1,825 Days Later
I suppose I should take a moment and reflect on the events that occurred on that incredible day 5 years ago...
On the morning of Tuesday, September 11th of 2001, I turned got up unusually early for no apparent reason. I went downstairs and turned on the television, even though I don't watch tv in the morning. Ever. As I stood groggy-eyed only a few mere inches from my 32" tv, I could make out the an image that would burn itself into my memory for the rest of my life... a clear blue sky and a tower... a tower on fire.
The newsreporter was speaking to us as the images were being shown. "A plane has hit the World Trade Center, we don't know as of this time whether or not this has been an accident." About 30 seconds later, another plane hit the other tower. I sat down... I couldn't think... I couldn't speak... all I could do... was watch.
And I watched all day. I watched the coverage of the Pentagon attack. I watched the Twins Tower fall. I watched the announcement that all aircraft over the United States had been grounded... and I turned white at hearing that only one was left unaccounted for. I knew. I knew what was coming next. What I didn't know was 100-and-some-odd souls would plummet to their deaths in the middle of a field in Shanksville, PA. 100+ ordinary citizens died alongside 4 cowardly piss-poor excuses for human beings into a town no one had heard of until that day.
Many died that day. Countless others were injured. All were scared senseless. An invisible enemy attacking us from all sides. Yet we were visible. Vulnerable. They had years, decades of preparation. We had minutes to react. In some cases only seconds. Still, members of the New York City Fire and Police Departments unselfishly marched into the burning buildings, knowing deep inside that there was a better chance of them not making back out than any other outcome. They wished eachother good luck. They embraced eachother knowing that their duty may become their fate. They were brave. They were heroes.
On Tuesday, September 11th of 2001, I was attacked. Not as an American, but as a human being. This is unimaginable, chaotic, senseless destruction. I cannot defend the past courses of action taken by my government, but for whatever reason, these terrorists, these so-called "freedom fighters" felt that they needed to send a message. A message of hate. The world is different now. Difficult. It never ends. The fear. Yet I march on with every day of my life not knowing what awaits me. It is all I can do.
Or is it? What can I do? What can we as a race, not in the sense of black or white or asian or olive, but as a race of the human species do? The threat of annhilation that looms over us will not make us stronger. It will not make us grow or expand in our endeavors. It will not make us reach out to others. Yet we do anyway. We stand together as a nation and still express our desire to make the world a better place. It is all that we have.
Yeah, the world has its undesirable members. Societies and cultures have their undesirable facets. But all must be embraced because we are here. We are here in the long run and need to work together to build a world in which we can all live.
I am worried not for myself and my life, but for the lives of future generations. I'm at the age in which I'm ready to have children, but what kind of world am I bringing them into? Is the possibility of nuclear winter swallowing up our planet, our world, powerful enough to coerce me to reconsider my decision? Is that fair to me or my family?
When I think about why this is happening, it doesn't make sense. People are too caught up in symbolism. I believe religion has it's place in human society, but is it worth going to war for? Israel, Iraq and the rest of the Middle East are fighting over dirt! Dirt! Yes, it's land and thus has it's potential for prosperity, but at this rate, it's not worth it. A fair division based on population, a pull-out of American and U.N. troops from the "Holy Land" and a close watch over developing nuclear programs in Iran and North Korea is what needs to be done. No more of this "he started it" bullshit. I want to live to see tomorrow!
And that's what life has come down to. I look out my window every morning and am grateful that the world still exists. When I go into Boston as I occassionally do, should I HAVE to watch the sky for low-flying possibly-hijacked airlines? Why do I get teary-eyed at just the sight of the Prudential Center Tower or the Hancock Tower? Just because they are still there?
I don't have the answers. I may not have ANY answers. Who knows what is right and what is wrong. All I see is fighting and death. Where is the talking? Where is the diplomacy? No more "right and wrong," just an end to the violence. Keep that in mind during the next election, it's the only voice we have.
And of course, don't ever forget the brave men and women and children who were face-to-face with evil that Tuesday morning. Some are still with us, but too many are gone. All because of a fight they didn't start. It's senseless and it makes me feel sick.
