can learn a lot about 'priorities' and whats really important from poorer countries.

I've thought about this for 3 days now. Would I "jump" in this situation, or would I not?

If I "jumped" I'm sure I'd be praying for angels to catch me, but I think I'd rather do anything other than jump (unless I was trying to make a parachute and get to another building).

Unless I was on the window sill and it was so hot I couldn't hold on and literally burned me off, I don't think I'd jump.

It's too disterbing to contemplate any longer.

Perhaps they were hoping their bodies could be recovered by their loved ones rather than charred beyond recognition and never claimed.

I wouldn't consider any of these "jumpers" as suicide, however. God only knows.

I hope I'm never faced with such a choice.

Your wife ´was a 30+ something´?
You didn´t even know how old the woman you married were?

And how excactly were you 100% sure she was a virgin? Please explain...

This just gets better and better...

You just keep entangeling yourself in your new-age unicorn-god rantling...

The Falling Man reminds me of Bagman in Tiananmen Square.

I find myself in the position of being on the fence between religion and atheism, not knowing for certain which is correct, so my perspective on the falling man video is that when we face death, we accept it, or reject it.
Those who accept take the road that seems least painful. If you know you are going to die, does it matter how it ends? From a religious perspective, bad things happen to good people because we are all given choice in what we do, this is never taken from us. The terrorists made choices that interferred with others choices, and they would be held accountable for it in the life to come, just like the innocent make choices that they realize the consequences of later in life or beyond. having said that, I don't know for sure which way is correct, there are too many "what if's" and alternate explainations for things that one person believes and others don't believe. You can't even trust photographs anymore, they might be photoshopped..... What can you believe in? I do however feel that if religion steers you towards kindness, tolerance, and ethical behavior it is not a waste of time.
Those who jumped from the towers can't be expected to think clearly or have thought through all the consequences and backlash of opinions that we might have years later. When you are feeling the overwhelming heat and suffocation, and staring down 100 floors to the concrete, you want to have air. You want to survive, and you do what makes sense to you in the moment. Everyone that had access to a window knew their options, I don't think they were suicidal in the least. At that moment you decide what you believe, and act accordingly. Your choice doesn't change if you are religious or not.
I find it interesting that the discussion is about an event that is the result of conflicting opinions, and so there is conflict and even hostility in the discussion of it. It seems to be an inescapable trait of humans.

What is really interesting about this film is the fact that in time of crisis, we as human being shield ourselves from some images. I believe to see the world in a proper way to must learn to unflinchingly look at these images (not just the inspirational heroism that is shoved down our throats). The falling man was a part of 9/11. as much as and maybe more so than the survival stories.

On a separate note, we also need to learn to look at images of death and carnage on the streets of Iraq or Afghanistan. Solders and Civilians. They are every bit a part of the story as the solders returning, or the flag covered bodies. We must learn to look at those images before we send our boys to war. I am not anti-war, I am just saying you are not really pro-war if you can't bear to look.

i think imight just start carrying a parachute around with me especially when entering a building more then a few stories high i cant imagine the terrorist these poor innocent people must have felt. i would never consider the jumpers suicides they were given very little choice. it forced on them.so sad i still cant believe that such a thing happend scary thought is that it could happen again.

29:00 "I saw grace." "I saw a stillness" I saw a quietness" This is disgusting. This is a human being falling to his death! Don't insult our inteligence with a shallow poetic perspective. The photo was in the paper to sell papers, period.

Every nightmare that I have had trying to deal with 9/11 involves the innocent human victims of this most cowardly attack. I wish I could have been there with them, I would have tried everything to save and be saved.

Eventually these terrible deaths will be vindicated and justice will be served to those that are truely responsible for this most wicked and evil crime.

peace

That was nice, Cynthia.

Joe_nyc

God did not do this. Sick people with an agenda this this, the same people type of people that commit genocide. The people that only care for money or power. Religious motivations do not lead to war, it is the war profiteers and deceivers that lead war.

