The bridge - a week later
Aug. 9th, 2007 03:50 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
olchikSo this week has been dominated by The Bridge. All week we've been hearing about the recovery efforts, previous inspections, first responders. We had the governor, the mayor, the fire chief, the police commissioner all speak on TV and radio. The President and First Lady also stopped by. We've heard amazing accounts from the survivors and learned about those, who perished.
Interestingly, my first reaction after it happened was "OMG, how horrible!", but in the state of shock it didn't fully sink in yet. Some of my coworkers were even able to joke about it the next day, acknowledging that that's a way to cope too. The follow up to that was a weird sense of "It's cool that our city is getting so much attention". But then it all sunk in and I was completely devastated by this incredible human tragedy. Talking to others about this, it became apparent that many of them went through the same emotions.
The most fulfilling things this week came from local MPR programs where the mayor of Minneapolis and the leaders of local first responder agencies came to talk about the disaster. The stories they told were incredible, the sense of pride they were feeling for their workers and regular citizens who came to help was contageous. It was incredibly touching to hear people calling in just to thank the mayor and the others, to tell them what a great job they're doing. I swear I heard the mayors voice crack when he thanked people for these kind words.
I think I know what New Yorkers felt in the days following September 11th, the immense pride for their city, for its workers, for its citizens. We're feeling it too. I want to shout from the rooftops: "I love Minneapolis!" I do, I really do. This is my city, my home, and I'm proud of it.
I know this feeling will pass, I know that soon the bridge will be used in political games of 2008, but for now I am soaking it all in: the pain, the pride, the love, and the unity. And there's nowhere I'd rather be.
Interestingly, my first reaction after it happened was "OMG, how horrible!", but in the state of shock it didn't fully sink in yet. Some of my coworkers were even able to joke about it the next day, acknowledging that that's a way to cope too. The follow up to that was a weird sense of "It's cool that our city is getting so much attention". But then it all sunk in and I was completely devastated by this incredible human tragedy. Talking to others about this, it became apparent that many of them went through the same emotions.
The most fulfilling things this week came from local MPR programs where the mayor of Minneapolis and the leaders of local first responder agencies came to talk about the disaster. The stories they told were incredible, the sense of pride they were feeling for their workers and regular citizens who came to help was contageous. It was incredibly touching to hear people calling in just to thank the mayor and the others, to tell them what a great job they're doing. I swear I heard the mayors voice crack when he thanked people for these kind words.
I think I know what New Yorkers felt in the days following September 11th, the immense pride for their city, for its workers, for its citizens. We're feeling it too. I want to shout from the rooftops: "I love Minneapolis!" I do, I really do. This is my city, my home, and I'm proud of it.
I know this feeling will pass, I know that soon the bridge will be used in political games of 2008, but for now I am soaking it all in: the pain, the pride, the love, and the unity. And there's nowhere I'd rather be.
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
(no subject)
Date: 2007-08-10 03:57 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2007-08-10 04:02 am (UTC).