This page features correspondence the editor has sent and received since the “Through Our Eyes” project transpired Sept. 16. Included are letters by Jenna, along with excerpts from e-mails she’s received:
bonjour avec amour
ciao con amore
hallo mit Liebe
hello com amor
hola con amante
hello with love......
my dearest companions.
one cannot simply sit still in the wake of such horror and such beauty.
and who knows what lies ahead.
i have a proposal for you - a request for something meaningful. please read on.
it's been awhile since i've spoken to a few of you. it is unfortunate these dire circumstances are prompting this reunion (e.g. last week's terrorist attacks on America), but tragedy often reminds us of how precious our companions really are.
although you are my friends, most of you are strangers to one another. i can assure you, however, you are just friends that haven't met. you are people of integrity, wisdom and compassion -- people that have impacted my life, earned my respect, inspired me to look at the world through different sets of eyes.
you represent many different cultures: australian, german, italian, belgian, french, danish, haitian, english, scottish, native american, canadian, american.. in america alone, this e-mail will reach new york, boston, chicago, los angeles, portland, nashville.. indiana, idaho, colorado, arizona, among other places i'm surely forgetting (not to mention, i have a hard time keeping tabs on some of my bohemian buddies!).
you are mothers, fathers, siblings, children.. impassioned activists, staunch conservatives, artists, surfers, accountants, rock climbers, computer specialists, musicians, journalists, naturalists, industrialists, educators, nurses.. you get the point.
i am blessed to have such a vast network of phenomenal people in my life. i am thankful for that everyday, especially now.
Last week's catastrophe deeply penetrated my spirit -- some of you even lost a friend. my heart is bleeding for you, for all of the victims and their loved ones.
my heart is bleeding for all of humanity.
this is not just an american tragedy. it is a frightening reminder that our global civilization is still punctuated with a primitive sense of hatred and intolerance. we are farther away from peace than i ever imagined. perhaps i was naive.
i want to express my gratitude for the sincere showering of empathy from those overseas (many thanks to those who sent me e-mails of concern). the american public -- especially in the past two decades -- has often failed to look beyond its own borders. i, personally, am very thankful for the political and civilian support we've received from other countries. it is touching and encouraging.
and now, for my proposal.
more than ever, i feel we need to hear each other's voices, to feel the pulse of the global village and not just the pulse of our own distinct community. my vision is this: a compilation of essays about this event from across the world, written by you. 100 words or 5,000 words -- i don't care about the length. i only care you write with honesty. let your heart be your ink well.
i will then compile these essays into a report/book and send each of you a copy. there is no expense to you, beyond a few profound moments of your time. and i can only imagine we all have sentiments begging for release.
write whatever you want -- write of your outrage, sadness, disinterest, curiosity, disgust, fear, maybe even satisfaction. whatever. there is no "right" way to think or feel about this. exercise your freedom.
as for the language.. and this is hard... please try to send a copy in english. however, a copy in your native tongue would be wonderful, too. if you can't write it in english, i will find a translator. (by the way, if this e-mail is too difficult to read, please write me back and i will explain in euro-english or very bad french).
i plan to include photographs in this report.. pictures of both of you and of scenes around the country/the world. i already have "gorgeous!!" photos of most of you, and i've asked several people to take snapshots of life in america following last week's attack. any photo contributions would be great.
and please, pass this request along to your friends. i am excited to learn what people around the world think about this event -- about the future. we can get a taste of the global sentiment from the media (television, newspapers), but this would be so authentic, so personal.
and please don't feel pressured or burdened by this request. write what you can...
please send your comments via e-mail or snail mail to: JENNA McKNIGHT 1228 TONER DRIVE ANDERSON, IN 46012 USA jennamichelle@hotmail.com (or galactic@hotmail.com)
please include your current address.
i hate to do this, but how about a deadline? end of september. it's best to capture the sentiment when it is still raw.
how raw it is.
thanks your support. my love and respect for all of you escapes words. embrace the moment, embrace each other.
respectfully,
jenna mcknight
....
EXCERPTS:
“I most gladly and lovingly join your crusade of peace and will forward my writings to you ASAP. May this message find you in good physical health so that we may all begin to heal our hearts and minds.”
“As I feeled to write it now ! You're right about the date line ...But wait until end of september, until then, I will certainly wish to change or add some things ! (Especially if any military attack happens, I'm very afraid about that ...)
“I am currently not available due to military assignment. Thank you for your patience.”
“I am sorry I couldn't write any earlier. I was just overwhelmed. I still can't figure out how all this could happen in the country that's perceived from here as the world police officer, the stronghold of justice and liberty. You are right, this was an attack to the values that keep us together and I will be honoured to let you know how this impacted on all of us here in Italy.”
“Thank you for emailing First Lady Laura Bush. Your ideas and comments are very important to her. Unfortunately, because of the large volume of email received, the First Lady cannot personally respond to each message. However, the White House staff considers and reports citizen ideas and concerns.”
“Dear Jenna, We are still overwhelmed here. Just came back from a memorial of a friend's daughter (23 yrs old) and -- still does not have an office. Not in the mood to write yet although your efforts are wonderful and in our minds. I'll send you some thoughts of my students (minus their names ) and you might appreciate this. Wish we could be more in the mood but we are handling all we can at the moment.”
“Great idea you had, will support of course. Listen my friends and I are trying to organise something to send to New York to show solidarity. We thought of raising money but then thought something more personal would be more appropriate. Can you think of anything, your book idea sounds great, we thought of something similar like handwritten letters or a scrapbook or a collage/ tapestry...I dunno...if you have any ideas let me know.”
“Sounds fab. Count me in. Actually, this is a great opportunity for me to embark on some creative writing, something I haven't done in a while.”
“there is so much i could have written about but it seems easier for me to concentrate on a single thought and keep it short. otherwise, i might spend my entire night re-writing ideas. i started 2 different times as it was.”
“jenn...you'll be recieving my straight from the heart contribution to the compilations of essays you requested. ive pretty much completed thoughts on paper and will type it up cuz it's not so legible! it was also very therapeutic.”
“I haven't read this yet, but I am so extremely happy to hear from you (I don't know the english expression - but it is like my skin is cold and trembling). Now I have read your mail, and you can count on me.”
“I have to tell you, this is a great thing you are doing. I'll do what I can to contribute, I have a couple old poems and am working on what will be my magnum opus. The last 18 months has been an adventure, I've lived in 3 cities and loved in 5. I've been taking shit jobs and letting my education sit.”
“I've been puting off writing you about the tragedies of sept 11. Yes I admit it...... I'm much better with paint than words and this kind of thing makes me nervous. I just try to paint and prey for peace.”
“I have started to think, brainstorm and what the whole premise of the report/book is to get a wide range of people involved I am collecting works from various people and will send you my compilation.....I have been busy but I have one thing I like so far and I will share........This came from a 33 year old punk/metal musician that I spent the night chatting with (he has bright pink/fusha hair)”
“You are a night owl! 2 am? Wow! Good luck with the project. If you want, I can help you bind it and send it. I can go to Anderson to help, or you can stay here one weekend and we can work on it. Let me know if you need a hand!”
“Like everyone else writing in I am not sure if this is what you want exactly, but I started with this long thing that I just got lost editing so I went with the simple. Please let me know if you were wanting something different. I am glad that our night together in the park helped spark such a great idea.”
“I'm numb. I've accepted that truly I can't identify my feelings anymore. Maybe I've been too wrapped in my own happenings, or maybe I'm blindedly in shock and don't realize that's why my expressions have become tame, almost awkward. What's there to express? Thousands of loved ones were lost in a matter of an innocent second of their time."
Two weeks ago, you received my heartfelt proposal for a compilation of essays in response to the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.
As you can imagine, I’ve spent a lot of time curled up in front of my home computer .. Today, I finally took a shower (I’m just kidding, of course. I do have a full-time job.. that begs my attention.). I have answered dozens and dozens and dozens of emails in the past two weeks, and rekindled some precious correspondence with long-lost friends. For those who have received my letter and not acknowledged it, I hope I didn’t scare you away. I know this was a tall order to fill, and sometimes the words just don’t come. I understand. For the countless folks who have responded, THANK YOU!! for your tremendous support. This is going to be a very powerful …
So, in case you forgot, the deadline was Sept. 30.
If you have sent an essay and have not heard from me, it has not been received. Please resend it or get in touch with me.
If you still want to contribute, OF COURSE I will accept your late entries. But please try to get them in as soon as possible… My hope is to assemble this massive piece of work by the end of October. That’s mighty ambitious, but I will sincerely try.
I have attached a small photo collage in jpeg format (that my friend Yvel helped me with). From top left: Herman Shuman, an 84-year-old German Baptist minister I interviewed for this project (German Baptists are like Amish people, but a little more progressive.. no radio, no television, the women wear dresses and prayer caps and the men don simple suits, etc. Also, one of their primary tenants is non-violence. Therefore, if their brethren are called to duty, they refuse to fight because they first serve God, and then their country. Today, the military often reassigns them to a non-combative position within the United States, but during World War I, they went to jail for refusing to fight.); picture of a sign in Indiana; flowers piled up in Ireland (I received this, along with a profound essay and check for 10 pounds from a chap in Ireland I’ve never met. He is now included in this email list. Hi Colm!; my friend Megan and I in Portland (for those who haven’t seen me for awhile – or ever).
And below, some excerpts from email messages I’ve received… You’ll find these interesting.
Thanks again for your compassion, your respect, your vision. I’ll keep you posted…
With love,
Jenna
g'day mates...
i just want to make sure my email earlier this week was not taken the wrong way. in retrospect, i wish i would have worded it differently, for i'm afraid it may have created added pressure or anxiety for some of you. i promise, that was not my intention!!(goodness, especially during these times.) all i was trying to say was if you don't contribute to this project, i don't mind.
okay..good to get that off my chest.
some new developments:
1. my galactic@hotmail.account got totally wiped out monday due to overload. so, if you sent a message sunday evening or monday throughout the day, sadly, i didn't get it. sorry! (jennamichelle@hotmail account is fine.)
2. so, in response to this, i have established a brand spankin new account for photos and graphics. it is as follows: globalvoice@hotmail.com
i hope you're all in hopeful spirits.
again, thank you for your phenomenal support.
i will keep you posted.
best, jenna
EXCERPTS:
10/1/01 I've written half of it on the plane from Slovenia yesterday. I'm trying my best. A presto.
10/1/01 My God! Jenna, get some sleep, that's an order. You're working far to hard on this. Thanks loads for writing back though. I read your e-mail & it seems that a lot of people will use the opportunity that you've given them to express how they are feeling. You're really doing a wonderful thing. If I can do anything else please let me know.
10/1/01 I guess I have missed the deadline.I have been traveling the past 2 weeks and have not taken the time to finish my essay. I will try to get it to you by the end of this week.
10/1/01 I, personally, am coming to grips with the attack itself, but there are still emotional moments. I can't hear some songs in some settings without crying. (Last Sunday at Church--"God Bless America" at the close of mass--springs to mind.) My emotions have gone from shock and numbness, to rage, to determination to do something about the attacks. I have sent e-mails to Tom Ridge asking for information on the new "Office of Homeland Security." And, three weeks after the attacks, there is still fear. I pray constantly that our government will do whatever is necessary to protect us, but I am uncertain that they will. I hear this morning that the FAA is considering re-instating curb-side check-ins, and I worry that the country will too easily forget. I will never forget. Please do your best to see that the media does not, either.
