story11743.xml

story11743.xml

born-digital

story

yes

no

2005-08-19

It was my second year as a Long Island high school social studies teacher. I had ironically finished an Enighlenment lesson in which we had analyzed a Voltaire quote which he says something to the effect of: "religion does nothing but make one stupid and evil." It was a risky thing to discuss and I was proud of my students and how they linked that quote to modern issues- ironically including terrorism. That waas between 7:30 and 8:01 am. Then the bell rang and someone informed me that a small plane had just hit the Twin Towers. Honestly, I thought it wasn't a big deal. I imagined a two- passenger plane possibly making a small dent on those Towers that have stood as long as I could remember. I then proceeded make my way down the hallway to purchase some tea when a collegue told me to go to the faculty room to see what was happening. I watched the second plane hit and I got scared. My friend put her hand over her mouth and said "my best friend's husband works there." Myself and other collegues were crying. We all had loved ones in the city. We were scared for them and for ourselves. What was going to happen next? We did not know. This was the scareiest day of my life. I will never forget the feeling of the unknown and of helplessness. I couldn't get into contact w/my family in the city. I was a mess. But I was lucky. . .