Posted by Allan Sniffen on September 11, 2001 at 15:41:38:
We come to this Board to talk about radio. We debate, we argue, we analyze and we criticize. But not today.
Today we cry.
This is the "New York" Radio Message Board. While radio is our usual focus, today's events are so powerful that anything even remotely connected to New York City is in mourning. Lives have been lost, landmarks destroyed, our way of life seems changed and our security has been violated. It's a day where you tremble from the pit of your stomach. We feel helpless, sad, mad and frustrated.
Radio itself is reflecting that. Stations that usually play music aren't. Stations that usually debate politics have more important issues to address. Sports stations haven’t uttered a score. News stations are struggling to do their jobs.
Make no mistake, this is a generation defining story. Like the Kennedy Assassination and the Challenger Disaster, you will always know where you were when you heard and possibly even witnessed this tragedy. The closer you are to New York, either geographically or emotionally, the greater the impact. It's an unimaginable event that we are all witnessing. This message board and those that come here suffer too.
But take note: Under these horrible circumstances, radio is again proving how invaluable it is. TV is off in many places, the Internet is down and cell phones aren't working. But radio is here. It *is* working. Radio’s broadcasting pros are doing their jobs under horrible circumstances. Hats off to all of them. No time to mourn. No time to cry. Time only to get the story out and reassure the world that tomorrow will come.
We’re in this together. We may agree or disagree with each other over the issues we usually debate but, right now, we're all on the same side. Together we’ll get through this and be here to debate radio again.
Just not today.