10/1/01 i thought i'd respond w/ a few short paragraphs and a poem (i know you said essays, but i've been thinking & writing in poetry lately... my way of processing what has happened). so, good luck w/ your project! it's a great idea, i think; we're all looking for ways to connect lately (at least i am).
10/1/01 so sorry, i just reached your mails now, i'm back from spain and back to work! please do not think that all this just don't interest me!!! i hope, you will except some words of mine even if the deadline is over! the intensity you put in this project touched me strongly! you're doing something very important. writing you later this day
10/1/01 I want to contribute!!! Count me in. It's just that I am a bit off with my parents and I don't have a pc at my place, so I went to my parents' on sat and sunday but I just couldn't work...it's long to explain, but I will try to put down what I have in mind tonight at work.
10/9/01 Oh my god just erased my entire essay, I am still so computer illiterate, it seems, at times like these. Here is the scoop, I have been trying to get people from various walks of life to participate, so you know as much as I. Everyone loves the idea and no one has responded, even with a slight push... So you might here more from people that I've talked and I might respond with more....I am so upset I lost my essay I guess I will re-write it...
10/10/01 I hope your compiling and organizing and editing is going well.. I am really sorry I did not contribute.. But when I looked back over my journal entry from that day, I simply wasn't satisfied with it enough to share it with anyone. And now I'm having trouble even concentrating on what it is about this whole situation that haunts me..
Because all of it truly does. I am especially bothered that my main focus right now is trying to secure a job. It all seems so pointless and hopeless despite the promising interviews and interesting opportunities.
I just can't seem to make any sense out of what is happening.
Never in my life have I understood more about capitalism....
My crazyist thought about our being at war I suppose is how Bush and so many others think, "we're gonna go 'get em'" I am having a tough time believing that capitalism makes everything possible. Because there are some things that are so pure that no amount of money can penetrate them. Love, for instance is one of them, and hate is another. And war is stuck in there somewhere. (I think) I don't know if the U.S. is ready to face an undertaking that does not cargo money as a motive.
10/11/01 hey, i need you to email me another copy of your letter (A CALL TO WORDS as i like to call it) i have some people i need to forward it to and my copy got erased. so like anyway and stuff totally umm yeah.
10/12/01 I am also deeply touched by your current project. I would be more than honored to contribute something to it. I am intending to write in Siswati my native tongue, which will also be translated in English. So what I need to know from you, would be the due date.
10/14/01 Chicago is busy and bustering with city life-except of course for the EMERGENCY 911 centers that have been set up around town in case of a disaster-but you know...normalcy has supposed to of set in!
10/15/01 just the other day:
while I was waiting
in a small black Geo Metro after the art school open house
with my black Chicago coat on
stroking the orange cat with only part of a tail
watching girls in tight pants with cell phones
drinking a black as molasses beer
sipping the last and in one quick motion
i open and shut the door
rolling the tin can of Murphy's into a shadow
beneath the economy car
which is behind a grocery store
that when seen from the front
hides its secret
which is volume
before our newly adopted cat sneaks away
and loses the remaining 2.7 inches
of its orange and no longer orphan tail
10/15/01 The photo is a bit ooer.....
10/15/01 As far as the "SATAN" factor...if you simply read and understand the last line, it removes the fictitious "SATAN" from all equations. Know that the only Satan is the one inside of us. He appears when we do not act with love in our hearts. If we all live our lives with love, caring and respect as the virtues we choose to show, we will find joy in all actions, in all things, in everyone.
10/16/01 Protect your family and yourself from Bio-chemical warfare. We have gas masks certified by the Israeli Defense Authorities and the only ANTHRAX antibiotic available! CLICK HERE
10/18/01 THIS SAYS IT ALL!!!!! Broken Arrow, Oklahoma School officials remove "God Bless America" signs from schools in fear that someone might be offended.
Channel 12 News in Long Island, New York, orders flags removed from the newsroom and red, white, and blue ribbons removed from the lapels of reporters. Why? Management did not want to appear biased and felt that our nations flag might give the appearance that "they lean one way or another".
Berkeley, California bans U.S. Flags from being displayed on city fire trucks because they didn't want to offend anyone in the community.
In an "act of tolerance" the head of the public library at Florida Gulf Coast University ordered all "Proud to be an American" signs removed so as to not offend international students.
I, for one, am quite disturbed by these actions of so-called American citizens; and I am tired of this nation worrying about whether or not we are offending some individual or their culture. Since the terrorist attacks on September 11, we have experienced a surge in patriotism by the majority of Americans. However, the dust from the attacks had barely settled in New York and Washington D.C. when the "politically correct" crowd began complaining about the possibility that our patriotism was offending others.”
10/19/01 I think it is true that America does need to realise that there are people who pay a price for the country's huge levels of consumption. Did you know that 5% of Iraqi children have dies as a direct consequence of bombings and sanctions since the Gulf War? This is the sort of thing that angers people. Additionally, after the cold war ended, the US, amongst others, turned their back on Afghanistan, Pakistan and the region in general and are now paying a huge price - poor foreign policy. All I can say is make sure you guys listen to Colin Powell and not to people like Rumsfeld and Bush, for they do not seem to have the mentality to win this type of war - they don't seem to think laterally to the extent Powell does, understanding the knock-on consequences of actions, often 10-20 years later.
I don't think America is necessarily bad - its just needs to become aware that it is the biggest kid in a world that is quickly becoming very small, where the weakest (and thus usually the most angry) can cause real unrest.
10/19/01 Warning! Don't go to the bathroom on October 28th. CIA intelligence reports that a major plot is planned for that day. Anyone who takes a poop on the 28th will be bitten on the ass by an alligator. Reports indicate that organized groups of alligators are planning to rise up into unsuspecting American's toilet bowls and bite them when they are doing their dirty business. I usually don't send emails like this, but I got this information from a reliable source. It came from a friend of a friend whose cousin is dating this girl whose brother knows this guy whose wife knows this lady whose husband buys hotdogs from this guy who knows a shoeshine guy who shines the shoes of a..............
10/19/02 This is definately a historic war I must admit.Its as if the generals got together decided that the troops were way to valuable (what with the below minimum wage they pay them plus meals!) so they would attack the "cowardly terroists" by launching missles in the middle of the night from 700 miles away and count every dead civilian as more "pressure" on the local governments to turn in the One man who caused it all (I don't even need to touch on deeply stupid idea that if Osama Din Ladin didn't exist that the attack would not have happened sooner or later), then make all e-mails open to government scruitiny, and still not be able to keep people from sending anthrax assasiniations through fucking US Postal Service and create an end result of war fare in which only civilians die!
You know I only begrudgingly send in my taxes these days knowing that the money goes to the military, oil and cattle subsidies and standardized testing. So if they are going to use my money to fuck my world then the least they could do is keep good on the promise of
keeping me safe.
10/19/01 The latest domain name extension is here .USA!!! It's the fresh, new, exciting web address that is taking the world by storm. Who wants to be .com when you can now be .USA Register your .USA domain name today exclusively at: http://www.dotusa.com
10/19/02 Hi jenna. did I tell you that the avenue near my home is called 'viale jenner'? it's become famous these days because they found an al-qaeda base (apparently the largest in europe) and arrests were made.
quoi de neuf de ta part? how are you getting on with the collection of essays? I was thinking maybe we could set up a web community (maybe a closed one) and you or whoever could load on essays pictures etc. I can help you if you want.
10/20/01 hope everything is going well in Anderson-do you know your little town was in the news this past week? It was story on how the town of Anderson is preparing themselves from a terrorist strike of somesort. The interviewed probably the two best looking police officers in town-but hey....Ive always been a sucker for a uniform!
10/20/01 Colloidal Silver for Anthrax and other biological warfare. go to www.anthraxsafe.com or click below www.anthraxsafe.com Send this message to a few people This site is not to scare you but to inform you.
10/21/01 Une démarche sympathique, à répercuter, même si ce texte n'est pas exempt de naïveté. Il vaut mieux entendre ça que d'être sourd, à force d'entendre hurler !
“I am Vice-Chair of the Green Party of New York State. I would like to connect with greens in Europe who are actively promoting peace rather than supporting the U.S. bombing of Europe. I would appreciate this if you could forward this to all appropriate green organizations and peace activists.
Below is an outline of a international green campaign that has been adopted by the State Assembly of the NYS Greens / Green Party of NYS (Still trying to figure out relationship with Green Party of NYS, of which I am Vice-Chair).
The campaign has also been submitted for a vote by the Green Party of United States, but I don't know when or if this will be approved (though support for the general direction). I would like to know what you are already doing that I can help mobilize greens here in NYS and the U.S. to support.
Thank you very much for your work for peace.”
10/23/01 I know your "book" project is probably long completed, but this email was sent to me by a very dear friend and is a copy of an actual letter. It is wonderfully written, powerful, and at the same time it addresses some issues that are sometimes forgotten when "blind rage" takes over. The point is not whether we agree with everything in it, but the passion and conviction that it was written with. I thought you might like to see it.
10/23/01 You have some good points - what have the Europeans done exactly? Perhaps its better to flip the question around to why are people angry with the Americans? Some of it is the envy claimed by the American political corps, some of it simply differences in culture. But don't forget that only a few months ago the US brought in a new administration, run by, let's face it, a guy who comes of as pretty basic at times, and promptly dumped the Kyoto accord, ABM treaty, convention on biological weapons, didn't put much effort into launching a new WTO round and continues to not negotiate a land mine treaty and did it all this with a very partonising and weakly diplomatic effort (on causes that are seen as very important to the Europe, amongst others). Now the US needs international comrades and allies (admitidly for a cause we all feel threatened by, but do not all agree on how to combat) and is making this big international push to rally everyone to "their" cause. Think about if only a friend of yours did this - you would likely feel abit distant from that friend and see them as grossly hypocritical. I think Americans make themselves targets to a certain extent, for discontent and frustration. The thing about this whole incident is that it has finally shown Bush that the world is round.
10/23/01 i know i'm a loser and never sent my feelings about the war to you i need to write..for my own sake...but have been lazy
10/24/01 Hey there Jenna! How are you? I am glad you liked my essay. I was not exactly sure how people would react to it but so far, anyone who has read it has said very positive things.
10/27/01 As for titles, I can understand your frustration with having a lack of words. I sat with this for a while, but how about: 'In the essence of tragedy...through their eyes' 'tragedy's echo: simple truths' 'Disruption. Villagers respond' -remarks on the Sept. 11th attacks 'Reality of Tragedy'-a collection of simple truths regarding 9-11. I've no doubt something will show itself. My mother always said, 'Did you pray about it?' I'm trying this out, whatever I do, I'm saying a little prayer. Sounds cheesy, but I really think prayer can be powerful. I always run from what my mother advises, but lately, I can see the value in this one. Sometimes it's all we have, prayer.
Dearest friends…
Nearly six weeks have passed since I sent out my proposal for remarks on Sept. 11. You’ve responded in earnest!! I’m honored and impressed. Thank you for pouring out your hearts… We have an extraordinary collection that continues to grow each week.
An update:
Tapping your fingers…
I know many of you are eager to dig into this compilation, and I am eager to oblige. I had initially anticipated a completion date of Oct. 31. I’m so sorry, but that’s simply impossible. The response has been a bit overwhelming – I’m moving as swiftly as I can, but this is epic.
Some have graciously offered to help with layout and distribution. Logistics are yet to be determined.
