Twin towers & our cinematic memory

Thirty, 40, 50 years from now, when an "old movie" like "Terms of Endearment" appears on the TV, what percentage of film watchers will look at a wide shot of the New York City skyline and notice the buildings on the right, behind the lampost.

What will they say to the youngsters in the room?

See those tall buildings on the right? That's what the terrorists blew up on 9-11 in '01.

Yeah, Papa. Why'd they do that?

Oh, hell, they didn't like us. Still don't.

Why?

Well, it's like when you were little. If the kid across the street had better toys than you, you didn't like it much, did ya?

I guess not.

So when you felt bad about it, some days you wanted to show him what for, didn't ya?

I don't know.

Sure ya did. Don't you want as good a toys as that kid? Even better toys maybe?

I guess so.

Well, there you have it. That's how World War 3 started. It's all about the toys.

Really, Papa?

Pretty much. The world is a fucked up place. Always has been.

You said a bad word.

I know. I'm sorry. Don't tell Granny. Or your mother. OK?

OK. I won't.