Stop and reflect on who has the greatest motive to kill people. Real victims of a tragedy do not wish the same to others, because the mature emotional mind understands that it dosent make one feel better. Two wrong dont make a right. Rather it is ones personal pride of lust for power that highjacks a mind to lead to such atrocities.

Capitalism is failing as an social system. It has taken over our democracy and left it incapable of serving it constituents for many years now.

This was not a crime by the faith of Islam, Christianity, Judaism, or any other faith. Look throughout history, the elitist have used the cover of religion to push forth their agenda. READ, in addition to watching if you really care about the lives that were lost that horrible day. I think we owe at least that much to our lost friends and their families.

Mr. Overy: When men a women are dying, God is often one of the foremost things on their mind. At least for the moment, it's still mostly a free world; you point out when you think is notable, and we shall do the same. What would you be thinking at the moment you were forced out that window? Your bank account? Let's hope not! Your loved ones? Let's hope so! Your eternal soul and where it was going? Most certainly. How selfish of you to forbid mention of the most important matter in the whole universe (and I mean that quite litterally), expecially at such a time when reflection on the matter is most needed.

@Andrew C - Most of these people jumped because they could not find a way to navigate down as there was none. They were faced with being incinerated in an inferno raging all around them or jumping out of the window. There was no hope of getting out--period. They chose what they believed to be the less painless method.

BTW, I recently read where a man watching videos of the jumpers was inspired to invent a device whereby people can lower themselves even from 100 story buildings at a safe rate. The device can fit in a file drawer and weighs about 20 lbs. It is currently in pre- production and he is going to donate 300 of them to the City of New York.

Of all the horrors of that day, it is the jumpers who affect me the most. I cannot imagine having to make that choice, and then following through on it. YouTube has videos devoted entirely to the memory of the jumpers. It is so hard to watch. Some even held hands as they jumped; one woman looked up at the sky for a few moments before she spread her arms and then took the plunge.

The man who has invented the lowering device I mentioned above was particularly disturbed by the helicopters that circled round and round but could do nothing to help the people crammed at the windows. That is the one good that has come out of this. They inspired an inventor to produce a lowering harness that people could use by themselves.

Never did I think I would live to see such a horrid sight as what happened on that day. It makes me appreciate each day I am alive.

Why would anyone argue on a documentary of this...this is a sensitive topic why start an aimless argument? sorry this is an annoying comment and awful pointless but seriously? this is heart touching, and painful for some people why fight on it?
I apologize because I realize the stupidity of my comment.

This was a very disturbing and realistic Doc.The picture of the man falling in the picture makes my feel every emotion that the human mind can comprehend. I question the motive behind the news paper that first pulished the picture.Was their motive:
1)to sell papers at the exspence of a man falling to
his death.
2)to spread fear in the American public?
3)to show sympathy for the falling man?
4)or to make Americans pissed-off and pump them up
for war?
What ever the motive is it was a very emmotional immage of watching a fellow American go to his death.We Americans are not used to this coward act of terroism.Nor should we expect to sit idly by and let be.Contrary to some of the beliefs in the comments,America does not deserve the acts that fell upon us on 9-11.
Our nation is made up of many cultures and we all need to stick together and save our free way of life.It hasn't been that long since the cowards came onto our soil and marred it.
My sincere condolances go out to the families that lost love ones in 9-11.And for all the brave men and women in our armed forces be proud of what your doing and don't let any of the negative publicity detour you from doing your job.

For the family of the falling man.You know he didn't commit suicide and he is in eternal peace.

PS.Who is this clown "Wanderer"? punk)

911 was an inside job.

This brought it all back. Regardless if anyone believes there was a conspiracy or which conspiracy of choice you subscribe to, anyone watching it whose heart doesn't break all over again for the families of those lost in the attack, you may not be human.

The falling man represents the will to live! To say these people died in suicide could not be more wrong. Faced with certain death and the only way out is a window of uncertain death, the clear mind chooses the window. The falling man represents the will to live... that is why so many jumped. God Bless America!

