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Letters

Posted on September 12, 2016

To the editor,
Everyone I know has a story about where they were on 9/11.

The days and weeks following that terrible day were a time of otherworldly confusion, particularly for people who lived and worked downtown. I am grateful to the Broadsheet for highlighting in the photograph below, the great community organizer Bob Townley.

His presence of mind, confident decision-making and strong leadership were balm and guidance to this community. With all the memorials and remembrances that take place this time of year that focus on grief and violence, it is important to remember that sometimes in crisis, the finest of ourselves can emerge. When the top of the world came down, those of us in Lower Manhattan were lucky indeed to have Bob.

Theseus Roche
Manhattan Youth

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To the editor,

I’m writing in response to Matthew Fenton’s thoughtful piece yesterday, titled, “What Do We Call Ourselves.”

“What Do We Call Ourselves?” is a valid question. It made me pause and think. What do I call myself?

I agree with Mr. Fenton that the terms “Victims,” “Refugees,” “Returnees,” or “Rebuilders” are inadequate. “Survivors” comes closer. But none of these are terms I’d apply to myself.

I was there on 9/11. Like so many others, I was briefly a refugee, returned, came back and tried to help rebuild. But on this day of remembrance, I prefer not to identify myself by any of those labels.

I’m just a guy who did things that any other responsible person would do in a time of tragedy, as so many others did. I can’t think of an appropriate label for that, and I’d prefer not to have one.

Ro Sheffe
Financial District resident

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