Friday, March 15, 2002

Publisher's Note ~ Thanks, Sadness, Significance

Special Thanks to Matt Peyton and Silverbox Photography for his stellar photography capturing the special moments at NYSIA's 2002 Software Summit
And, thanks to Mr. Peyton and Rainbow Heart for their contributions of services at the upcoming Chamber Dance soiree on Monday, March 18th.

This week started on a somber note. Sunday, March 10th was the CBS special on 9|11, sponsored by Nextel. This show included much footage on three men who were making a documentary about a young "probationary" fireman through a nine-month journey since graduation from Firefighter school. Telling the tale through this perspective highlighted the innocence I think many Americans felt towards the world. Like all the firefighters and civilians in the show, no one could've imagined the horror, evil, depravity, wickedness and terror that occurred on September 11th. While I don't think it is good to continue to give "air-time" to these terrorists, which might lead others to want to perform hideous acts so they too can become "heroes" and be immortalized on mass media, I do think it is important for people to see and read about these events so we never forget the lives lost and why we must continue in our fight against terrorism. It may seem like an impossible war, but like mobs and other "inferior" forms of government, with continual and devoted energy to this fight, we will prevail.

One fireman had a quote from President Bush painted on his company's firetruck:

"We will not tire, we will not falter, and we will not fail." - President George W. Bush, Address to a Joint Session of Congress and the American People, United States Capitol, Washington, D.C., September 20, 2001. I like to think of these words not only in relation to New York City and the United States in our rebuilding efforts and fight against terrorism, but I also like to think of this quote in relation to the technology industry' efforts as it too rebuilds after a harsh 2001.

On Monday, March 11th, there were several significant events in memory of what occurred in New York and DC six months earlier. In the morning, Governor Pataki, Mayor Bloomberg, former Mayor Guiliani, the priest from the Greek Orthodox church (that was just next to the WTC) and 12-year-old Peter Raimondi and 16-year-old Philip Raimondi (who lost their father, Peter Frank Raimondi, who worked for Car Futures in One World Trade, on September 11th) all spoke. The morning was highlighted by two moments of silence marking the impacts of the first and second planes, a ceremonial ringing of the FDNY bell honoring the dead and a dedication of "The Sphere" a 15-foot diameter, 45,000 pound, steel and bronze sculpture, which was created by sculptor Fritz Koenig in 1971 as a monument to fostering peace through world trade. This sphere is an interim memorial to those who lost their lives on September 11th and in 1993.

It originally sat atop a granite fountain in the center of the 5-acre World Trade Center plaza and has a gash through its center but is structurally intact. This interim memorial will provide a place for families, survivors and the general public to reflect and pay tribute to those lost until the establishment of a permanent memorial.

That evening, 44 searchlights were lit to shine one mile into the sky as a "Tribute in Light" and are meant to represent the fallen twin towers of the World Trade Center. They are located about a block from "Ground Zero," and will remain lit from dusk until 11 p.m. for 32 days.

The significance of these events has many layers. We have been receiving very positive messages from our elected officials (President Bush, Former Mayor Rudolf Guiliani, Mayor Bloomberg, Hillary Clinton: (http://www.thecyberscene.com/cgi-bin/show.cgi?city=newyork&year=2002&issue=0-3-0-1). And, with programs like NYSIA's "Stand With NY," New York State's Project Liberty and NYC's New York Needs Us Strong, all New Yorkers and all Americans can gather strength, stand tall and proud and fight our daily challenges as the best way to combat the fear terrorism seeks to instill in us.

And with that, here is this week's newsletter, highlighting all the ways people are getting out there and continuing to do business and stand tall in New York!