story6068.xml

story6068.xml

born-digital

story

yes

no

2002-09-12

Iwas in my car on my way to work when I heard the news. i couldn't believe it. I remember thinking, "this is what happens when a war is started in your own country." I thought about all the wars that i had studied about in school--about the destruction and deaths, the reasons behind the wars--usually greed or intolerance of different political or religious beliefs. I wondered if that would happen here in our country. I felt so sorry for the people who were actually there in NY and wondered how they were going to be able to live there with this kind of memory and threat. Then the anthrax attacks began and another whole new perspective on war opened up. no longer was it just the government, millitary, and major cities that were at risk, but all of us throughout the world were being exposed to these random senseless acts of violence. I wondered, "what could these people who did this possibly hope to accomplish with these acts. Who in their right mind would sympathize or identify or support them, and why?" I still don't have any answers to these question, but I have made an effort to be more understanding of others who may be different, and also to not react as quickly to acts, or words that I don't agree with. I don't think that we should be doormats for anyone, and I believe that all who were responsible should be held accountable for their actions, yet we also have a responsibility to teach and set examples that will make a real difference in creating a peaceful world that we all can live in together.