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CNN Saturday Morning News
September 11 Changes Spirit of Christmas in U.S.
Aired December 22, 2001 - 07:24 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: Well, the calendar says Christmas is only three days away, but this year's holiday has a different flavor and a different feel.
LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: That's for sure. Now, despite all the poinsettias and Christmas decorations and the radio stations with all their round-the-clock carols, CNN's Bruce Morton says that September 11 changed the spirit of this Christmas.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED TREE SELLER: That the one?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, that's the one. This is my tree.
BRUCE MORTON, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): At a Los Angeles shopping mall, Tommy Stimson (ph) buys his tree. It's Christmas. The big tree is up in Rockefeller Center in New York, lots of flags.
It's Christmas, but it's different. At St. Paul's Church down by ground zero, there's a tree too, and a man who plays sometimes carols, sometimes other things.
For some people, like Chicagoan Amy Brim (ph), it's not the holiday they remember.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The whole mood of Christmas is, like, gone, because of everything that has happened.
MORTON: But others, like Melissa Rugie (ph) back in California, think the holiday means more because of September 11.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's even more strong maybe this year, because of the loss that people have, they're bonding so strong with their family.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: There's family members that you neglected to see or friends that you've neglected to call. You know, it gives you an incentive to want to reach out and touch those people.
MORTON: Fifth Avenue is full of people, Michigan Avenue in Chicago is full of people, lots of shopping bags, lots of ads for bargains. How will business be? One expert is optimistic.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I see a lot of people are having a lot of smiles shopping.
MORTON: Back at St. Paul's, some of the signs, some of the people are reminders that Christmas celebrates values besides gifts, celebrates shared love and hope and unity.
Jill Guna (ph) and Gizmo (ph), back at that California mall.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I think throughout, like, our whole society, I think everyone's closer, and that, you know, it's just (inaudible) together.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: People were kind of grieving still,I think, but now it feels a little bit more like Christmas, and people are kind of in the giving spirit. I've noticed that people are donating more money, and I see the little guys, you know, ringing their little bells, and I think things are getting a little bit better.
MORTON: This Christmas may be less about gifts than about families. Back in Chicago, Holly Boyd (ph).
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We've been saying a lot of prayers, but I think it's important for the kids to know that, you know, there is still love and happiness around the Christmas season, and, you know, it is a time of peace as well.
MORTON: Tommy Stimson carries his tree. It's Christmas -- different, but Christmas.
Bruce Morton, CNN, Washington.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
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