VOICE ONE:
This is Mary Tillotson.
VOICE TWO:
And this is Steve Ember with theVOA Special English program, EXPLORATIONS. One year ago, the UnitedStates suffered the worst terrorist attack in American history.There are many stories being told about that day and its effects.Today, we will tell about messages from some of you, our listeners.We will also tell how one company is dealing with the effects ofSeptember eleventh.
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VOICE ONE:
One year ago, Islamist terrorists hijacked two passengerairplanes and flew them into the World Trade Center in New YorkCity. The two huge buildings were destroyed. Another hijacked planestruck and damaged the Defense Department headquarters nearWashington, D.C. Still another hijacked plane crashed nearShanksville, Pennsylvania.
The events of September eleventh did not only affect Americans.The attacks united people around the world in sympathy for thefamilies and friends of those who were killed. Millions of people inall areas of the world were touched by the events of that terribleday.
People who were not Americans were also killed in the attacks.The media company C-N-N keeps records of the victims of the attacks.Almost five-hundred foreigners were among the more thanthree-thousand people who lost their lives September eleventh. Theywere citizens of at least thirteen foreign countries. They were inthe World Trade Center and on the airplanes that crashed.
Soon after the attacks, expressions of sympathy from all aroundthe world reached those of us working in VOA Special English.Hundreds of letters and e-mails offered support for the Americanpeople and denounced terrorism. We received messages such as thisone from France: “Deeply in my heart, I am American now. I pray forall the victims as if they were cherished friends.”
VOICE TWO:
Listeners of many cultures and religions wanted to express theirsympathy. One listener wrote: “I’m Egyptian and Muslim. I want tosay that all Egyptians (Muslims, Christians and Jews) condemn thesekillings. God help you, God help America.”
A listener in Somalia wrote, “We extend our heartfelt sympathy toyou during this period of hellish tragedy that occurred to theAmerican people in [the] New York and Washington attack.”
One listener in Costa Rica wrote reminding us that courage andwisdom cannot be separated: “…Have for the present courage in frontof the sadness, and a great wisdom when you will answer yourenemies.”
Still others pointed to the important ideas that Americarepresents to them. A listener in Cambodia wrote us: “It’s animportant fact that the two buildings and a part of the Pentagonhave already fallen … but … democracy is still alive and evengetting stronger.”
VOICE ONE:
Some listeners who have experienced the effects of terrorismoffered advice.
A listener in Spain wrote that the United States should “try notto cause suffering to civilian populations, because the medicinewill be worse than the sickness.” He said that the Spanish peoplehave an understanding of terrorism from thirty years of fighting theseparatist group ETA.
One listener in England wrote: “I know you…will have thousands ofmessages like this but, as a victim of I-R-A attacks, I know what itfeels like. My prayers are with your country tonight.”
VOICE TWO:
Terrorist attacks are not new, but the huge size of the Septembereleventh event was something never seen before. Many people fromvery different cultures wrote saying they felt a new connection withAmericans.
A listener in China wrote: “I am shocked at the news about theterrorist attacks. I am really worried about many citizens’ lives.They and I may be strangers to each other, but we are human beingswith the same feelings, life, and love of the world.”
VOICE ONE:
Radio, television and the press throughout the world coveredevery detail of the attacks and their results. Video recordings ofthe World Trade Center buildings burning and then falling werebroadcast continuously for a long time – even days after the events.
New York City and Washington, D-C, are among the largest mediacenters in the world. This meant that the attacks and their effectswere broadcast to the whole world as they were happening.
VOICE TWO:
The pictures and descriptions affected almost everyone who sawthem. Many messages from listeners offered friendship and supportthat helped us get through a difficult time.
A listener in Tajikistan wrote, “It was really horrible to hearthat bad news about the crashes of planes and buildings in New Yorkand about the death of thousands of people. Please accept our deepfeelings and sympathy. We are with you dear friends!!!”
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VOICE ONE:
The World Trade Center not only represented American economicpower, but also international business cooperation. Businesses andgovernments of many countries had offices in the World Trade Center.The attack affected people all over the world not only economically,but personally.
The greatest loss of life on September eleventh was not among agroup of rescue workers. It was a business. Cantor Fitzgeraldoccupied five floors in the north building of the World TradeCenter. Those floors were hit almost directly by American AirlinesFlight Eleven, a passenger airplane that carried about ninetypeople.
VOICE TWO:
Cantor Fitzgerald is a financialcompany. It trades certain investments. It creates money-makinginstruments that are highly complex. Cantor Fitzgerald also hasdeveloped services to trade what are called “greenhouse gascredits.” These kinds of credits are required by the internationalenvironmental agreement, the Kyoto Protocol on Climate Change. Thecredits are traded among countries that have agreed to the KyotoProtocol. The United States is not one of them.
The most recent reports show that six-hundred-fifty-eight workersat Cantor Fitzgerald were killed on September eleventh. Aboutone-thousand people worked for the company in its New York offices.The business could have failed because of the loss of sixty-fivepercent of its employees. However, the chairman of the company,Howard Lutnick, and other officials wanted everyone to know that thecompany had survived the attack and still was strong.
VOICE ONE:
In May of this year, Cantor Fitzgerald started a televisioncampaign. The four-million dollar campaign was meant to show thatthe company was open for business. In it, current employees andsurvivors of the September eleventh attacks spoke about the eventand its effects.
The television campaign shows how the workers at CantorFitzgerald want to move to the future by connecting with the past.Each brief television presentation shows an employee explaining hisor her reaction to the loss of friends.
The Cantor Fitzgerald employees seem to express the need tocontinue on with life even after experiencing a tragic event. In onepresentation, employee Chris Crosby says, “Everyone who I lost wouldhave said ‘go to work.'” Phil Marber says the victims he worked withwould demand that the survivors move forward. He says, “Every singleone of them would have wanted us to be rebuilding.” Joe Noviellosays, “There is only one thing that we could do…restore what isours.”
VOICE TWO:
Some people have criticized Cantor Fitzgerald for using theSeptember eleventh attack as part of a television campaign. However,the company says it has made a great effort to help support thefamilies of the victims by providing health care and sharingprofits. The company says it also is trying to make sure that it issuccessful in the future.
The television campaign by Cantor Fitzgerald shows survivorsdealing with the tragic events of one year ago. It is part of anational effort to move to the future.
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VOICE ONE:
Many of the stories about the September Eleventh attacks andtheir worldwide effects are evidence of some of the best humanqualities. The employees of Cantor Fitzgerald showed how humannature seeks to return to normal. They decided that returning towork was the best way they could honor their friends who died in theattack.
Messages from Special English listeners show the strong linksbetween people of different countries, religions and cultures. Alistener in China expressed it this way, “I think all our world is abig family, so we should live peacefully.”
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VOICE TWO:
This Special English program was written by Mario Ritter andproduced by George Grow. This is Steve Ember.
VOICE ONE:
And this is Mary Tillotson. Listen again next week for anotherEXPLORATIONS program on the Voice of America.