The Falling Man. Do you remember this photograph? (The man who jumped from World Trade Towers)

esquire ^ | September 2003, Volume 140, | By Tom Junod

[Marie Antoinette]

OMIGOSH! Is that kid with the gun wearing a Chicago Bears Football Jersey???? How freaky is that??

[HitmanLV]

I know, I was just asking for some people to dispel this. It never passed the 'smell' test but I just wanted to learn more. Thanks!

[colorado tanker]

The movie "9-11" showed up close the communications problems the firemen had. Those radios just didn't penetrate through that much steel and concrete.

[Libertina]

YES I agree with you - EVERY CITIZEN should SEE the TRUTH.

[TigersEye]

Wow that was long. I rarely read such long articles and never when so poorly formatted. But that was very compelling.

Too many want to sweep the horror of 9/11/01 away. I question the motives of those who do.

[montag813]

While I distrust the Saudis, your insult to Colin Powell — and, by extension, to the President and Vice President — is disgraceful and deeply dishonorable.

Powell is nothing but an Arab ass-kissing lapdog of the Saudi regime, and a globalist stooge of Foggy Bottom Eurocrats. He is the very best of friends with Price Bandar, and the prime force within the Administration opposing any efforts to extend the War on Terror to other Arab states, to oppose the 9/11 Families $1 trillion lawsuit against the Saudis, and dismantle the "Palestinian" Authority and to expel or arrest Arafat. HIS actions and advice to the President have been a disgraceful and dishonorable.

[sinkspur]

You insult George W. Bush, who is well satisfied with Colin Powell.

But, insulting is your forte, montag.

Why don't you keep your foul mouth shut? Powell will leave on his own timetable; Bush will not fire him or force him out.

I support the President; you don't.

[SauronOfMordor]

My friend's husband was at at the adjoining 7WTC building on 9/11. As he got out of the building he had to step around and over body parts.

Never Forget. Never FOrgive

[fnord]

I can't imagine the horror of being a witness to so many people jumping. I hope I never understand the thoughts of those who did jump.

I think this is a beautiful article. What happened that day should be remembered constantly. But too many want to see only the big picture, when so many little pictures were also there that day, and they are just as memorable.

[montag813]

I support the President; you don't.

I resent that remark. I worked hard to elect this President, and give him a GOP-majority Senate. I will do the same next year. However when it comes to policy, I support him when he is right, I differ with him when he is wrong. I am not a "Bushbot" like you. He is dead wrong by pushing the Saudi-created "Roadmap". It is not only morally wrong, but incompatible with the Bush Doctrine and a complete distraction from the War on Terror.

[ladyinred]

This is the most moving article I have read out of all of them.
What a shame it is that these victims must be censored so that we can all feel better about that dreadful day two years ago. They deserve better, and so do we.

[ladyinred]

Did you actually read the article? I didn't get anything like that out of this. It was very moving, and in no way disrespectful.

[sinkspur]

He is dead wrong by pushing the Saudi-created "Roadmap". It is not only morally wrong, but incompatible with the Bush Doctrine and a complete distraction from the War on Terror.

Well, I guess we'll see about that.

I don't think there's any resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, no matter who proposes what.

And, I'm sorry for my remark about not supporting Bush. But, slamming Powell is slamming Bush.

[MHGinTN]

At 150 mph, impact destruction occurs so fast that the nervous system cannot relay the signals ... the victim doesn't 'feel' it long enough to acknowledge it.

[montag813]

And, I'm sorry for my remark about not supporting Bush. But, slamming Powell is slamming Bush.

Thanks. We've had our differences on a few issues, but in general I find you to be a great FReeper and a real stand up guy.

[don-o]

mark

[sarasmom]

one thousand one
one thousand two
one thousand three
one thousand four
one thousand five
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one thousand seven
one thousand eight
one thousand nine
one thousand ten
They "felt" it.

[proudofthesouth]

Ditto your comments.

[Luis Gonzalez]

"As a nation of freemen, we must live through all time, or die by suicide." - Abraham Lincoln

[Urbane_Guerilla]

This article was a solemn tribute to the Falling Man. It is amazing some people cannot see that.

The photo is fascinating because it gives us hope that a man transcended his fate, as inevitable as it was, and by implication (for us) defied the hatred and violence which caused it.

Maybe, probably, it was just circumstance for his body to have assumed such a deliberate position. Just the physics of his fall.

But maybe he understood what was happening and for a couple seconds expressed himself in his fall to death ... maybe he was saying to himself ... "be composed."

It is the opposite of disrepectful ... it is utterly respectful ... to accord the Falling Man with an heroic dignity.