I agree with everything above (I was actually just talking about the Tower 49 experience the other day with one of the other RA's here), for the most part. That said, I do think how much one "gets" 9/11 depends to some degree on their connections to the affected areas.
But "getting" 9/11 can go so much further than Adam pointed out. For me, I just kind of remember it as that moment when life got serious. Until that point, sure, I'd thought occasionally about the big issues, the life and death and God and Love and all that. But I distinctly remember from that point on, I never looked at life the same way. I'd agree about feeling like a New Yorker at heart, and so between that and the close-to-home attack on the Pentagon, I felt more mortal than I ever have, if that makes any sense. And now I live in Los Angeles, and believe me when I tell you that while I love big cities, it's a little terrifying to live in one now. I couldn't tell you how many nights I've spent simply unable to sleep because of how terrified I was of the idea of dying. Hopefully it shouldn't be an immediate concern, but I guess it just pointed out that it is. For everyone. It's sounds dumb, but I'd never realized that. Just like how I never cared about the world, or politics, or the general big issues of the world that much until 9/11 happened. In a twisted way, I'm grateful. Disastrous event, but in its aftermath, I feel like a much better person. Or at least, I feel like I'm closer to earning the right to be alive, and I now respect that right more than I ever have.
There's a lot to "get" about 9/11. But I would say this -- most people who don't live in or have connections to the DC area or NY don't get it the same way me and the people I know do. I might be wrong, but that's my experience, and those people will be honest about it, too. I've heard the phrase "I guess it just didn't hit me as hard" a lot out here from people from the West Coast. There's a definite disconnect. We had a "wall of rememberence" in our building (I think only 7 people wrote on it), and it was kind of trippy to realize that half the country was just waking up when it happened.
Anyway, my point is, anyone can "get it." And people can "get it" in a lot of different ways. But I do think you're more likely to "get it" if you have a personal connection, absolutely. It's just human nature.
But "getting" 9/11 can go so much further than Adam pointed out. For me, I just kind of remember it as that moment when life got serious. Until that point, sure, I'd thought occasionally about the big issues, the life and death and God and Love and all that. But I distinctly remember from that point on, I never looked at life the same way. I'd agree about feeling like a New Yorker at heart, and so between that and the close-to-home attack on the Pentagon, I felt more mortal than I ever have, if that makes any sense. And now I live in Los Angeles, and believe me when I tell you that while I love big cities, it's a little terrifying to live in one now. I couldn't tell you how many nights I've spent simply unable to sleep because of how terrified I was of the idea of dying. Hopefully it shouldn't be an immediate concern, but I guess it just pointed out that it is. For everyone. It's sounds dumb, but I'd never realized that. Just like how I never cared about the world, or politics, or the general big issues of the world that much until 9/11 happened. In a twisted way, I'm grateful. Disastrous event, but in its aftermath, I feel like a much better person. Or at least, I feel like I'm closer to earning the right to be alive, and I now respect that right more than I ever have.
There's a lot to "get" about 9/11. But I would say this -- most people who don't live in or have connections to the DC area or NY don't get it the same way me and the people I know do. I might be wrong, but that's my experience, and those people will be honest about it, too. I've heard the phrase "I guess it just didn't hit me as hard" a lot out here from people from the West Coast. There's a definite disconnect. We had a "wall of rememberence" in our building (I think only 7 people wrote on it), and it was kind of trippy to realize that half the country was just waking up when it happened.
Anyway, my point is, anyone can "get it." And people can "get it" in a lot of different ways. But I do think you're more likely to "get it" if you have a personal connection, absolutely. It's just human nature.
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