In the meantime, I offer you this: Each week or so, I will send excerpts from 10 contributions, presented in no particular order (honestly, I’m picking them at random). The essays in their entireties are quite remarkable.. but I will try to extract passages that leaped from the page and grabbed me. I hope this is okay..
A bit about you!
My plan is to include brief bios (a paragraph) on each contributor. I am presently in the process of soliciting info from each of you. It’s nothing daunting.. just name, age, residence, plan for saving the world.. that sort of thing. Please respond as soon as possible when you receive my email request.
Can I still contribute?
Absolutely. I’ll be working on this for awhile… and I will happily receive more contributions in the process. I'm also still searching for a title -- any suggestions?
One thing, and I feel a little awkward asking this, but.. is anyone friends with a survivor who was in the World Trade Center or Pentagon when they were struck? Would this friend be willing to write about his/her experience? I can explain it like this: Imagine this collection is a human body. The WTC and Pentagon are the heart – the heart that has sent off a pulse that has penetrated us all. To hear from someone who was in the heart of devastation would make this collection complete. I trust you understand where I am coming from.
....
So far, this collection features 70 contributions -- around 50,000 words. I can tell you, the remarks are all very different. Some of you chant war, others plea for peace. Many have turned to God, others have lost faith. Some chastise America, others express a strong sense of patriotism.
But they are all unified by one profound quality: They are honest sentiments captured in the midst of crisis, written by everyday people who managed to find the words at a time when words seemed trite.
My sincerest hope is this collection will inspire people to view the Sept. 11 tragedy through different sets of eyes. Indeed, one person’s black is another person’s white. (and here is my opinion… ) If we hope to embrace peace, we must first cultivate tolerance and respect for that which is different -- and cease to think in explicit terms of wrong and right.
A banal statement, perhaps, but it hasn’t seemed to stick yet.
I am hopeful for a brighter future. Thanks for your efforts.
With love,
Jenna
EXCERPTS:
10/28/01 wow. thanks for the snippits. very moving. i am an outdoorist, who loves the slow an entwined movements that nature reveals to those that are patient and quiet. i seek balance in my relations, the slow, dynamic and constant creation of a world to grow larger an influence others. i am gravely concerned about the false reality we in this nation have grown accustomed to and addicted to, a reality dependent upon the misery of people and places the world over. in travel, in eating, in work, in dreaming and sharing, I seek to share visions old and new that empower us to move rightly and justly, peacefully and meaningfully towards a more equitable and sustainable world. peace an vision.
10/28/01 This is truly amazing...just this little bit you sent! What an undertaking, but what an inspiration. I love the mix of humor and darkness, fear and light. I am very much looking forward to reading more!
10/29/01 thanks for keeping your old prof in the loop; interesting reading, to be sure.
10/29/01 Wohaaa, what a job you did....don't know where you found the time to collect all these information, but anyway, it's just great.
CONGRATULATION!
10/29/01 All in all I think that the US is a benevolent force in this world. But I do think that there are instances in the West, the most pronounced being in the US, of incredible shallowness. When a culture continues to evolve and change as quickly as the US, it can appear, at least to outsiders, that there is nothing of any permanence or tradition. The causal linkage is then that it is a society of little to no spirituality or belief, which is a very distateful idea. Is this true? I hope (and think) not, but perhaps the US would do better in efforts to convince the world of this, rather than simply the justification for war.
10/29/01 I have learned so much about that part of the world and our involvement there that it just makes me so upset and the lack of info we get through our media. We are so secluded and naive when it comes to our foreign policy in the middle east.
10/30/01 What a wonderful creative way to process the recent world events and tragedies! I'm so impressed and so thankful to have way to connect with others. Thank you!
11/1/01 actually I am closer to having a kind of a big picture now: The West don't want people to decide for themselves, so they find a good dictator or system (like the coruptionism in Italy or the mudjahedin in Afghanistan) that will not interfere with corporate interests, if the dictator do it someway, he is so bad that he will be a good enemy in a just war (very good for testing arms). And if it is nessisary to get rid of him afterwards (it is not always like Saddam Hussein is good at keeping Iraq together and Iran out) then we find a new dictator and the story goes on.
11/1/01 Now don't get me wrong: I am proud to have said what I said, and thankful to be on record as having said it. And if I had known that anybody other than you was going to read my contribution, I still would not have changed as much as one letter of a single word. Can that possibly be true for all your other contributors? I do not pretend to know their minds, nor to speak for them. But at least some might rather have been asked for their permission to have their names used with their writings.
11/5/01 Good and sunny morning from Las Vegas. Been kinda out of touch for the past quite a while, out in the hills thinking about things and messing around. I don't have much for time, but just wanted to let you know that I've been thinking about the letter you wrote with the request for thoughts, and that I will get back once I've gotten things together enough that they might make some sense. This will sound weird, but please don't feel obligated in any way to hold back with the compiliation thing, as I would probably prefer my stuff not to be included in there. I know I'm strange like that, but what can I do?
11/6/01 Anyhoo, I was talking to a friend a while ago about the photos I took at the U.S. embassy… There was like thousands of people there who gave flowers & Teddies etc. Well he said " do you think it makes any difference to the people in NY?" The turth is that it probably did'nt. Still it made the people here feel like they were doing something and that's so important.
This whole thing was a global disaster and one that effected pretty much everyone. You have given at least seventy people a chance to cope with all of this by asking them to just take it all out on paper and make them feel like there doing something.
What I'm trying to say is that you have really done something amazing. O.k., you were'nt digging people out in NY, but you offered to listen to everybodies pain. I think that's pretty noble.
So I hope you know that it does'nt matter if you never finish your compilation. You've already made a difference. God, I sound like a hippy.
11/8/01 Thank you for your concern and God bless you. We would all love copies of the compiliation once it's complete.
11/11/01 Glad someone has stepped up to help you with design & layout. Good luck to you on this!
Dearest friends,
I hope you are all in high spirits…
As promised, below are another set of excerpts. More to follow in the next week or so.
However, before you scroll down, I have a few updates. I’ll keep it brief. Time is precious for all of us!
IT’S COMING…
I have wonderful news! My dear friend Sage has graciously offered to design/layout this massive compilation. Also, a web page may be established in the next few weeks. I will keep you posted.
So, these new developments necessitate a final deadline. If you still want to contribute, you have until Nov. 30.
I am still collecting bio info from a few people. I will send you the e-mail form. Basically, I need the following: Full name, age, place of residence, birthplace/childhood residence, occupation (if student, what study), place of work/study, family (spouse, children, etc), where were you during sept. 11 attack, date you wrote essay. OPTIONAL: hobbies/interests, religion, travels, any other points of interest. If you do not want to include your name, please at least give me some identifying points. Thank you.
I have received a couple suggestions for a title. I will include them in the next group email. Please continue to send your ideas!
A KODAK MOMENT…
I have photos of the following contributors: Antoinette Brouyaux, Huss Semmens, Julie Blake, Beth and Jeff Smith, Megan Slack, Jamie McKnight, Marie-Odile, Tina Maldonado, Pierre Beauparrain, Willy Drieux, Kristian Krieger, Chris Coleman, JW Pindell, Jeanne McKnight, Sarah Heames, Jenny Conrad, Brian Oglevie, Mom, Rick Lovell, Jean Thierry, Dad, Marco Bertacche, Sage, Christopher McDaniel, Holly Dana, Lea Parker, Arnold Cassola, Rob Whitley, Laura Meister.
If you want to submit a photo, you have until Nov. 30 to get me a picture (This also goes for the aforementioned folks wanting to submit a different photo). However, we are planning the layout right now, so I need to know ASAP if you will be sending something over.
You can send it via email or snail mail. I have purchased additional space for my jennamichelle@hotmail account, so you can send large files here. However, hotmail doesn’t allow for the transmission/reception of anything over 1500kbs (1.5MB). (By the way, my inbox got wiped out Sat., Nov. 3. So if you sent a message, sadly, I didn’t get it. Hopefully, this won’t happen anymore.)
My address is:
Jenna McKnight
1228 Toner Dr.
Anderson, IN 46012
Okay, that should do it. Again, I appreciate your kind words and insightful feedback. And thank you for your patience.
Respectfully,
Jenna
(P.S. I will be in NYC Dec. 6 to 11, if anyone wants to get together to chat or boogie!)
EXCERPTS:
11/13/01 Biographical info aside, everyone who has participated in your project has told you their feelings and thoughts concerning the atrocity of Sept. 11. I told you mine, now you tell me yours. Don't worry-- whatever you say is strictly confidential, and I will not so much as discuss your opinions with anyone, let alone use your name.
11/13/01 Thanks for all your hard work. I am so excited about all you've done. What an undertaking. Can you receive an honorary Doctorate of photojournalism for this effort? I hope.
11/13/01 When I sent the passage to a friend, I was under the impression that it was a personal collection that she was compiling amongst her friends, not something this elaborate. Thus, I'd like to retract my submission from the compilation, especially since it is not the kind of thing I would have written for this sort of compilation.
11/13/01 Congratulations, Jenna ! I wonder if you keeped entire contributions or not. Probably you cutted some descriptions which where all the same ... In any case, my contribution is quite more critical than the others ! So, I just wanted to tell you I'm sorry I didn't send the second contribution I told you about ... So busy ...Now, reading it so, I feel it isn't really usefull.
11/15/01 MAKE THE PIE HIGHER
By George 'Doubleya' Bush
I think we all agree, the past is over.
This is still a dangerous world.
It's a world of madmen and uncertainty
And potential mental losses.
Rarely is the question asked
Is our children learning?
Will the highways of the internet
Become more few?
How many hands have I shaked?
They misunderestimate me...
I am a pitbull on the pantleg of
opportunity...
I know that the human being
and the fish can coexist.
Families is where our nation finds hope,
Where our wings take dream....
Put food on your family!
Knock down the tollbooth!
Vulcanise Society!
Make the pie higher! Make the pie higher!
11/15/01 How is your project going? When is your friend laying it out? Won't you feel relieved to have this finished? I am proud that you have worked so hard.
11/15/01 You are doing an amazing job and your friends have written some really thought provoking articles. It is so interesting to see how other people around the world look at the event. Thanks again for sharing with me.
11/15/01 Glad you liked the update and the website! ; - ) Gotta do some editing today, it just snowed in the Sierras so it's time to let everyone know that Winter's arrived a bit early. Thanks for all your hard work in putting together this publication, it's a great project and I'm looking forward to seeing the finished product.
11/15/01 this is a great project jenna, don't let stupid insensitive comments daunt you. If someone sent you an essay only to shine, to boast of what he thinks, well maybe you should let him know that (correct me if I am wrong) the purpose is,as you say, to share our views. There's nothing wrong if someone says 'hey your essay is nice but i think you're too naive, peace is only through bombs' ok fine let's discuss it. There is nothing more coward than retracting your words. That's why, i'd like, after a while, to put a 'forum' page where people can post their views/appreciations/thanks to the others' articles. If someone sent his views but doesn't want to share them, well fine, we'll do without.
11/15/01 Bush IS dumb! I don't see the problem, and he also looks like a monkey. He does!
11/15/01 I would never be disappointed with anything you write. "Wise and fun-loving" is a very flattering way for you to describe me. I probably don't deserve such praise, but what the heck, you have my unconditional approval to use those adjectives, and any other glowing ones you can articulate in your usual manner of bringing prose to life.
11/16 First, Jenna it will be ok.
You are doing this project because you act on your ideas. Most just sit on their ideas.
