Let Us Make Our World Whole Again
"As a planner I devote my life to bringing communities together, building towards common goals and acting in the present for the betterment of the future. Terrorism attempts to tear communities apart, destroy and discourage the goals that we strive towards and advocates dispicable acts designed to undermine our hopes for the future. As a planner, and a Canadian, I stand proud with all Americans and the rest of the world to say no to terrorism and all that it tries to achieve."
-- John M. Fleming, Planning Administrator, City of London Planning Division, Ontario
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"Returning violence for violence multiplies violence,
adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars. Darkness cannot drive out hate; only love can do that." -- Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. |
"We should all be looking at the incident from the global perspective to realise the causes and effects of such undertaking. A presumptious outlook could lead to more serious implications for everyone whether directly or indirectly affected by the incident and its repercussions."
-- Khathijah Md Jaafar, Town Planner, Kuching, Malaysia
"As you begin the healing process, please know that our thoughts are with you. We will do what we can to help in your time of need."
-- Kimberly K. Henry Begg, AICP, Director, Knoxville Area Section, Tennessee Chapter APA
"The horror of the terrorist attacks -- watching them happen in real time on television -- has dulled to the realization of all the suffering and death and destruction that has resulted. Hopefully, out of this destruction will come the determination to bring the terrorists (those who organized and supported the ones aboard the hijacked aircraft) to justice. At a deeper level, beyond all the talk of war-making, I hope that there will be a renewed emphasis on justice: fighting poverty, improving respect for human rights, working to support democratic governments, and striving to live up to the ideals on which the United States was founded."
-- Ken O'Brien, MCIP, Supervisor of Planning and Information, City of St. John's, Newfoundland, Dept. of Engineering and Planning
"I am a German Urban Planner/Designer working for a Planning Consultant in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. I am very shocked by the events that have taken place in New York and I feel for everybody that lives in New York, especially for those who have lost someone in the attack of the World Trade Center.
-- What does the recent attack mean for the future of office tower and other single use big-scale developments? Having followed discussions regarding the future of the Twin Towner's site on the internet, I strongly disagree to rebuid the World Trade Centre and replace if by a building that is even bigger. It would always be a target for future terrorist attacks based on the symbolic value. Who would ever want to work in that building? It would not only be a financial disaster but also tell the world that nothing has ever happened. I think it is the planner's and politicians of New York responsibility to carefully re-evaluate the future of the twin tower site."
-- Heike Schmidt, Project Planner, CitySpaces Consulting Ltd.
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"Believe, when you are most unhappy, that there is something for you to do in the world. So long as you can sweeten another's pain, life is not in vain." -- Helen Keller |
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"Trouble no one about their religion; respect others in their view, and demand that they respect yours."
-- Chief Tecumseh, Shawnee Nation (b. 1768) |
"in a heart beat
the centre of our spatial economy
rendered to twisted metals,
fragmented into levels of agony
torn from us all
the belief that we can plan
a structured society
by the brutal arm of anarchy
reaching out from a place of anger
we have no understanding of
how we incorporate them into
a final solution that rebuilds confidence
to us the task of rebuilding
from ruins and ashes
should we plan flowers or footings
how do we rebuild for a future
when so many still suffer."
-- Greg Finnegan, Director of Planning and Research, Trademark Pacific Properties, Vancouver, BC
"My heartfelt sympathy goes to all those unfortunate souls who lost their lives or lost a friend or family member. I am still unable to even fathom the extent of the impact of this destruction. I guess only time will heal the people and eventually new structures will replace those destroyed. The impact is felt here in Benzonia, Michigan, pop. 452, as it is throughout our Nation. A group of bike trail supporters recently marked a trail with popcicle sticks -- one per foot for every person that lost their life in New York and the Pentagon."
-- David A. Neiger, Director, Benzie County Planning Department, Michigan
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"Love is the most reliable cure for wounds of the soul." -- Rabbi Naftali of Ropshitz (b. 1760) |
"Fighting blind will only create new enemies. ... Poverty and inequality are the real enemies of world civilisation. Military solution is denial of science and human rights ... U.S. intellectuals must not accept this. Ataturk said: Peace at home, peace in the world."
-- Mete Bashar Baypinar, Postgraduate Regional Planning Student, Turkey
"It will be hard to find the terrorists; it will be slow to eliminate terrorism; and it will be nearly impossible to find all the countries whose citizens serve our markets. Yes, it will be a long time; let us pray our leaders know this."
