Five Years Later....

[dawn_felagund]

A Quick Introductory Note:I have written this post for myself because I want most of all for my journal to be just that: a journal that I can look upon in a few--or many--years time. I am leaving it unlocked, however, because I think [hope?] that discussing and thinking about these things will help us in the end, whether in the practical sense of

Comments

[atanwende]

I still remember 9/11 far too well. It was a beautiful day over here as well and all I could think of was how something like this could happen on such a wonderful late summer day. I was informed about the attacks via a phone call and when I switched on TV it looked like that one wide shot after the meteorite shower in Armageddon. It was scary. Especially when I realized that one of the towers was completely gone. On this day I was helping a girl from our neighbourhood with maths and when I sat there in the living room drinking cool fruit juice and with the sunshine outside I couldn't understand how people could carry on like it was just another day. But then, NY is thousands of miles away. And still, for me it felt like things wouldn't be the same...

But for me, the worst effect of these events manifested themselves later when I travelled on a plane the first time since years: I've always thought of myself as a tolerent, open-minded person. But even now, 5 years later, I can't deny the suspicious feeling I gt when I see someone of Middle-Eastern origin of the airport. And it makes me sad that I get that kind of feeling since I know exactly that most of these people are like you and me and wouldn't like to get caught up in, let's say a hi-jacked plane, either. :-/

[dawn_felagund]

I believe that you can be tolerant and open-minded and still have such fears. Actually, there is very strong evidence that this is a natural human reaction. We all have biases, even if in our heart of hearts we know that they're not true. I have the same thoughts sometimes on planes or riding into DC on the Metro.

The great irony, to me, has always been how the actions of radical Moslems so often lead to the deaths of more Moslems (who are most often not even radical). Then again, I guess it goes hand-in-hand with how the actions of uninformed Americans leads to the deaths of more Americans who are not necessarily so uninformed, i.e. troops overseas. It's such a vicious cycle, and I think that having the courage to admit our fears and biases rather than letting them control us is a good step towards breaking it. :)