Do you think if someone were to ask this man right before he jumped "Excuse me sir, do you mind if we take your photo as you are falling to your certain death, and paste it all over the web and newpapers for the world to see", he would have said "SURE! WHY NOT?" Come on, this is someone trying to capitalize on the fact he had a camera at this particular moment. Have some humanity. Allow the man to have his dignity. I hope the photog has a very publicized death and someone is there to get it on video.

Ohh, i see..youre that type of fella who never got any attention from the other sex in school.."The loser".

Bet your'e fun at parties.

Whotinnanny,
I could not disagree more. A) the photographer was a professional AP photog, who did his job and did it well. B)This man deserves to be known, and his family may be at peace knowing what his fate was, just like the gentleman who was comforted by the picture he believed to be his wife falling.
As we now remove the stigma for soldiers who commit suicide, we can remove the stigma from these folks who controlled their deaths, which can not realistically be coined 'suicides'. This picture did not rob the poor soul of any 'dignity'. There was no dignity in what happened, and he deserves to have his story told.

You speak like someone who hasn't a clue what he's talking about. Were you in Lower Manhattan on September 11th? the man..."deserves to have his story told..." .. You're not interested in his story. You're fascinated by the moment and manner in which his life came to a sudden end. The way he died has no "stigma." What are you talking about? You people should be ashamed of yourselves. If you had any idea what that day was like you wouldn't disrespect the dead so flippantly.

Nobody should be attacking anyone for taking a picture. It's this morbid fascination and cottage industry that has propped up by these sickos with death scene fetishes.

A thought provoking film. I've been welling up all day, hearing again the stories of the victims of 9/11. What must this man have been thinking as he launched himself into oblivion? I'm sure he thought about those he loved and would never see again and I think he did the right thing by not being burned to death or asphixiated.

So...was it worth it for the nutters that caused 9/11? They have brought about over three thousand American dead, hundreds of thousands of muslims dead, hundreds of British dead, still no Palestinian state and half of the world world that despises Islam. The trouble is that these terrorists belong in the middle ages and the big mistake we have made is to share modern technology with them. Left to their own devices they'd still be rubbing sticks together to keep warm at nights and they'd never have the where withall to hurt the west.

I'm British and proud of it. America, I salute you for trying to do the right thing and standing up to these thugs.

...

i feel sorry for you. you think our government does gods work? what are you a 5 year old in the 1950's? The corporations run your government. They run your media. Study some real world history and stop believing the REAL propaganda. We have the largest most high tech military in the world but a few dudes with box cutters held NORAD back for three hours? Every major war has started with a false flag attack like 9/11. We dont go anywhere there isnt a benefit for the corporations. We're entering into a three-front war here and you think it's for all our benefit? War benefits the common man? No. It benefits the mega rich. People with no allegiance to a homeland, only concerned with controlling "the herd". I think you may be the one who needs a reality check.

People who blindly believe anything they are told by "Authority" are reneging on their responsibility to educate themselves holistically in order that they may participate more effectively in the process of democracy. A healthy democracy depends upon an educated electorate. Michael points out below how Sigmund Freud's nephew turned the principles of propaganda into a tool for both business and governments to manipulate the masses like lemmings.

It pains me deeply to see so many minds so effectively hijacked by such simple tricks.

Turn off your TV and never read another newspaper as long as you live.

It can be done. I've raised 2 extraordinary children without a TV in the house and I can assure you it makes a profound difference to IQ, individuality and creativity.

They say "no rational person would ever do that." Have you ever been on fire? How does a rational person who is on fire act?

“A ‘jumper’ is somebody who goes to the office in the morning knowing that they will commit suicide… These people were forced out by the smoke and flames or blown out.”

So, that means they still get to go to Heaven and eat pizza with Jesus, right?