You are doing this project because it is important. You believe that these stories are something that need to be written down. They also need to be edited.
You are also doing this project for the experience of it all. Yes, for the chance to catch up with friends and to learn in a profound way how possibly the most important event in their lives has affected them. You are also doing it as a major project in your career. You are managing many writers with many egos and many thin skins.
Jenna you will look back on this event as that one time. If you don't I hope I can be there somehow to remind you.
11/16/01 i'm kind of mad all these people in their essays keep blaming america -- even americans, ESPECIALLY americans. yes, it disgusts me. it's almost become stylish with the "intellectuals" to "brazenly" say america has been asking for this.. we have been gnawing at global village for decades .. it is our exploitation and arrogance and infringement coming back to bite us in the ass, and rightfully so. it is is equity.
most certainly, i agree that america has its character flaws. but a revengeful bite that involves hijacking commercial airplanes loaded with everyday folks and slamming them into skyscrapers also loaded with everyday folks .. that is not an equitable bite back.
11/17/01 I will be so disappointed if I don't get into your book. Just got to get a break here soon.
11/17/01 I am working though, slow and broken as my pace is. I am focusing on the idea of inappropriate grief, you know? I've lost family members from both my immediate and extended family but I didn't go kill a bunch of imporverished arabians to make myself feel better. So why has that become the accepted response? I have few theories...
11/17/01 I am so glad that they are actively participating in the compilation. I just wanted to make a little comment about some of the entries. My reaction isn't just from the emails, but from recent conversations. It makes me mad that people are writing about how wrong and egotistical Americans are. Sure we are people that like nice things. We like to have a lot of nice things. However, we are also people that help homeless people on holidays, help countries fight their own civil wars and have food drives for people in foreign lands (people who hate us receive our food), even when there are people right in our backyard who are going without. I am sad that there are thousands of children that die everyday, but that doesn't take away from the shock and pain of the attacks on September 11th. Why are people trying to find fault with the unity that the country is feeling. Why not applaud it and be thankful for the brash, stupid, tacky, materialistic American people? Aren't our people made up of people from all over the world? I don't think the World Trade Center was a negative symbol of Capitalism. I think it was and always will be a symbol of hard work and achievement. Why do so many Americans and people from other countries have negative feelings toward us? Why are we any more egotistical than others? When I was in France, the people thought their country was the best. When I was living in England, the English thought their home was the best. I am proud to be American, not because I think I am better, but because I AM AMERICAN. Simple as that. If people don't like it here, then get out!
11/19/01 I'm disgusted with what happened but all amount of talking quizes and rallys won't bring back those poor inocent people back or change things back. We have to stand tall and get on with things and let them(dead-their spirit free!!!) in peace( did you know you can trap and stop spirits journeys by holding them back and not letting them go!!).
11/20/01 I look forward to reading about my life, Jolly-funk-poop-stick-crayola-g-money-homeslice-o-rama.
11/24/01 hey. i'm not submitting anything. no words you know? i have a friend who wrote something though which i think would fit right in with what you're doing. i've asked him to send it to me and i'll send it to you.
11/26/01 Jenna, you are free to use the photos any way you like. I am greatful for the work you do, which for my family and I mean so much and helps in the grieving process.
11/26/01 So, it is written. But it is also terrible. It has been through only one revision. And I was going to use my wednesday off to finish the damn thing. But my boss gave me a special call this special morning so I get to go do a special shift this special evening, and so with my time cut and I probably will not be able to finish until wednesday of course the day of the deadline. So don't cut me out yet until 4:00 p.m. (if you can) and I promise I will get it to you before then.
11/29/01 I am sending a proof to you tomorrow. I sent a note with it so I won't tell you too much because I have already written it, but anyway. I got as many done as possible. I have gotten all the photos that match essays placed and all the essays are in order. I am just waiting to print the really small ones because I think we can maybe put them together or with other long ones. Hopefully they will get to you by early next week. Then at least you will have an idea what is in my head as far as how the final product will look.
12/2/01 I'm very very sorry I was not intending to sound so bad! I wasn't meaning to be critical I think my message got lost in the written words It would have been better to talk to to you face to face, you would have felt and new my concern and my heart felt message! I hurt just like those others who lost family and friends I know I did also! I'll never be the same again either.
12/4/01 Okay I hope you just got my revision. I do not have a copy so don't loose it. I swear I hate hotmail or my computer. I tried to revise that essay 5 times. And then I tried to save it and failed. So I hope you got it.
12/5/01 What is this claim you make that the military is a "necessary evil"? What a slap in the face to everyone who guards and has guarded your liberty with their very lives! Care to speculate on just how much fun you'd be having if the military disbanded? Every psychotic despot on the planet would set sail for Estados Unidos, and then once they got here... open a fast-food franchise? Nope. Ever heard of the Rape of Nanking? I'll bet you haven't. In China in 1937, the Japanese invaders murdered 200,000 to 300,000 innocent men, women, and children in the course of 6 weeks. Care to guess what happened to the female inhabitants of Nanking who were not unsightly old crones? They were raped, gang-raped, and THEN they were murdered. Nanking's population was defenseless; no standing army to be found. Do you think the mass murderers' or terrorist extremists' guilty consciences keeps them from attacking and murdering us? Not a chance. What keeps them in check is the fear of what the U.S. Armed Forces can and would do to them if they tried anything.
12/5/01 After the end of the dark and horrible rule of Taliban in Afghanistan, there are negotiations in Bonn between Afghan parties and factions. The Green Party of Iran believes that without the presence of a women delegation in the conference, any outcome will be ineffective. Without the presence of women, who have been victims of reactionary forces regime for more than two decades, any agreement on the form of government will be illegitimate and biased. The Green Party of Iran supports the Revolutionary Association of the Women of Afghanistan (RAWA) as the defendant of freedom, democracy and justice in Afghanistan.
g’day everyone…
hope you’re all in high spirits!
i apologize for not writing sooner. my jaunt to new york city took me away from my computer for a good week or so. it was a wonderful trip… and a repose much needed.
however, i can assure you the sept. 11 project is moving along. the selected title is “through your eyes” (do you like it?). within the next couple weeks, i’ll have some important for everyone. please stay tuned.
below, more excerpts.
have an enchanting holiday and inspiring new year.
best wishes to you and your family,
jenna
EXCERPTS:
12/16/01 keep the spirit flowing for the book it sounds great !! It will read well as of all the love and passion you have toward helping and healing torn lonely lost hearts the world over!!!!
12/17/01 I haven't read through the e-mail you just sent, but I see that you have included more excerpts from the essays. Thank you!
12/19/01 Do I still have any time? I may have the ability to put some thoughts together after this week.
12/20/01 I apologize for not submitting anything yet. To be honest with you, I feel bad about it. You said you didn't care, but I still feel the same way. It has been overwhelming lately in the ol' workplace. I think you understand that.
12/20/01 I like the title. Only thought on it would be "through our eyes." I'm sure whatever you decide to call it will be great. Thanks again for taking this on, and seeing this through. Peace.
12/26/01 NYC is a most incredible place, isn't it? Did you go down to ground-zero? I had a chance to go down and see it all first hand. It is very surreal but extremely inspiring at the same time. I was working at St. Vincent's which is right down in lower Manhattan. They had a huge wall that had pictures of the thousands of missing people that were put up after the tragedy. It has become a shrine to all of those lost. It was very powerful. I spent a lot of time out there just ready all the fliers that had pictures of so many people that were lost. It was very moving.
12/28/01 I am writing to wish you happy holidays. I so look forward to reading your compilation on people's reactions to what happened on September 11 and the tremendous loss we all feel now.
1/3/02 Please sign the petition if you agree that Ground Zero should become a memorial rather than a construction site for erecting new buildings. Forward this message to anyone who may wish to contribute to letting the victims of September 11 rest in peace. Thanks for your time and concern.
1/7/02 This weekend G. Bush was in town and I was picked to fly anti'terrorist support over the motorcade as they cruised around town. We were looking for badguys on roofs, car bombs, things that were out of place, ...etc. There was a group of around 200 protestors that we flew past and as I looked out several of them were flipping us off. All I could think of (as I smiled and waved back politely) was, they didn't even know me!
1/9/02 i AM GLAD I WAS ABLE TO GO BEYOND THE COMMON PLACE OF THE AVERAGE REDNECK AMERICAN THAT WE HAVE HERE. BUT HEY WHAT WOULD YOU THINK IF YOUR VIEW OF AMERICA WAS THROUGH HOLLYWOOD MOVIEWS AND THE CNN? INSTEAD, I SEE PEOPLE CAN SAY MORE THAN GOD BLESS AMERICA....
1/15/02 J'espére que tout se passe bien pour toi. Je constate que ton projet avant doucement mais surement et que tu es sur le point d'en voir la fin.
1/15/02 Don't get too stressed about this project because it is for fun right and the folks will be happy when ever they get there copy. Have a great week and I'll be in better touch now that I have my internet up and running again.
1/21/02 I just thought I should drop you a line. I'm coping but can't seem to escape the terror of September 11. I am not expecting that to be the case for some time either.
1/23/02 Jenna, I went to the art store yesterday, took some digital photos of the appropriate stuff...going to work on figuring out the downloading process and getting them attached to an e-mail. I experitmented with some gesso, a primer for the actual lightweight bookbinding board...we can pretty much put anything on top of it, the ink won't bleed, paint will stay and stay vivid in color...and I found out that you can put this special clear varnish over the top of your final product to protect it from UV rays, decomposing, etc...it seals it. So, I'm playing around with it all.
1/30/02 It fine with me, but i don`t want my picture on there.
2/1/02 I know that it is way passed the deadline for submitting thoughts on paper to your compilation. Should you nonetheless find it worthwhile to make an exception I would be much obliged.
Hello! Bonjour! Aloha!
I’m back…
Terribly sorry for the long delay! I’ve been consumed by life’s trials and tribulations … Plus, I’ve kept quite busy managing this massive collection, which will either be called “Through Your Eyes” or “Through Our Eyes.” I’m leaving it up to you. Please let me know which title you prefer.
Nearly five months ago, tragedy struck. Five days later, a seed was planted with a single letter. What has grown since then is a compilation of words and images I hope each one of you will find intriguing and insightful. Your sentiments stretch across the board – sorrow, despair, remorse, fear, confusion, rage, joy, satisfaction, hope, pride. Only one thing is certain: The Sept. 11 attack stirred the heart, mind and soul of folks across the world.
The printed book is still in the making. But next Monday – February 11 – you will finally be able to take a look at what I’ve been so eager to show you. Around 85 essays – more than 50,000 words – plus artwork and pictures of many contributors. I want to thank my dear friend Marco Bertacche, of Milan, Italy, who has been laboring away on this website for the past few months. It’s the first web page he’s designed, and I think he’s done an outstanding job. I am very grateful for his patience and dedication.
The web page has two purposes. First, to give you the chance to read each other’s submissions. Second, to serve as an editing tool for me as I continue to assemble the printed version of this collection. I will have more information about the latter in the upcoming week. Please stay tuned.
I have compiled more excerpts, which I will put in a separate e-mail. I intend to feature a passage from everyone’s essay in the next couple weeks. The excerpts are also included on the web page.
One last thing: If you still want to contribute an essay, I will still accept it. But please try to be quick. The book is being laid out as we speak.
Once again, thank you for sharing your thoughts and entrusting me with your words. I am very honored, and I take this responsibility very seriously. More pointedly, I take it to heart.
