story2165.xml

story2165.xml

born-digital

story

yes

no

2002-09-10

It was already late into the evening on September 11, and I
was trying, unsucessfully to get to sleep. I have no idea
why I had the pit in my stomach, I usually sleep like a log.
I got up and turned on the television, on every channel I
saw flames, smoke, and people screaming.

I was physically about as far away from New York as you
could get, but as the events unfolded on the screen before
me, I couldn't have felt closer to the tragic scene if I
had been standing in front of it.

Exactly one year has gone by since the tragedy in the states
and as I prepare to attend a memorial service my heart goes
out to the victims and their families who lost so much in
the September 11 attacks.

I am a US citizen who was born in, and has lived in
Australia for the majority of my life. As I read the
stories of New Yorkers and people all over the world, my
one wish is that I could ease the suffering and hurt.
I live in one of the safest and luckiest countries in the
world. So far Australia has escaped the viscious attacks
that the US has, unforunatly, been exposed to.

Despite my love for Australia and its people, I
wish I could be in New York right now, and not a million
miles away. I want to join together with others and show
terrorists and those that spread such haterid and evil, that
we are stronger, that we will band together to give
strength and love to one another, despite the odds.

I just don't understand how people could cause so much
suffering on purpose, and my only explination is that they
are jealous. Jealous of the wonderful freedom and love
that Americans possess, jealous of the way that they do pull
together in a crisis and gather strength from one another.
And jealous of their pride and patriotism.

Personally, these are the reasons why I love Americans, and
why I am proud to say that I am a citizen of that country,
despite living here in Australia.

Again, my heart goes out to the people who have been hurt
by this tragedy, and the souls of those that were lost.
I am not a religious person, however I will pray for you
all, pray that there can be peace and calm in the hearts
and minds of all world citizens and that one day we truly
will learn to live together in harmony and tolerance.