-- Perry Norton, retired planner, Tucson, Arizona
"With the will of America, perhaps this horrific event will never be repeated. I am about to retire from one work world to enter the world of volunteerism. If anyone in your agencies need assistance, I would be more than willing to come and help in any way that is required. With much regret for the past and great faith for the future!"
-- Nancy Hay Quantock, Director, Capital Planning, University of Maryland, Baltimore County
"Wishing a peace-full world, I would like to express my deep sympathy with the New York attack's victims, and offer voluntary contribution at the post disaster reconstruction stage. I am specialized in post disaster reconstruction (PhD) from Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh, UK, with more than 20 years experience in post disaster reconstruction planning."
-- Sharif Motawef, Bureau for Regional Planning, Management and Planning Organization, Tehran, Iran
"Less than 30 miles west of Manhattan, the tops of the Twin Towers provided geographic reference points from our ridgelines in Morris County, New Jersey. Now, the Empire State Building looks lonely from here. We hope that the NYC skyline can be filled again."
-- Christine G. Marion, Assistant Director, Morris County Dept. of Planning & Development, Morristown, New Jersey
"All over the world none of us will be able to live in peace, if we fail to take -- perhaps the last -- chance now to change our present main principle 'each one for him - or herself' into new main principle 'all for all'!"
-- Gylfe Nagel, Berlin, Germany
"I sat stunned in the company of the rest of the world watching with horror the havoc wrought on your City. Later I watched with pride and hope as your City drew together and became a community and that feeling of community spread throughout the country. Lynden's thoughts, prayers and applause go out to you as you begin the process of re-building."
-- Amy Harksell, City of Lynden, Washington
"Every day my thoughts and prayers are with the victims, the rescue workers, our leaders and this nation. We all need to be united and care about our family, friends and neighbors. As a land use planner I have tried to be of service to property owners and to help them achieve their desires by having an attitude of first thinking is there a way you may accomplish your development rather than here is what you can and cannot do."
-- Betty Clack, Planning Director, Nez Perce County, Idaho
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"When justice is done, it brings joy to the righteous but terror to evildoers." -- Proverbs 21:15 |
"My heart was broken on 9-11, then put back together in the weeks following. We are one people and one country. That is our strength. God Bless America."
-- Fred Knueppel, Wisconsin
"As a graduate planning student at the University of Tennessee I would like the families and friends of those who lost loved ones in both New York and Washington to know that America is praying and grieving with you each and every day. I hope you can feel the support generated by a uniting country. I have been a firefighter for nearly ten years and have a special place in my heart for my brothers and sisters who's lives were lost helping saving countless innocent victims. Thank you and God bless!"
-- David Andrew Brace, Knoxville, Tennessee
"Planning is a dynamic effort that takes into account those values that are held by the community which it represents. Once again through the acts of others our profession must respond to consider mitigation in order to protect our citizens. While the task is monumental, we are charged with the responsibility to serve the public through our conscientious efforts and innovative processes. This is what sets us apart from those who desire to take our freedoms away from us, and those who fail to evaluate the probable cause and effect of each course laid out before us. To us, it is a challenge that we as planners must take on and overcome."
-- Nicole L. Cline, AICP, Tooele County, Utah, Planning Division Manager
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| The Alhambra in Granada, home of the Nasrid dynasty until the tragic year of 1492, reflects the grace and beauty of Muslim culture and architecture.
British writer Karen Armstrong, author of the highly regarded, A History of God, has posted an excellent online article on Islam and fundamentalism. |
"Please know you are not alone. I'm with you in thought, spirit, empathy, love. It was heartbreaking to watch the destruction of the WTC and Pentagon, and witness the plane crashes there and in Pennsylvania. May the time of healing bring us together rather than further divide us, and may we find a reasoned solution to unreasoned violence."
-- Joanne Garnett, AICP, Sublette County Planning and Zoning, Pinedale, Wyoming
"Like all Americans my heart goes out to the families that lost loved ones that awful day. I saw in my mind a beautiful rose garden with a reflecting pool, it was surrounded by an open weave gold screen or fence made of the names of those lost. Merges together with the names are the words; PEACE, COMPASSION, COURAGE IN MANY LANGUAGES."
-- Lyn Ace