story2656.xml

story2656.xml

born-digital

story

yes

no

2002-09-11

I remember that the first time I heard about the tradgedy of September 11, I was unloading my backpack at my locker. I overhead some other students raving about how a plane ran into the World Trade Center. At first, I thought that they were joking and that the incident they were talking about was just some bogus high school gossip. When
I arrived at my first period English class, everyone was buzzing about the terrorist attacks. An announcement came on over the PA stating, "Teachers and students, please pardon this interruption. Will all teachers please turn off their televisions at this time and keep them turned off throughout the day. Thank you." Of course, no one listened to the announcement, and many teachers allowed classes to watch the news or listen to news radio. My Spanish teacher told the class that she had a friend in New York whose husband worked at the Trade Center, and my teacher had been beside herself with worry until her friend sent her an e-mail that was only one sentence long: "He didn't go to work today!" Upon realizing the reality of the situation, I instantly felt a pang of grief for all the people who at that moment were dying in the Twin Towers. I thought of their families and friends, and how so many people had lost their children, husbands, wives, and parents in those few hours. I also felt disappointed at the state of humanity, because I believe that all living things are inherently good-natured, and the malice of the attackers made me question that belief. When will we all listen to John Lennon and give peace a chance? Before September 11, I did not belive that I would live to witness world peace, but the attacks that day made me realize that it will take at least another millineum or two for world peace to become a reality.