Best wishes…
Jenna
EXCERPTS:
2/5/02 Now that it has been nearly five months since the terrible events of September 11 I feel that I want to add a paragraph to a piece I wrote some time ago. The idea has matured in the back of my mind and I feel that I need to say it in its entirety. If you could include it in your compilation and on your website I would be much obliged.
2/5/02 :)I think it should be called "Through Our Eyes" I think it sounds more communal. : ) Great work!!! Cant wait to see it all.....
2/6/02 Just would like to let you know that I like the title "Through our eyes" better....as we all contributed a bit to that collection.... You did such an amazing work....I know it has taken you away from your life for a while actually, but the result should be great, and thus satisfying...congratulation:) You know what? You contributed to the writing of a page of history, and to the immortality of not only the event of the Sept. 11th, but mainly to people's feelings about that day, which is a thing we tend to forget as time goes on. I think that it is important to remember that event, particularly for the future generations, to show them how it can hurt, and to make them understand the message that such a catastrophe must NEVER EVER happen anymore!!
2/6/02 Thanks, Jenna, I look forward to seeing the fruits of your labor. Also, I think I like "Through Our Eyes". It has more of a "we've come together as a world community" kind of groove.
2/6/02 That's awesome that your website is almost finished!!!
2/6/02 By the way, my sister will try to write a piece as well. I have told her to hurry up and I hope that she has found the right words by now. Thank you for your time and we shall be in touch shortly.
2/6/02 What a wonderful creation. Thank you so much for giving us a means to express, for taking this tragedy and finding a creative and loving way to deal with it. You are amazing!
2/6/02 Thanks for updating me with the status of the book. I like the name "Through Our Eyes" better than "Through Your Eyes".
2/6/02 That is so amazing you collected that many essays!!!!!!!! Geez la weez! That IS a book! Congrats, Superwoman!
2/6/02 I emailed some of my friends, since i knew you were taking last minute additions to the book. Just thought I"d pass this along.
2/6/02 Here's another one... seems like people are interested in this.
2/6/02 Great to hear from you again and hope all is well. My vote is "Through Our Eyes".
2/6/02 Through Your Eyes is the title I think you should pick.
2/7/02 reading your mass email about the sept 11 book makes me so proud to have you as my friend. What an endeavor! And you've accomplished it with flying colors!
2/7/02 I just wanted to let you know how moved I've been in reading excerpts from the collection so far. I can tell that you (and others) have been putting in an immense amount of work on this project, and I can't wait to see the results!
…I like "Through Our Eyes" as a title... "Through Your Eyes" seems to imply that the audience for the book is the people who have written it... "Through Our Eyes" feels more inclusive... the audience, in this case, is both the writers of the essays & others who might find the web site and/or be involved in the experiences & feelings contained in the writings. (Just a few random thoughts on the matter... whichever you choose in the end will be fine, I'm sure).
2/7/02 Just wanted to let you know that I am still on Board. Things got a little crazy, but I will have some time now to devote to you.
2/7/02 The following message in the next seven days should reach at least FIVE MILLION Muslims all over the world, INSHA-ALLAH Please forward this message TODAY to your friends and relative and earn abundant Rewards from ALLAH SUBHANAWATALA
SAYINGS (HADITH) OF PROPHET MUHAMMAD (Sallallaahu alaihi wa sallam)
The one who disdains the prayers will receive Fifteen punishments from Allah.
Six punishments in this lifetime
Three while dying
Three in the grave &
Three on the Day of Judgment.
2/8/02 Through Our Eyes! For sure! have a great day and thanks for the hard work!
2/9/02 jeanne michelle, Did you take shelter in a backyard shed with a laptop to write your essay or did you forget about all of this and decided to dedicate your rest of the year to the pleasure of the flesh (or both???)...
Alas! We have arrived…
The Sept. 11 collection website debuts today. The address is below, but please read the following message. It should answer any questions you may have regarding this project.
EDITING
· I strongly subscribe to the following words offered by some wise individual: “Whatever is worth doing at all is worth doing well.” With that in mind, my keen and scrutinizing eyes have read your essays over and over and over and over again. But I’m bound to miss some mistakes. So, the purpose of this website is to not only give you a chance to finally exchange your sentiments, but also to help me edit. Please read your bio and your essay and ensure they’re flawless. In my eyes, even the smallest error is worthy of correction.
If you do find a mistake, please notify me by Feb. 28. Indicate which paragraph I will find the error (count down from the top of your essay). I am looking for things like misspellings, incorrect use of punctuation, inaccurate bio info, etc.
Something to keep in mind: The essence of this compilation is to capture raw sentiment. Undoubtedly, your views have evolved since you crafted your words – and some of you may be tempted to tinker with the content of your essay. Please please please… don’t do this to me. I beg you.
Lastly, if I have made any errors, I sincerely apologize. I’m doing the best I can.
WEBSITE
· Marco Bertacche, our beloved web designer, has asked me to pound this into your heads: The website is best viewed using Internet Explorer. Netscape may not work properly.
· The site is not public. Only those who know the address will see it.
· This site has been optimized for a 1024x768 screen resolution. (Some of you computer wizards may know what this means).
· The site is broken down like this:
I. Welcome page
II. Table of Contents page
A. Hear – A Foreword
B. Taste – A preview
Passages from the essays
C. Feel – Our articles
This is where you’ll find your essays. Click on a name, and the bio and essay will pop up in the box on the right. If the name in the bio is highlighted/underlined in blue, you can view a picture of the contributor. To get back to the essay, you will need to re-click on his/her name on the left. Once you view the site, you will understand what I’m talking about. It’s very simple. One thing: This is an external link, so there is no direct link back to the table of contents (unlike the other pages). To return to the table of contents, use your “back” button. Or, just look underneath the “Feel Our Articles” page. The table of contents should still be there.
D. See – Our faces
Picture collage of contributors
E. Learn – Resources
This is for listing web pages, books, etc. that relate to Sept. 11.
F. Talk – Forum
Share your thoughts – but please don’t send comments to me. As the page indicates, send them to september11@libero.it. Please be respectful of one another’s feelings. We are all human.
G. Stay – Tuned
New information will be posted here as it arises.
And soon to debut:
H. Read – Our Mail
This will feature the letters I've sent out over the past few months, along with excerpts from your emails. Your names will not be used.
· Note: Some pages feature photos/artwork that may take awhile to load. Be patient with these sites: Marco Bertacche (pics and newspapers from Italy), David Reddick (editorial cartoons), Rico Mei (“Day on the Couch” and pics from Los Angeles), Colm Mooney (pics of embassy in Dublin), Jane Cormier (WTC pics); Mary Steffel (pics from NYC); Ryan Laurita (personal pics taken right before Sept.11); Antoinette Brouyaux (pic of European Parliament); a Long Island teacher (scanned letters from little kids); Danielle and Brittany Calder (scanned letters); The White House letter.
STAY TUNED
· This website is a living, breathing creature. Please check in periodically to see new developments.
· I will accept essays until March 11. That is the absolute deadline (yes, I’m serious about this one!). I am still hoping to receive a submission from someone who was in the World Trade Center and/or Pentagon when they were struck. Please spread the word about this project. Submissions can be sent to jennamichelle@hotmail.com or Jenna McKnight, 1228 Toner Dr., Anderson, IN 46012, USA.
· Lastly, as I said in last week’s e-mail, I will continue to send excerpts from your essays (out of fairness to all the contributors). They will be posted on the website as they are sent.
· Book details forthcoming.
And now for the site (drumroll, please):
http://digilander.iol.it/september11/
There is no www in this address.
Thanks everyone for your poignant contributions and heartfelt enthusiasm. Now, the greatest compliment you can pay to me, Marco and each other is to use the forum page on the website. Open your minds…
With love,
Jenna
EXCERPTS:
2/11/02 The web site so far looks great!
2/11/02 I have been waiting for the debut for a long time.It says that the site is not public. Does that mean that you want us to keep it a secret and not pass on the link to friends? I know of about 100 people I know would be very interested in reading our essays.
2/11/02 Jenna, thank you so much for all the work you've put into this project. Also my best regards to Marco Bertacche. I'll be in touch soon again.
2/11/02 This is outstanding! Great job!!!
2/11/02 I am really impressed by what you have managed to set up. Cool! I am still enjoying my time in London (except for the course) and would be delighted to meet you somewhere in good ol' Europe.
2/11/02 Your work is un-fucking-believable! I LOVE YOU for this. You are my hero. Seriously. I can't believe this undertaking. I am totally impressed with this and want the world to see this.
2/11/02 … The removal of this incorrect piece of information would be greatly appreciated. Great job putting everything together. I give you a lot of credit.
2/11/02 Anywayz.....WOW!!!! The website looks spectacular! I am utterly amazed! I will write Marco an Email telling him how wonderful of a job he did! You poured your heart and soul into this project, and now all that sweat and stress paid off. You have a beautifully remarkable finished project! Congratulations! Where/who did you get that ticket stub from? That's amazing (September 10th!). I wonder how many people were on top just visiting at the time the planes struck? That is a horrible thought!
2/11/02 Other than that, it's perfect! I have it set at my homepage, so now I'll see it everytime I come online!
2/12/02 I wrote this the day after the attacks, and find myself feeling more and more like this as days go on...it's pretty raw and uncensored, but what can you do? I figured I'd share this with you and everyone.
2/12/02 I had to send the website to my closest of family and friends. I didn't think this was illegal, so to speak, but you did mention that it wasn't a public posting. I hope it'll be easier to beg for forgiveness than ask for permission in this case. I couldn't contain my urge to spread the love.
hi y'all...
i think there was a little confusion regarding my comment that "through our eyes" is not a public website. what i meant is this: the site will not turn up if somebody does a general websearch. you have to actually type in the address to get there.
the site is not intended to be private… so tell all your buddies!
thanks,
jenna
EXCERPTS:
2/13/02 I just went to the site and was truly touched. Can anyone contribute to this site? I would like to add my sentiments from that first week. The panic, the searching, the horror…
2/13/02 Marco kicks ass, because it's already posted! How much are you paying him? I think he needs a raise! ha!
2/13/02 Well done! You've really put your heart into this one and it looks very good. I hope the book production goes smoothly.
2/13/02 Thanks for the quick response to the edit requests!!! You are on top of things with this project! Only a couple of small changes still need made… Other than that, everything looks great! I hope to find time to spend on the site, reading others' reflections. I know I've been touched by the excerpts you sent out by e-mail.
2/13/02 : Thanks for keeping me informed. I checked out your friend's site and it's lovely. I wondered if she lived in New York? Because if so, I'd like to speak to her about the sight and possibly profile her as a "New Yorker of the Week." Please let me know.
2/13/02 Wow! That website looks great! Good job lady! Can't chat, car parked for 6 minutes on meter and I have been here 10! Them parking police are vulchers!
2/13/02 Here's another one.... Let me know if this is too much. I forward them to you as soon as I get them... ;) Great work... I have the drawing saved as my wallpaper on my computer... I love it!
2/13/02 Beth e-mailed me your web address. I was filled with emotions and pride that was beyond description when I looked at the incredible work that you have done. I always knew you we here for a very special mission and now I know what it is.
2/13/02 I want to thank you for the beautiful website you have created in Davids memory.It is very moving and I know this means very much to Patric,Petra and of course his mother.
2/13/02 Hi Jen, we've met before, what now seems like eons ago. Glad to hear you are doing alright, and again it is very nice what you have done with the site.