On the morning of Tuesday, September 11th of 2001, I turned got up unusually early for no apparent reason. I went downstairs and turned on the television, even though I don't watch tv in the morning. Ever. As I stood groggy-eyed only a few mere inches from my 32" tv, I could make out the an image that would burn itself into my memory for the rest of my life... a clear blue sky and a tower... a tower on fire.
The newsreporter was speaking to us as the images were being shown. "A plane has hit the World Trade Center, we don't know as of this time whether or not this has been an accident." About 30 seconds later, another plane hit the other tower. I sat down... I couldn't think... I couldn't speak... all I could do... was watch.
And I watched all day. I watched the coverage of the Pentagon attack. I watched the Twins Tower fall. I watched the announcement that all aircraft over the United States had been grounded... and I turned white at hearing that only one was left unaccounted for. I knew. I knew what was coming next. What I didn't know was 100-and-some-odd souls would plummet to their deaths in the middle of a field in Shanksville, PA. 100+ ordinary citizens died alongside 4 cowardly piss-poor excuses for human beings into a town no one had heard of until that day.
Many died that day. Countless others were injured. All were scared senseless. An invisible enemy attacking us from all sides. Yet we were visible. Vulnerable. They had years, decades of preparation. We had minutes to react. In some cases only seconds. Still, members of the New York City Fire and Police Departments unselfishly marched into the burning buildings, knowing deep inside that there was a better chance of them not making back out than any other outcome. They wished eachother good luck. They embraced eachother knowing that their duty may become their fate. They were brave. They were heroes.
On Tuesday, September 11th of 2001, I was attacked. Not as an American, but as a human being. This is unimaginable, chaotic, senseless destruction. I cannot defend the past courses of action taken by my government, but for whatever reason, these terrorists, these so-called "freedom fighters" felt that they needed to send a message. A message of hate. The world is different now. Difficult. It never ends. The fear. Yet I march on with every day of my life not knowing what awaits me. It is all I can do.
Or is it? What can I do? What can we as a race, not in the sense of black or white or asian or olive, but as a race of the human species do? The threat of annhilation that looms over us will not make us stronger. It will not make us grow or expand in our endeavors. It will not make us reach out to others. Yet we do anyway. We stand together as a nation and still express our desire to make the world a better place. It is all that we have.
Yeah, the world has its undesirable members. Societies and cultures have their undesirable facets. But all must be embraced because we are here. We are here in the long run and need to work together to build a world in which we can all live.
I am worried not for myself and my life, but for the lives of future generations. I'm at the age in which I'm ready to have children, but what kind of world am I bringing them into? Is the possibility of nuclear winter swallowing up our planet, our world, powerful enough to coerce me to reconsider my decision? Is that fair to me or my family?
When I think about why this is happening, it doesn't make sense. People are too caught up in symbolism. I believe religion has it's place in human society, but is it worth going to war for? Israel, Iraq and the rest of the Middle East are fighting over dirt! Dirt! Yes, it's land and thus has it's potential for prosperity, but at this rate, it's not worth it. A fair division based on population, a pull-out of American and U.N. troops from the "Holy Land" and a close watch over developing nuclear programs in Iran and North Korea is what needs to be done. No more of this "he started it" bullshit. I want to live to see tomorrow!
And that's what life has come down to. I look out my window every morning and am grateful that the world still exists. When I go into Boston as I occassionally do, should I HAVE to watch the sky for low-flying possibly-hijacked airlines? Why do I get teary-eyed at just the sight of the Prudential Center Tower or the Hancock Tower? Just because they are still there?
I don't have the answers. I may not have ANY answers. Who knows what is right and what is wrong. All I see is fighting and death. Where is the talking? Where is the diplomacy? No more "right and wrong," just an end to the violence. Keep that in mind during the next election, it's the only voice we have.
And of course, don't ever forget the brave men and women and children who were face-to-face with evil that Tuesday morning. Some are still with us, but too many are gone. All because of a fight they didn't start. It's senseless and it makes me feel sick.