David are you all there??? what a stupid comment to make grow up

saw this about a year ago, thought it was fairly good

Whotinnanny - I would think he would have answered your question with "get me the hell out of here!" People didn't jump, they were murdered. I would like to think that for those fleeting moments, these poor people got all the air they needed and some semblance of peace. I would like to think that.

I am pretty sure that storing parachutes to shoot out of one building to another was not and is not practical. There would not be enough clearance for the chutes to open sufficiently. Also, a safety net to jump into would have to have been stories tall. The entire time between the 2nd plane crash and the collapse of that tower was only about 30 minutes. Not enough time to stage a rescue that the need for could never even have been imagined.

the effects of too many hoolywood films right there. Alot of people in the news said 'it was just like a movie' - but it wasn't. Innocent people lost lives whereas in am ovie, the hero would have come up with a great plan. It's a shame it wasn't a movie. Hope the people rest in peace.

I do not know what the man who filmed this was thinking except that it is quite believable to me that he put the camera between himself and reality. It is like a filter of the horror he was seeing. To later view it and realize that this man could and has become the tear that represents the hurt every NYer felt on that day, and EVERY AMERICAN CITIZEN felt on that day, is a stroke of GOOD! The falling man, when viewed has the opportunity to remind every person who views it why freedom is NOT FREE and why we can NEVER FORGET, has become an icon in our memory. I think this picture represents so much for EVERY American and EVERY HUMAN! I am thankful that his death could be something that is able to touch EVERY person who views it. He could have certainly died silently as did all the others. Yet, his picture taken, has been an opportunity, and obviously I use that term as gently as I can. When veiwed, this picture represents and brings forth the hurt and fear we all felt on that day. The falling man will make sure, we NEVER FORGET! To that, I am forever grateful for him and to his photographer, no matter if his intentions were disingenuous or if they were sincere. I bet, if we could ask him today, if would want this picture to be used to remind us of this day and live in ways that never let things like this happen, he would side with the man who took the picture!

Sadness in it's truest form

The Arab nations should be thankful that I'm not the U.S. President. The Arab nations would walk the chalk line OR become parking lots.

The Arab nations should be glad I'm not the U.S. President. They would walk the chalk line OR become parking lots.

This photograph brought a great sadness to me, it was hard to look at it and not have tears streaming down my face. The memories of waking up to the news on television on that day and hearing the words that America is under attack, is a day that changed all of us every where. To watch the people that were trapped in the towers, waving white towels and knowing there is nothing anyone can do to save them. The documentary footage that I watched, I could see the firemen rolling up in their fire trucks and running into the building of the towers and you know they are going to die because you watched it on that day of 9/11. Thousands of people died and I just pray for the families and friends of the ones who lost their life on that day.

He is praying for the families and victims. He is feeling their sorrow, and pain and wishing them wellness. He could change his phrase from praying for the families to contemplating over the emotions and thoughts that run through his mind when he thinks about the event, and he wishes the families are doing well today.

You say all praying done on that day amounted to zilch, which is completely false. For a lot of people prayer is a way to cope with the pain that day brought onto them. No miracles happened that day due to praying, but to say praying did zilch is an ignorant statement.

What are you doing? Trying to feel good by insulting someone? Just insulting someone's faith for fun? Religion or no religion, you are still an ass.

I agree with John and Connie's comments. I too feel a great sadness when I see this photo. I still remember seeing people falling to their deaths on TV that day and I sobbed. I too pray for the families and victims affected by such a tragic day. It's hard to believe that 11 yrs and 12 months have gone by. I feel sorry for those of you who don't believe in God and are filled with hatred. There is no reason to be mean just because you don't think pray makes a difference. Remember that this is a free country and we are allowed to express ourselves,but you shouldn't insult someone just because they believe in something. If you don't believe then have some respect and keep your mean comments to yourself. As the old saying goes...if you have nothing nice to say then don't say anything at all. If you don't believe in God that is okay because he believes in you.

