Collapse of WTC due to unsound foundation (graphic by vince)

What can I say; it’s not even been two years. Carl is still out of work as the building fell on his head. This is my friend who never missed a day of work in 25 years. My cousin who lost 9 in his platoon retired from the NYFD. My dear aunt, who administered first aid, has retired. Me, I plod on spending way too much time making graphics and trying to add to the 150 books or so I've read since that day when much changed.

I loved those buildings themselves. As a child I remember, watching the progress. I remember being concerned that they were dumping the excavation into the Hudson River and making a mess, not realizing this would become Battery Park City. I'll never forget the helicopter ride I took with childhood friends, or the last time a couple of years I walked to the base of the buildings and looked up, way, way up.

Oh, one of the books I've read was the "Wretched of Earth" by Franz Fannon. In the introduction by Sartre, he predicts that Western trading centers will be a target because of our actions in the developing world. The introduction was written in 1962, the same year I was born.

I do have mixed feelings regarding my country. That much I'm sure is clear to anyone who has looked at my graphics or read my articles. Still, I'm a bit perturbed with the S.American artist Latuff who mocked us on NYC IMC on 9/11. I wrote to him last year, and asked him if he thought his timing was a bit off, perhaps he could have waited a few days, and does he now think an apology is in order. He wrote in response something to the effect that it would teach us a lesson or something. Well, what can I say, except I respect an honest answer as disturbing as it may be.

Well, I called my Texas red neck queen sister to wish her a happy mother's day. As usual, the conversation moved to politics, but I remained calmer than usual. She seems to think that we've mostly won our war on terror, and I told her that I wasn't sure, but one thing is certain that if we don't change and address root causes, basic equity, groups will coalesce again in short order. She didn't disagree.