The following is an e-mail I got today from Suzanne Greydanus (who gave me permission to post it and said it was okay to use her name, though I offered to omit it). Her brother, David, died earlier this year of sudden-onset leukemia and at a very young age. In the wake of 9/11 there was a lot of concern about rescue workers breathing in toxic dust from the collapse of the towers, but less attention devoted to the health effects it might have had on others who were there . . . like Suzanne’s brother.
Here’s what she wrote:
My brother was one of the first to get pictures up of the 9/11
attacks — he did it that day. He got about a zillion hits on this
little slide show in the weeks following. I believe that the
leukemia that killed him back in May was a result of him breathing in
the toxic dust that day. So I think about 9/11 in a new way this year.(Also, I look at all these other folks pictured here and I wonder
about their health too.)Suz
Never forget!
Forgive, but never forget…
Just as soon as there’s repentance.
exactly. i was gonna say it, but….
More on long-term ill-health.
Leukemia scares the heck out of me. I lost my grandfather to it when I was little– the lady has my deepest sympathy.
I like the buzz.mn memorial for 9/11.
http://www.buzz.mn/?q=node/2492
Project 2996 – bloggers’ memorials to each victim of 9/11.
Suz, thank you for sending your email to Jimmy. I checked out your brother’s pictures. I am so sorry for your loss. Your brother’s pictures are exquisite pictures of a devastating event, and make him a part of our national history.
He, as well as all the others who died as a result of 9/11 are not victims. They are martyrs.
Celeste– my only– and I do mean ONLY– question on that is if one must be killed specifically for being Christian, or if being killed for your religion while you are a Christian is enough.
Honestly, it makes me a bit sick to even think about it– I tend to be a little blood thirsty when it comes to folks attacking my country.
Had a small revelation… I really don’t care about the question I asked earlier.
It’s in God’s hands, entirely, and we don’t even know what happens until we’re there, too. I know God will do what’s right, and I prayed for those folks in the first place, and in the second place, I’m not very good with talking to any of the newer Saints, so… the question is purely academic, and this seems like a poor topic to be academic about.
Did that make any sense?
Martyrs for what? I mourn the loss of the victims of 9-11 but I hardly think that they were martyrs. Martyrs die for a cause and Christian martyrs die for a specific cause, Christ. These were victims of horrendous murder carried out by extremists. But they are no more martyrs than the victims of the Manson family are martyrs.
This is one of the most powerful tributes to the victims of 9/11 that I’ve seen. It was created a week later. It’s a 7 MEG file, so it takes a few minutes to load:
http://www.gunstuff.com/america-attacked.html
There are other sites that have linked to this video. This is just one of them.
Steve & Suzanne,
My condolences on the loss of Dave. He has listened to the words we still await to hear someday: “Well done, good and faithful servant. Now enter into the joy of your master”
Under the Mercy,
Barbara Wood
I will pray for her brother.
I will pray for all the victims of 9-11.
God Bless you all.
May God protect us from another terrorist attack.
May we honor all those who died, and the heroes who helped like firefighters and all those of good will.
Let us remember, recognize, honor, learn and prevent.
Suzanne –
My deepest condolences on the loss of your brother. It has made me that much more grateful that my brothers and sister are all alive and well today.
In fact, today is my brother’s birthday! He has a neat online radio station;
http://www.americanclassreunion.com
There is also a link (“Allison’s Page”) that gives updates on my niece, Allison, who received a new heart earlier this year (she is doing great, BTW, and thanks for all your prayers).
Happy birthday, J.J.!
Suzanne and all your family —
God bless you all. I’ll never forget the first time I saw those pictures. Sending lots of prayers your way….
I work with software analytics – it would be interesting if someone mapped the physical location of people who were (or were not)in New York that day against a list of recent cancer sufferers. Is there a stastically significant relationship?
And if so – Erin Brockovich part deux?
From a web site devoted to names:
“David… is pronounced DAY-vid. It is of Hebrew origin, and its meaning is “beloved”
I’m sure it applied well to your brother, Suzanne.
Foxfire — Regarding my use of the term “martyrs.” My thinking was that these people were murdered because they chose to exercise their God-given gift of free will, to work and live where and how they chose. They were murdered because they were not like their murderers. They were murdered because they lived a different life than their murderers.
They were not martyred because of their faith. They were martyred because of who they were.
I don’t understand any of this. I see people around me all the time behaving so horribly toward each other, toward their creator, toward all creation. I know it exists. I see it. But I just don’t get it. I simply could not stand before God if I acted this way. I couldn’t even stand in front of a MIRROR if I acted this way.
I don’t get it. I don’t understand it. They will put on my tombstone “She didn’t get it.” Even complete narcissism doesn’t make any sense.
People’s behavior cotinues to bewilder me. I wish somebody could explain this. I mean, original sin just doesn’t seem to cover it.
Anyway, “martyr” just felt like the right word.
Celeste– in that case, I agree with you. I don’t get how folks can stand to act as they do at times, too. You ever REALLY want to test your faith, play an online game. I swear there’s a small group that goes out expressly to destroy things for others…. or look at the Wall in DC, this weekend. Someone defaced it with some kind of oil.
Just maybe not the best choice of word to use figuratively on a Catholic site. ;^p