story690.xml

story690.xml

born-digital

story

yes

no

2002-05-30

I Pledge Allegiance...

I don?t think any of my friends truly understood what the words in the Pledge of Allegiance mean. That is, not until what happened on September 11, 2001. The Pledge was just something we recited every morning in homeroom unless we were excused from it for personal or religious reasons. It had no effect on our lives, and no one really thought about patriotism. Sure, we all love America, and are glad to live here, but everyone took it for granted how well off we were, how sheltered we were from the rest of the world.
On September 11, 2001, I woke up and went along with my usual routine. I showered, had breakfast, got dressed, and went to school. My friends and I talked before homeroom, listened to the morning announcements, and settled down for class. First period was perfectly normal-we took notes for a while, then talked about what we learned. When class was over, I told one of my best friends that I would see her after fifth period, and went to my second period class, Business Computer Applications. Our teacher, Mrs. Lamb, gave us a day to catch up on any work we were missing, and since me and my friends were done, we were talking to each other.
At about 9:00 a.m., Mrs. Lamb got a call from a teacher in the next classroom. We all figured that it the teacher had a question about a student, so we didn?t pay any attention to the call. When she hung up the phone, Mrs. Lamb went to the TV and turned on CNN. We knew there was something wrong when we saw the look on our teacher?s face. CNN was showing the replay of a plane hitting the first World Trade Center tower. At first, everyone thought it was a joke. This couldn?t be happening to our country. It wasn?t real. It couldn?t be. America didn?t have to deal with these kinds of attacks. Then, the anchorman came on. He began talking about the estimated fatalities, and then began to cry on live TV. I think it was at that moment, when we saw that man, who never showed any emotion when reporting tragedies, cry, that we finally realized that this was not a joke. This wasn?t happening in a country halfway around the world. It was happening in New York City, only 7 hours, 420 miles, away. Our next thoughts were what would happen if the power plant in Niagara Falls was attacked. That was only 45 minutes away! A few minutes later, the bell for our next class rang. Walking down the hall, you could see the shock in everyone?s faces, the fear of what was to come.
My next class was art. We were right in the middle of a new project, but no one was paying attention to that. We were all staring at the TV, watching the scenes of New York City, and waiting for any updates. There weren?t very many people in my fourth period study hall, maybe 12 at the most. We were all sitting together in a big group, talking and trying to comfort each other. My teacher left the room for a minute to talk to another teacher, and while he was gone, the second Tower was attacked. I remember watching and thinking that it was just another replay of the first attack. Then I noticed differences, like the camera angle, and the people moving around. This wasn?t the same attack.
Later that day, we were watching as the Pentagon was attacked. All of my teachers decided to skip class that day except my French teacher. I remember my disbelief as she told us that French was more important. How could she say that? It was her country being attacked, too! My disbelief grew to anger as I began to believe that she didn?t care. Lately, however, I have began to see her actions differently. Maybe this was her way of dealing with this tragedy. Maybe, she thought if she didn?t watch it, it wasn?t happening. I?m not exactly sure what she was thinking, but there is no doubt in my mind that she was hurting as much as everyone else. I just couldn?t see it then.
I didn?t lose anyone in these attacks, which is something I thank God for every day. Many other people did lose someone, though, and it is as though I can feel the pain just the same as they can. When I got home that day, I cried for everyone who died, everyone who lost someone, and everyone involved in these attacks. At first, I felt an unimaginable hatred for the people that committed this act. I realize now, however, that hating them would be wrong. It was their hatred for us that drove these people to give their lives and kill thousands of other innocent citizens. Some of my friends say that they have no faith in our government, and don?t believe that America is the wonderful place that it is. Sure we have problems, but there is no one place on Earth that is perfect. At least we have a place to call home in which we feel safe and protected. Even those people who say they are ?anti-American?: must have felt something the day that two of the symbols of America were destroyed. They suffered along with every other American, and they felt the despair and hopelessness that everyone else felt. Personally, I believe that America is a wonderful place to live. Even if you don?t think so, since these attacks, the words in the Pledge of Allegiance have taken on a new meaning. It is no longer something to say while you are half-asleep in the mornings. It expresses the pride we feel in our country, which is seen every time you drive down a street, and you see an American flag waving in the breeze, or every time you watch a fire truck or police car go by. When you wave to a police officer, and they salute to you. Whether or not you support America, you can feel the patriotism everywhere.

?I pledge allegiance to this flag,
And if that bothers you,
Well that?s too bad.?
Aaron Tippen
-Where the Stars and Stripes, and the Eagle Fly

I Pledge Allegiance To The Flag
Of The United States Of America
And To The Republic
For Which It Stands
One Nation Under God
Indivisible,. With Liberty And Justice For All.