Blog Post 4: Isabel Bandoroff

I knew from the moment I read the blog assignment what picture I was going to post. I saw it a little over a week ago on 9/11, we watched a documentary on it in sociology. It was the first time I had seen the picture but its simplicity and profoundness have stuck with me, I know I will not forget it. I give you The Falling Man:

This photo was taken by Richard Drew on September 11th, 2001. It was printed the day after on September 12th, people were outraged. How could a newspaper run such a picture! Our children might see this, it's downright inappropriate! However, some people saw this picture for what it was: the truth. An accurate representation of how the people trapped in the twin towers felt that day. This picture is provocative, it makes humans do what they often don't want to - imagine someone else's pain, put themselves in the shoes of a victim of 9/11. Everyone wanted to know who "The falling man" was and a reporter was charged with the task of discovering this. It is believed that he is Norberto Hernandez, a chef at the restaurant Windows, which would explain his outfit. Some of Hernandez's family said they believed it was him; however, the majority could not fathom it. They were Catholic, and suicide meant Hell, understandably they wouldn't want to believe this man was their father. The family was insulted, stating that their father would never intentionally leave them. But I don't think it matters who the Falling Man was, I think its significance is the only important thing. This photo forces us to decide what we would do if we were trapped in the Towers, would we chose to burn at temperatures above 1000 degrees? Would we foolishly hope for salvation, even though we know deep down that we are doomed? Or would we take fate into our own hands and have a few more seconds of freedom? Personally, I would rather go out free falling through the air at peace with my death than being imprisoned and frantically trying to escape. 

It is estimated that over 200 people jumped on 9/11, they knew that they would not survive the fall -- but it was the only thing they could do. I think it is offensive to those who died to say that these people fell or were pushed, to invalidate the last decision they made on earth.