[Romantic Old Bird]

I'm sure they won't forget it Glitter babe, it was a definitive moment in History.

Whilst I have every sympathy and concern for the US about this attack, I think it was their first real wake up call to a reality that has confronted much of the rest of the globe for the past century.

Geographically the US has been isolated and insulated from the world, and this has changed things forever. Unfortunately that increased awareness doesn't seem to have embraced the issue of their contribution to global warming but I think they will ultimately.


I love New York and will go back within the next year or so if possible. I am looking forward to it and dreading it in equal measure. The Staten Island ferry was the best free trip in the world, watching the Twin Towers recede and loom large again. I remember the wonder of watching light aircraft disappear and reappear between them all the time. It just accentuated the monolithic, austere majesty of them. Now in hindsight it seems much more sinister.

On my first visit to New York I sat inside on the observation deck of the Tower at sunset and made a video of the beautiful light across the rivers and surrounding countryside. As a building it was far less impressive than the Empire State, but the views were breath-taking.

When I watched it again a few months ago I found myself looking at the people who worked there every day - not the business people down below, because you whizzed through those floors on the way to the top, only vaguely aware of their presence. I mean the people who sold drinks, hot dogs and souvenirs. The very same people were probably at work on that day, working long hours for a very modest wage. They were from every country and culture imagineable, as were the visitors they served.

There are many thousands of personal tragedies associated with September 11th 2001, and the heroism of ordinary people was humbling. The inspirational leadership of Major Guiliani was remarkable.

It will never be forgotten, but my fear is that the major legacy of that awful day is the spectre of impending war.