2/13/02 Thanks for your response. In the beginning, while searching for any information and trying to make some sense of what happened, I sent some very emotional emails. Since then, the torture has lessened. However, those feelings need to be captured and put someplace for others to see, read and feel. I will collect some of those and put them together for you. I've found that many of us that were touched by this tragedy have found writing helpful. It's almost as if once it's out of your head, the intensity lessens.
2/13/02 There are so many wonderful acts of kindness that has come from this horrific crime-I am rendered speechless. Although our family is devestated, I also realize that this has affected people from all over the world, and I am truly touched by the generousity that has followed. Today was an especially difficult day, I recieved a letter from the medical examiner's office in NY, they had to send me a DNA kit for Michael-the first attempt was botched. Sometimes, I still have trouble believing that he is gone, that the WTC is gone, even though I have been to ground zero twice now. Anyway, I have begun to ramble. I just wanted to take the time out to thank you for the website, I cannot seem to get enough of what other people felt that day and how it has affected their lives as well. I find it a healing process.
2/13/02 Hey I know it has been a long time, hope you still remember me. I know, I have a lot of explaining to do. My contribution to your project is another long story let alone so is my disappearing act.
2/13/02 I will work on it this weekend. I actually found notes that I jotted down those first days. A part of me is afraid to read them, however, I still live it every day ... so, what difference will it make.
2/13/02 You're from Anderson IN? Where do you go to school? I want to meet up with you while Im home in Carmel this summer... let me know! This is so great!
2/14/02 Embrace your accomplishment. The website looks fantastic! I just love the groovy background design...the first picture on the opening page is captivating, intense. And, I think the way the flag art turned out with the index page is terrific!
2/14/02 By the way : I don't think I had any major remark of the content of your version of my essay, only small clarifications and cuts, I will try to dig it out and send to you.
2/14/02 I think the web site is a great connection with people. The most moving part for me is simply seeing everyone's picture together like a huge tapestry of humanity, each doing what he or she loves... lots of emotions represented. I know it sounds sort of cheesy, but it's great to feel some sense of shared experience with people I've never even met. Will the site grow as you rececive more submissions?
2/14/02 unfortunately, I cannot open the compilation on the website. Any suggestions?
2/14/02 The site is an absolute beaute. Before I hit the hay last night around 2ish, I read up on the essays. Pretty intense. Made for falling asleep quiet difficult. It is truly an extraordinary creation...I love the pics-did you not have one of me? No big deal..I wanted to see which one you had of me.....not from high school is it?!@#$%^&
2/17/02 I found the web page and it is awesome. Our internet sucks here so I haven't gone thru the whole thing yet but it looks great. Does it hurt to be so talented???
2/17/02 Congratulations missy...your website looks fab. Marco really did a great job especially for his first time. I didn't read everything but thumbed through a few things. Where is your essay? You will be contributing to your own essay won't you????
2/17/02 YES, I could pull up the website fine-from both home and at work. and it looks AWESOME! there is SO MUCH stuff on there-its really amazing all the work you've done on this.
2/18/02 Top of the morning to you! The letter by the survivor is intense and will not leave anyone untouched. I hope you are able to identify the author and have him agree to the publication of his essay. I haven't had time to read all of the other essays but I read in between studying. I have, nonetheless, read some of them. So far I was especially touched by the short essays featured in "a Long Island teacher and her students". The fact that Marco has been able to scan their actual letters for us to see on our screens makes it come alive. It's a great contribution to the history books. By the way, does Marco live in Italy or does he live and work Indiana?
2/18/02 The website is very beautiful and moving, I almost feel part of a new family, despite geographical differences, the site illustrates we all share the same frailities, weaknesses, confused emotions but also capacity for simple and uncomplicated human kindness. wouldnt it be great if all the contributors could meet up one day? A pipe-dream I know, but, stranger things have happened... You deserve more than mere credit and praise for gettting this together. Your inspiration has given me inspiration, you have demonstrated strength in adversity and it is only through people like you that humankind can advance.
2/18/02 While I would love to do something with your story, we are a 24-local news channel dedicated to the five boros and do not cover news outside our region unless there are exceptional circumstances. This means, unfortunately, that I will not be able to do anything about you because you are not from the area. I appreciate your website and hope when you move to Weehawkin, you will keep me posted on the status of your and Patric's projects. I am sorry I cannot do something. I think the effort is admirable.
2/19/02 Below is an account of my September 11th. I hope this gives another perspective for that day. It was a nightmare to live then as it is now. I pray that this never happens again to anyone. In order to ensure that, changes need to be made ... to our government, to our airlines, to our construction of skyscrapers. If changes aren't made, this can and will happen again. Thank you for letting me share.
2/19/02 I was on your website last night and read the story...I currently don't have a picture of myself scanned on the system, but as soon as I get one I will send it to you. I will go back and read the article again to insure that it is correct....Thank you and your friend in Italy for putting this website together. Words can not really express my thanks.
2/20/02 I thank you for this project. I know that my "essay" was at best horrible, at worst brutal. I also know how it will affect people as I know how it affects me. I've left some things out ... especially the description of how my husband died. I have details that just might push people over the edge. I know they cause me great pain and have therefore decided to keep those to myself … Please keep me posted on your project. I am extremely interested to see where it goes. I think it is an important work, and I am honored that you've allowed me to share my experience. We cannot soon forget what has happened and the need to do whatever we can to prevent it from ever happening again. I only hope that we can.
2/20/02 Could you change that before you post it on the website. Could you check in a dictionary whether gobsmacked is one word, hyphenated or two words? Please change it if I wrote it wrong.
2/20/02 Thank you for doing this wonderful project and I am glad I was able to contribute to its success.
2/20/02 I just forwarded your link on to another twin who lost are twin sister at the WTC, both of our sisters worked for the same company only on different floors. My sister worked on 97 and her sister worked on 93. I will try and forward your link to another twin that lost her sister, she also worked for the same company on the same floor as my sister. It's helped connecting with other twins. Once again thanks for your website.
2/21/02 I would love to be added to the group list and receive updates. I admire what you are doing and fully appreciate the amount of effort that is involved in this undertaking. It requires true dedication.
2/21/02 The below came to me from friend, maybe u can e-mail the brave young lad and ask him to contribute to the website? It is self-expalnatory...
2/22/02 yes, would be very much appreciate updates etc. I am working on my essay as we speak so it won't be long now. Thank-you so much!! Is this your full time job?
2/23/02 Hope you're not troubling yourself with too much work. The website is outstanding! everyone's input is very touching, and I still haven't been throug all of the material. I want to thank you very much for inviting me to participate in this. You guys agai did a fantastic job. Tell your friend in Italy that he did a great job as well. let me know if there is anything else I can contribute.
2/24/02 Feel free to add my address to your group email list. In addition, feel free to post my email address under my story on your website.
2/24/02 hi jenna, i've been quite busy off late and haven't kept up with your project. i really do like the idea but unfortunately haven't been able to contribute much. keep me on the list (it's no bother) and i'll chime in when i can.
2/25/02 Your writing is amazing and the stories shared are so painstakingly beautiful, does that make sense? When sep 11th happened in mexico, all I could say was "hay no palabras", there are no words. I wrote about it in my journal (in English and Spanish) I think thats where Ill leave my thoughts for now, I guess it doesnt matter what language one is speaking it all translates into sadness, huh?
2/27/02 I hope all is well with you and that you are getting some sleep. Patric let me know that you had posted my "submission" on the website. You are a marvel. I can't imagine where you are getting the energy for this project… I have actually visited the site several times and read the submissions. They are truly impressive, wonderful pieces. I think this will be a wonderful book and tribute.
2/27/02 I read Russ Moskowitz's story. It is truly amazing. The compilation "Through Our Eyes" now covers just about every view, opinion and experience associated with September 11.
2/27/02 jenna, i have to tell you that i'm very proud of you (really)! the web page of your project is great! it is so interesting to read all those different thoughts of the people all around the world. i have a friend, she works for nbc europe in an internet programm on tv. it is mostly made for younger peolpe (from 13-20 i'd say) but they present every day some interesting web pages and i sent her the mail with your homepage address. she will talk about that on tv and show the page, i hope this is alright for you...but i think that many people have to see this!
3/3/02 Thank you for your message to The New York Times. This automatic response is necessary because of the volume of mail we receive. But your message will be passed promptly to the appropriate editor. In many cases, we are able to follow up with individual replies, and we will certainly write or telephone if we need further information.
Hello…Hope everyone is doing well!
It’s been three weeks since the Sept. 11 website debuted. Thank you for your wonderful compliments and helpful feedback. It certainly fuels my fire.
We’ve had a few new submissions, including two heartbreaking memorial pages and a harrowing piece from a young man who worked on the 79th floor of the second tower and managed to escape. Also, the “Read – Our Mail” page is up. It features all of the letters I’ve sent since Sept. 16, along with excerpts from your emails. It’s intriguing to read how this all unfolded… and it’s not over yet…
So, please review your essay and ensure it’s flawless. Please share the website address with the world (http://digilander.iol.it/september11/). And lastly, don’t be shy! While I enjoy receiving your emails, please consider sending some comments to september11@libero.it so we can post them on the forum page. Let’s mingle!
Thanks again.
Best regards,
Jenna
EXCERPTS:
3/4/02 I got to spend some time browsing through the website. It is truly incredible. Beautiful job, Jenna!
3/4/02 Please don't take me off your email list -- I love reading all you send. And believe it or not, I am still working on my 9/11 piece for you. It will come soon. It is still such an emotional thing that I'm actually having trouble writing it still . . . but it will come.
3/4/02 I got more excerpts this morning and indeed some are heartbreaking Good job you did I also managed to go on your wibeside , very good job
3/5/02 Just wanted to let you know that I think that the web site is awesome!!!! Sorry I took so long before letting you know what I thought about it....Congratulation to you and Marco Bertacche for this amzing work...I believed it took a very long time....but it's good to have so many people thoughts about what happened on the Sep.11th on the Net: the world need to know exactly what happened! All what those people wrote is just so sincere and honest, I mean, it hasn't been rearranged and shaped according to the media's views. It's a raw and brutal but true insight of what really happen that day. Anyway, I wish good luck with all your further projects. If you need me to contribute to one of them, don't hesitate to contact me; you're welcome!!
3/7/02 The sixth month anniversary is a few short days away, and I know I speak for all the victims family when I say the hurt and anger hasn't subsided one bit. As the days turn into weeks and the weeks turn into months, I realize I still miss my twin sister as much maybe even more than in the first few weeks. I think back to our younger years, and wish she were here with me now so we could grow old together. But the terrorist who struck on September 11th took that dream away from both of us.
3/8/02 I have tried to keep a journal..but find it too difficult to write in with any consistence..but I visit your site from time to time and last night just had to write the piece I did.
3/8/02 Thanks for catching those errors, that piece was hard to write, and I did it late last night. When I tried to proof it this morning, it brought tears to my eyes and that was the only error I caught.
3/9/02 I want you to know how WONDERFUL a project you have created and delivered. I 'stumbled' upon the note that Patric Tengelin posted on the MMC website mentioning you and the website. I worked for Marsh for 24 years and left the end of '99. What I also find amazing - is that I attended Anderson COLLEGE (as it was then known) and the fact that you are Anderson based is so coincidental. I want to write more, but have to hit the road. I know your deadline is Monday- the 6 month anniversary. I will try my best to get something to you prior.
