story7392.xml

story7392.xml

born-digital

story

yes

no

2002-09-14

My boyfriend called me early that morning (9/11) and told me that there had been an attack on the United States. I was on my way to work, but switched on the TV. My first thoughts were that he had been wrong. It surely must have been a terrible accident instead. Then, I stood like a deer staring into the headlights of an oncoming car as I watched the twin towers fall to the ground on the screen of my television. My heart raced as I thought and worried about our business partners at the Amex offices in the area. Did our friends escape? Or were they trapped in the rubble with the brave firemen who had just climbed the steps of death. Tears streaked my cheeks. "How could this happen?" I kept repeating to myself. It was just so unbelivable, so overwhelming.

Later, the pain would come, a pain that continued to reside inside of me this past year. I discovered that 12 of our employees died in the attack. One of these individuals was a kind woman to whom I'd spoken to many times and worked with over the telephone. I'd suddenly felt a piercing in my heart and knew that I would never forget her. Over the past year, I also heard the tales and stories of many other co-workers who had narrowly escaped from death. And these were the stories that I'd heard first-hand. Many more were told by all the families who had lost their loved ones. I grieved for them all.

A year later, I don't ask how this could happen. I know how this happened. The United States, a kind nation, that admits so many diverse peoples of the world, the noble nation that offers freedom and liberty for all who enter, the nation that is richest in the world only through the hard work and contributions of her people, that nation was attacked from within. We were attacked by terrorists who never sought our gifts to enjoy, who never sought to pursue a life full of opportunities. We were attacked in contrast by those who suppressed the rights of others.

I've seen and heard so much about the beliefs of these Arab nations who condemn us and I wonder why we continue to allow these individuals to enter our country. Especially in times of terror as all nations face today, why do we continue to let these warmongers enter our country. I believe only those who believe in our way of life, those who flee from ferocious despots, those seeking freedom, including religious freedom, those who come to America to share the good life, only these should be able to enter and join the melting pot of a freedom loving peoples. The people who have joined the terrorist organizations do not believe in this freedom. Therefore, deport those who advocate this abomination and never allow anyone to come to our land who does not share our beliefs in freedom.