He doesn't always intervene? How can a 'loving' god stand by and LET thousands of innocent people die like they did on that day? You say this world belong's to Satan but in the book of Isaiah god clearly says he created both evil and good and the very fact that he lets that evil- exist and uses that evil to further his own agenda is sick and anything BUT loving IMO. As for your grasping at 'Pascals Wager', I don't believe and can't believe in something I feel in my heart and everry fiber of my being to be bull**it and if a 'loving' god wants to punish me with hell for using my free will to not believe, then so be it. I have lived my life to the fullest, been a decent, kind and loving human being and when I die, I will leave behind a legacy that my children can be proud of- and THAT'S what matters.

whatever you need to justify this use it. But we need to remember we are the best country in the world and should never let this ever happen again

Just out of curiosity, by what measure is the United States the best country in the world?

Not to step on any toes, but Americans say this often, without ever defining "best".

This is a great doc. lets not cloud it up with the god crap

incorrect....your country is responsible for the premeditated deaths of millions throughout history! Your counry is now run by corporations not the government, institutions/corporations like Monsanto whose only desire is to maximise profits regardless of the impact it has on people world wide, your trade unions have been abolished, you live in a dictatorship democracy lead to believe you still are participants in the policies that are passed through Congres....who deregulated the banking and finance industry to benefit the elite (1% of the population of the U.S responsible for the World Global Financial Crisis!) I wouldn't want to live in the U.S where you have no rights at all....and where the U.S govt. and the elite including the media have "manufactured your consent" into believing in "neccassary illusions"! The only institute where freedom of speech is "truly" allowed is in your "Churches" thank God for that!

no the U.S should walk the chalk not the arab nations, the blame was placed on Saddam Hussein, Bush had no proof whatsoever too prove Hussein was responsible, neither did Bush have proof of WMD in that country.... there was none! Bush's next strategy was too implicate "freedom and Liberty" to the Iraq state which was really Bush-talk for "we want to control your government, your lives and implement U.S democracy in order to control your natural resources ....your oil.... before any other country does! And Obama continues to follow in Bush's steps to this very day!

Truly terrible, of all the images of 9/11, this one disturbs me most. If I was given no chance to survive by staying in the building, I wonder if I'd say to myself, 'you're going to die, why not let the last thing you'll ever experience be what it's like to fly?'. I'm absolutely sincere and not being flippant or crass.

A mythological being didn't create you and he doesn't give you a purpose. You were created because your parents had SEX and the only purpose your life has is the one YOU give it. Also, the very idea that a 'god' would test his followers with horrors is disturbing and anything BUT loving. If he's all knowing, then he'd already know what you'd do in a certain situation and there is no need for the torture. I swear you religious people are like abused women- you actually believe you deserve the abuse from your god, you see nothing wrong with it and think it's done out of love. It's SICK. How about you grow up, stop believing in fairytales and instead believe in YOURSELF?

we don't know what hell will be like. It could simply be 'separation from God' which is exactly what you just said. You try to be a good person but you choose not to believe in God and maybe...would rather not be around ...God? (The book The Case for Christ goes over this, I believe.) Who knows exactly what that will be...but it would at least just be a place that feels the absence of God. The reason that bad things happen here is because this life is fleeting even though it can have incredible horror in that time. Eternity is something we don't really understand, but it explains why this short life can go many different directions.

Mate,

I think you should re-read what was written as you have not grasped what was said.

I believe IhartUmore was relaying the message that only fools could believe in something so f*cking s*upid as some mythological creature like "god".

When will you i*iot religee stop being so st*pid and look at the facts that your "god" is nothing more than a story to keep you fools in line to ensure you give your masters a free ride in life.

The U.S. is a cesspool of crime and corruption, and it's not very good outside of D.C. either. It's a sleazy POS of a country that is on it's way to becoming one of the worst places on the planet, at least as far as 'civilized' countries. If George Washington were alive today I'm sure he would sue to have Washington, D.C. changed to King George, D.C., anything but Washington. F#%$ the United States of America! I'm so ashamed, and pissed-off.