3/9/02 first of all: I am really sorry for not replying to your messages re. Sep. 11th. Being busy is not really a reason, I know. To be very honest.......... as much as I felt for the victims of the tradgedy and condemn such evil terrorist attacks, it did not touch me as much as it did many other people, and especially you. Although I would have liked to support you in sending you a written contribution, I simply did not feel anything I could write would be adequate. Actually I would only have disappointed your expectations.
3/9/02 First of all I wanted to say that you are doing an incredible work! I am happy that so many things are being done for the memory of David. Finally I have accomplished my contribution which is attached. I also sent you two photos before the week end, I hope you get them in time... Once again thank you for the beautiful site, I hope all goes well with the book.
As you likely know, today marks the sixth-month anniversary of 9-11.
Please, take a moment to remember.
Best regards,
Jenna
(p.s. to comment, write to september11@libero.it)
EXCERPTS:
3/11/02 Did you watch that CBS thing last night about 9-11? It is amazing that those guys captured everything on film.
3/11/02 Here is my submission for the project you have so diligently been working on. Thanks for all of the hard work and dedication in making this a reality.
3/11/02 I was hopeful - I would get somehting to you today - but now that I have been glued to the TV watching 6 month anniversary coverage - it MAY not be today. And since I live local to NYC news, we are getting more coverage than a lot of the rest of the country. But definitely before the end of the week.
3/11/02 ..thank you for your email. The anniversary is on the papers…I know the cbs broadcast a documentary shot by 2 french guys who got into the towers before they collapsed. did you see it?
3/11/02 Fantastic job! It looks great!
3/11/02 I was very moved in the past two days watching the CBS documentary on Sunday night, and then watching the commemorations today. It was like reliving it again -- I'm sure for many. My essay, by the way, has to do with conducting my first concert after 9/11, and the amazing thing that happened when we all did The National Anthem together.
3/11/02 I have added your site to my Memorial links page (#2043) and would still love to add a link on our other site to yours if it would be ok :-)
3/13/02 I hope this isn't too late. It has been very difficult to get my act together. Could you please email me to let me know if you receice the letter and picture and if I'm not too late.
3/13/02 hope you are doing well and not too overwhelmed sounds like you have gotten some great stuff.
3/13/02 Very touching stuff.
3/15/02 Its really great that you have done this September 11th thing but I dont think you should let it envelope your life. God I sound like your Father now, maybe I am taking this family identification thing too far...
3/18/02 it is a varied and sensitive compilation; I am enjoying just "reading around" in the selections. Thanks again for your good work, and for including me
3/21/02 The web site is beautiful. You have done a marvelous job, be proud of yourselves. I hope Lis Alderman will contact me. I am very greatful for everything you have done for me and my family. I will never forget you. Lots of love to both of you.
3/21/02 check out this website: asile.org (no www). It might be a hoax but it's become famous in france, it was quoted by le monde, too....what do you think?
3/22/02 My trip to NY was very stressful, and it will be quite a while before I make that trip again. The media is horrible up there, my father watches the 12:00 news and the 6:00pm news and every other story is related to 9/11 somehow. I'm grateful that I am not exposed to that on a daily basis. I had flying up to that area, it makes me anxious and nervous. But I did get all the things done that I wanted to, so in that respect the trip was successful.
3/22/02 When did you plan on comin up here girlia???? I miss your lovely messages and insight and carefreeness and ontopofitness! I love the 911 website.. You've been up to amazing things!!!!
Howdy everyone.
A few announcements regarding the Sept. 11 project. Please read.
First, we’re looking for a few good editors!
I have laid out the text version of this collection, which features about 100 essays of varying lengths (approx. 85,000 words; 113 pages). I’ve read them over and over again, but they need a fresh set of eyes. I’m looking for volunteers willing to read 5 to 10 essay apiece. Your name will be listed in the “book credits.” To be eligible, you must have Microsoft Word. I will send you the essays, along with editing instructions, as an email attachment. YOUR HELP WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED!
We’re also in the serious planning stages of binding this monster. Sarah Heames – now known as Cera – has offered her artistic genius and has come up with some fabulous ideas. A collage by Cera, who lives in Oregon, is featured on the “Table of Contents” page. Also, I want to thank Sage Hibberd, of Wyoming, for helping with the layout. And while I’m at it, I’d also like to thank Patric Tengelin, who lives in London, and Amy Cahill, of Indiana, for their keen eyes – they’ve caught several mistakes! And, of course, thank you to Marco, of Italy, for keeping the website updated.
Now, about the printed version.
Our goal is to have the book printed and sent out by Sept. 11, 2002. Unless I can find a funding source, the book will cost some money. I’m shooting for $15 to $25. It may be a little more because I want to use high-end recycled paper.
In the beginning, it was not my intention to charge anyone, but I didn’t expect the collection to grow so large! Honestly, I thought I could run off a few copies, throw on a plastic binding and have it all wrapped up by the end of 2001. Well… the plan has obviously changed. And because the collection is so wonderful, I feel it should be properly presented. When I have a better sense of the cost, I’ll display a picture of the prototype on the website and send out an order form.
For those who can’t pay, I am more than willing to send a text-only version of the collection as a Microsoft Word email attachment. Unfortunately, I won’t be able to include the photos because the document is too large. I’ve explored the possibility of storing the collection on a website where you could “pick” it up – i.e., Yahoo briefcase, FTP – but it’s not panning out. Another option is to burn it onto a CD (again, it’s too large for a floppy disk), but I don’t know how to burn things onto a CD. Plus, I’m afraid it may take too long.
Now, I want to ensure you I will generate no money from this “book.” I started this project because I believe in its power – and that’s all there is to it. You are, of course, not obliged to “buy” the book. I could understand if you didn’t feel comfortable sending me check. I promise you I’m good for my word… and that’s about all I can do.
You may be wondering why I’m even doing a printed version. After all, we do have the website! Well, simply put, I love books. I love their intimacy; I love their eternal quality. While I highly value websites, to me, they seem … distant and transient. A book is forever.
One more thing: Just wanted to let you know I’m sending out a press release to various media organizations regarding this project. I really don’t like self-promotion, but this collection is poignant and worthy of being read. The press release is actually a “packet,” which includes the release, excerpts and a short bio on me. The press release will soon be posted on the “Stay Tuned” page of our website.
Well, that should do it. Hope this wasn’t too long – I know how short attention spans are in today’s rushed world.
Please feel free to write if you have any questions or concerns.
Thank you!
Take care,
Jenna
Hello.. I’m back again!
First, a huge THANK YOU to those who volunteered to edit. The response to my request was terrific. I’ll list all your names in a future email.
Second, I want to let everyone know I’m pursuing a lifelong dream and moving to New York City in late May. I’ve lived with my dear grandparents in Indiana for the past 1 ½ year, working at a daily newspaper. I’ll look for jobs once I arrive in NY – and I’m confident the pieces will fall into place.
I plan to spend a good week before I go working on “Through Our Eyes.” For those still wanting to contribute to the printed version, May 10 is the deadline (and yes, this deadline is the real thing!). Again, I want to thank everyone for their interest in this project. Who could have imagined it would grow so large!
Lastly, while I try to keep these emails centered on the project, I feel it’s appropriate to mention a campaign one of our contributors has dedicated herself to in the wake of Sept. 11. Monica Gabrielle, who lost her husband Rich, has teamed up with the mother of a firefighter who died to push for a candid, comprehensive and aggressive investigation into the WTC collapse, overseen by an independent presidential commission. Monica, a New Yorker, will be in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday for the second Congressional hearing on the issue. Her group’s mission is as follows:
“We in the Skyscraper Safety Campaign have one aim in pressing for a full investigation. It is safety. Our sons, husbands, brothers, daughters, mothers and wives are dead – finding out why they were unable to escape before the buildings collapsed is the very least we can do for them. But it is also the least we can do for ourselves. In our offices and homes, we live and work in buildings that have similar design features, similar evacuation and emergency procedures, similar vulnerabilities, to the Twin Towers. The lessons from this disaster are real but will never be learned or applied without a full investigation.”
For more information about the Skyscraper Safety Campaign, visit www.herowtc.org/skyscrapers
Also, for those in the U.S., there will be a NOVA program on PBS at 8 p.m. Tuesday (Eastern Time) called “Why the Towers Fell.” For details, visit www.pbs.org/nova/wtc
Okay, that should do it. I will send more excerpts in the next few weeks. There are 20 yet to be featured, and my goal is to accomplish this by the time I leave for NY.
Thanks again!
Take care of yourselves,
Jenna
Dear friends and family…
Well, start spreading the news. I went to New York and left after 72 hours. I believe I’ve just had the most profound week of my life to date.
So, I’m back in Indiana… sitting in a gorgeous park along the river. I’m in direct line of the warm, setting sun.. the dandelion puffs are floating around me, birds are singing their peppy little melodies.. and in the distance, I can hear yapping dogs and the hum of pickup trucks.
Mom thinks I’m either on drugs or need to be on drugs. But rest assured, I’m thinking more lucidly than ever. And I feel really, really good.
I’ll back up.
I left Indiana last Saturday (1 June) and arrived in New York City at approximately 2:30 p.m. Sunday. I slid out of there at 2:30 p.m. Wednesday. It was three days of utter discomfort, preluded by three weeks of insanity. I should have known when I was still getting stuff in order moments before I pulled out of my Indiana driveway that something was off kilter, that I wasn’t prepared. I should have known when the night before my departure, as I was trying to write a poignant goodbye letter to my grandparents, I couldn’t find the words. But, I went anyway, because that’s what I told everyone I was going to do – that’s what I told myself I was going to do. Plus, when you’re fairly young and in the midst of building a career, every second seems so dire. You must charge ahead – and quickly – before opportunity is out of your reach. Ahh.. the pressure … it’s so hard to bear.
So off I charged. And when I got to NYC, and looked at the majestic skyline, I didn’t feel the giddy anticipation that I should have, that I needed to. I didn’t feel intrigue or thrill or even fear. I felt.. discord. That was strange .. to dream of something all your life and to arrive and immediately know the timing is not right. It’s like the orchestra in your soul that usually plays with such poise and grace suddenly starts playing dreadfully out of tune. You can dance to it, but who would want to?
Some will likely think I got cold feet… that I was too scared to climb that monstrous mountain. Could be. But I sense that I have launched into enough wild adventures in foreign territories to know it wasn’t nervous jitters. And I’ve had enough adversity in my life to know the difference between climbing mountains and slipping into deep, dark holes. I’m always up for climbing mountains; I revel in it. But when I got to NYC, there was no mountain to climb. The earth had depressed under my feet and was sinking, fast. Yikes.
What to do? Well, I went against everything I’ve ever been taught, and all I’ve ever known.
I turned to my heart for direction, and it told me to take a sharp U-turn. At first, I couldn’t accept it. I mean, who turns back? But after reaffirmation from two of my personal sages – my older brother and my best friend – I knew what I must do.
I am sure I did the right thing. There is no question.
And I feel empowered by my decision. What a blessing it is to embrace your vulnerability. What a blessing it is to have the courage to listen to your intuition. Certainly this decision will come with its own set of consequences, but that is a mountain… a mountain I can climb.
So, I’m going to finish this 9-11 project I started (http://digilander.iol.it/september11/) and then open a new chapter. Don’t worry – everything will be better than fine. Just believe in me, because I believe in myself.
Take care.
