story2167.xml

story2167.xml

born-digital

story

yes

no

2002-09-11

September 11. Those words can cut through any conversation. That day easily was the most important historical day in my lifetime, and definitely the most devastating. Never before had these tactics been used against us, the unsuspecting United States of America. As we all had gotten up and began our mornings, we never knew that before lunchtime the beginning of a new era in our country's global role would unfold.
I remember hearing the news: I was in Calculus class, hating every minute of it. I heard our principle come over the loudspeaker and was so grateful for an interruption. He announced that a plane had crashed into the World Trade Center, and I thought of how ridiculous the pilot of a small, personal plane must feel, for some reason not even thinking that a crash into the World Trade Center would kill anyone. Then I remember hearing him say that it was not an accident but a terrorist attack, and my mind started going in all different directions. I immediately thought of my sister, how she had flown out of New York to England the night before, and how it must have been an Arab, and how we're going to nuke them now, and how Bush is going to snap. The last thing I thought of was that the tower's had collapsed and that people were killed. For some reason, I was so intense on thinking, I pictured a clean hole in the building, and people sitting in the plane, hanging out of the building. All of these thoughts must have occurred in less than half a second. The realization then came to me that those planes were massive and crashing into a building would cause mass destruction, and there would be no survivors. I remember opening my eyes so wide and blinking, ashamed that I had been so naive, scared for everyone involved, but mostly shocked that anyone would do this to our country. The rest of the day vicious rumors went around school that there were eleven more planes still circling in the sky, and how Boston must be a target because they were going to go to all the cities on the Eastern Sea Board, and how they had bombed West Point. There was an absolute frenzy of stories, and I believed every word of it because I believed that anything was possible if the World Trade Centers was attacked in the first place. I remember before we went home, I made sure to say goodbye to all the seniors I knew, since I figured alot of them were 18 and they might get drafted, since everyone just assumed we would be going to war very soon.
9-11 has effected me personally, but not as personally as the thousands whose family members were victims of the infamous day. I've realized that there is no doubt in my mind I would go to war for my country, because I never again want to hear my mom crying about an attack that leaves innocent dead. As cliche as it is now, I appreciate the gift of life more as well as our freedoms. I've also realized how powerful pride is, with all our flags flying, and people trying to get together for the common good, and appreciating our society. Bush definitely gained my respect, and I fully trust him at the helm of my country. His speeches and presence provided the comfort and compassion that America needed. September 11 has made a dramatic impact on our country, but will definitely be a day that effects us for generations.