Love to you all,
Jenna
Hello! Hope everyone is in high spirits…
I’ve been working diligently on the printed version of “Through Our Eyes” (it’s more work than I ever imagined!). I’ll send out a group email with ordering info very soon. This email regards editing.
The book will go to the printers in a few weeks. I think I’m FINALLY finished editing, and I want to give everyone the chance to take one final look at his/her submission. Attached you will find the text-only version of the book, broken into increments (the entire book is 160+ pages!). Entries are alphabetized by first name. “In Memory of …” pages are alphabetized by the first name of the deceased.
Please look at your essay and suggest minor, last minute changes – or forever hold you peace. Once I hand this document over to the printer, there’s no turning back.
I’ve been very light-handed with the editing. At first, I was inclined to adhere to Associated Press style, which is what I use as a journalist. However, I found by using this style, I was detracting from the personality of each essay… and diluting the diverse essence of our collection. Furthermore, I respect each author’s right to express him/herself in a way that best captures his/her thoughts and emotions. This inconsistency in style may be unconventional, but after much pondering – and discussion – I feel it’s the best way to maintain the integrity of our collection.
That said, I’ve made minor spelling, punctuation and grammatical corrections. Every essay has been thoroughly revised – by me, by fellow contributors, and by others I’ve enlisted to help (ironically, a friend of mine who works for the Associated Press has been very helpful with editing!).
As for the bios, I know the information may be outdated. That’s fine – the bios should reflect your “existence” at the time you wrote your essay.
And don’t worry about how the layout looks in the attached document – the document I will give to the printers is more polished and includes artwork/photos.
Also, please notify me immediately if I don’t have permission to print your contribution.
Please respond to this message by July 30 – one week – to either tell me your essay is OK or to suggest minor changes. List your corrections in the body of an email – please!!! – rather than returning this attachment to me. My email account is at its limit, and this message is going out to all 100 contributors. (And if you can’t open this attachment, please let me know … I’ll send your essay as email text.)
I do hope to have the book finished and sent out in time for the Sept. 11 one-year anniversary. Stay tuned for ordering info – this is going to move very quickly.
Thanks again for participating in this project. My gratitude escapes words…
Kindest regards,
Jenna
Hello … hope everyone is well.
I’m very pleased to tell you the printed version of “Through Our Eyes” is finished, and I am ready to start taking orders. The other e-mail I’m sending contains ordering information.
Today is my 25th birthday. I must say, I could have never guessed how intense my 24th year of life would be.
Again, I want to thank everyone for their participation in this project – and I especially want to thank my dear friend Sarah Heames, who poured her heart and soul into helping me self-publish this book.
This project grew larger than I ever expected, and to be honest, it sort of knocked me off my feet. For the past few months, Sarah carried a lot of the workload – and her enthusiasm for this project never waned. I am tremendously grateful for her dedication.
Really, there’s so much I could say right now – September 11 and this project have changed my life in profound ways. But I explained everything in the book foreword – or at least I tried to. Finding the words isn’t easy.
I want you all to know, while “Through Our Eyes” had humble beginnings, it became much more than a “hobby” for me, much more than something I did in my free time. I had to hire a commercial printer, binder, laminator… I had to order materials from across the country, set up a bank account, rent a post office box, investigate payment options, research shipping and handling charges, etc. It was a lot of work. For the past couple months, I’ve been working part-time at a grocery store to pay the bills. My full-time job has been this volunteer project.
Beyond that, I never anticipated how deeply all of this would penetrate my spirit. I thought I could keep an emotional distance… but I couldn’t. This project consumed me, and at times, it was very uncomfortable. I am a changed person, for sure.
I say this only to emphasize that I’ve taken this project to heart – and I’ve taken the responsibility of presenting yours words very seriously. That said, however, please keep in mind that I’m just one gal who is learning everyday. I’ve done the best I can, and I will continue to do my best. But I also recognize that at some point in the near future, I need to move on. For that reason, it’s likely I will only offer the book for a short period of time.
Please read the following e-mail to learn how to order your book. Respond to this e-mail address (throughoureyes@hotmail.com). Either Sarah or I will get back to you as quickly as possible. I’m sorry, but I won’t be able to conversationally answer e-mails for a while. I’m still happy to receive them, though!
Also, I won’t be spending much time answering e-mails next week. Sarah and I will be in New York City for the one-year anniversary. I hope to hand-deliver the book to some of the contributors, and I also hope my trip will offer a sense of personal closure on this project.
I want to take this opportunity to mention one other thing. Ten pages of the book are dedicated to a young Swedish man named David Tengelin who died in the WTC collapse. At 8 p.m. next Friday, Sept. 13, his friends will host an art show to celebrate David’s life at the Switched-on Studios in Greenpoint, Brooklyn. Everyone is invited, even if you didn’t know David. For more information, check out their website: http://www.switchedonstudios.com/swede
Well, I wish everyone the best … and I feel honored to have you all in my life.
Thanks again and best regards,
Jenna McKnight
6 September 2002
Hello…
Below is ordering information for “Through Our Eyes.” We’ve done our best to produce an elegant book at an affordable price. The book really looks terrific, but please keep in mind: While I’ve striven for perfection, it isn’t flawless.
Attached are some photos, along with the ordering form. Please confirm your order with me before sending money.
Please read this email carefully. It should answer most of your questions.
WHAT IS IT?:
“Through Our Eyes: A Tapestry of Words and Images in Response to September 11” is a diverse and candid collection of letters, artwork and photographs from more than 100 people. The contributors range in age and come from all walks of life. The submissions were accepted between September 2001 to July 2002, with many being received within a month or two of the terrorist attack.
The 160-page book is landscape style (horizontal), which looks pretty classy. Some of the pages are in color.
The cover features original artwork by Sarah Heames. Each cover is laminated.
COST:
$24 for softcover version (plastic spiral bound) + shipping/handling
$32 for hardcover version (metal loop bound) + shipping/handling
* This version comes with a free, hand-painted “United We Stand” card by Sarah Heames. Now, Sarah has a huge heart and just wants to give her cards away. But I’m urging her to sell them – they’re terrific! If you want to purchase some cards, please contact her directly at ceraheames@hotmail.com
* Hardcover is a limited edition. There are only 100. We won’t be making anymore like this because they are too expensive and too time consuming. Originally, we had planned to only do hardcovers – and only 100 of them – but I found that more and more people were wanting the book. Hence, the much-easier-to-produce softcover version.
I’ve printed and bound 150 books and will produce more if necessary. I want everyone to know, the price above does not actually reflect the amount of money I spent producing each book. That amount was a lot higher … but I can’t fathom charging more. (I wish I could give the books away!) If you feel inclined to send a donation, by all means, go for it! The money will help me recoup my costs and will be reinvested into making more books.
I also want everyone to know I am really nervous and scared about everything right now. I don’t know how many people will buy the book – maybe 10, maybe 100, maybe 1,000. Who knows. If sales of this book ever generate a profit, I have some ideas on how to use the money. Essentially, I’d like to invest it back into the cause. For instance…
I’d like to payback some of the people who helped me out, like the kind-hearted gentlemen at the print shop who volunteered countless hours to accommodate my passion and perfectionism. They saved me thousands of dollars – I’m not kidding. The printing company charges their clients $80 an hour for “changing things” during the proofing process. I couldn’t afford that… so the guys helped me off-the-clock. One night, I was there until 2 a.m.!
Proceeds could also go toward distributing free books. And a HUGE dream of mine is for all of the contributors to meet. That would be swell.
Of course, I’m open to your ideas. We will discuss it if the need arises.
TAX:
Indiana residents are the only ones who have to pay sales tax (5 percent).
Tax on the $24 book is $1.20.
Tax on the $32 book is $1.60.
SHIPPING/HANDLING:
Regular mail within the United States: $3.85
International: Rate varies with each country. Contact Jenna. (For example, the shipping/handling charge for somebody in Italy is $14.15).
Want to order more than one? Add $2 for each book.
Please allow 2 to 4 weeks for delivery, once payment is received. If you want your order shipped priority mail, let me know. We can probably work it out.
PAYMENT OPTIONS:
You can pay via check or money order, which are preferred. Or, you can pay with your credit card via PayPal, an online payment service. This comes with a flat $3 fee.
For checks and money orders, make payable and send to:
Treesap Productions
P.O. Box 50972
Indianapolis, Indiana 46250
For credit card payments (this is the best option for people overseas, due to high costs for wire transfers and other payment options. If you aren’t comfortable with this, an alternative option is to send me an official check/bank note in US currency. Or, another option is to buy me a plane ticket and I will happily hand-deliver the book to you. Kidding!):
Go to www.paypal.com
Set up a free personal account
Send payment to: throughoureyes@hotmail.com
Please look around the PayPal site if you have any questions. I’m new to this; however, I know several people who use PayPal and are quite happy with it.
WHAT IS TREESAP PRODUCTIONS?:
Once you receive your book, you will notice on the backside of the title page that the collection has been published by “Treesap Productions.” I’ve self-published this collection; Treesap Productions is the name of the documentary service I started in the summer of 2001. I’ll explain more later.
Okay, that should do it! I am sure you will have questions and comments. Please be patient if we don’t respond immediately.
Thank you. Take care.
Jenna
Hello …
Over the past year, I’ve sent passages from the “Through Our Eyes” collection. Below is the final batch; every author has been highlighted. To read others, visit our web site at http://digilander.iol.it/september11/ and go to “Taste – A Preview.”
I am leaving for New York right now and won’t return until next week. I probably won’t have the opportunity to answer e-mail. Sorry.
This is a difficult week for many people. Please know, my heart is with you.
I hope everyone will take a moment tomorrow to remember…
Take care of yourselves,
Jenna
Hi. Hope you’re in high spirits…
Just wanted to let you know I only have 30 copies left of the first edition of “Through Our Eyes: A Tapestry of Words and Images in Response to September 11.” While I may consider special orders, I don’t plan to print any more books. In total, I’ve printed around 180. I will look for a publisher in the future.
If you want a book, order it now.
Thank you to those who have already made their purchase. I am very grateful! Strangely, so far most of the people who have bought books were not contributors. That surprises me!
A few random notes:
* This book garnered some media coverage. It was featured on National Public Radio and WISH-TV (Indianapolis station) and in The Anderson Herald Bulletin. The project was also mentioned in an article in The Indianapolis Star. Yeah!
* My trip to New York for the 9-11 anniversary was enriching… and intense. It was so wonderful to hand-deliver the book to some of the contributors, many of whom I’d never met. And the trip had a stunning climax: I collapsed from exhaustion in a Manhattan restaurant and was taken via ambulance to the emergency room. What an experience!
So, to get your book, here’s the scoop:
Cost is:
Softcover -- $24 plus $3.85 shipping/handling
Hardcover -- $32 plus $3.85 shipping/handling
Checks or money orders can be made payable and sent to:
Treesap Productions
PO Box 50972
Indianapolis, IN 46250
USA
Paypal payments (credit card) are also accepted. Send payment to:
throughoureyes@hotmail.com
Please allow up to four weeks for shipping. For those who want their book by the holidays, tack on an additional $4 for priority shipping ($7.85 would be your total shipping and handling fee).
Need more info? Visit our website (which is currently being updated):
http://digilander.iol.it/september11/
Any questions, write me at throughoureyes@hotmail.com
I’m looking for jobs right now and applying to graduate school. I’m eager to open a new chapter in my life. But I know this project will always be a profound thread in my inner tapestry… and I am grateful for your interest and/or contribution. Thank you.
Take care of yourselves,
Jenna