story2864.xml

story2864.xml

born-digital

story

yes

no

2002-09-11

It was my junior year and I was in my American Lit class doing what we usually do, when a student from the room next door knocked and told us to hurry up and turn on the TV and that the pentagon and one of the world trade towers was hit probably by terrorists. We all watched in disbelief at the screen as millions passed before our eyes. I remember feeling completley shocked and shooken up, it was surreal. For the rest of the day at school the TV was on as we all shared our views and feelings with each other. When I went home it was crazy to see my family all watching the same footage that they discovered earlier that day. My friends and I heard a rumor that gas prices were going to skyrocket and be over $5 a gallon. We ran to the gas station where we found many others waiting in the longest gas line i'd ever seen. Most of the gas was sold out and we traveled to other stations. Once I got my gas the station attendant handed me a special edition newspaper that already had images and coverage of the attacks. I found that to be incredible. I felt upset that the gas station would take advantage of the situation and spike the prices.
It was amazing to see how many people had pride in our country and how much it brought people closer. Its really depressing to think that it had to take something devistating like this to bring our nation together. I remember seeing so many flags...everywhere. If I were smart and wanted to invest in stock, it would have been in american flag companies..flags on cars, flags on houses ..flags on shits and hats...you name it. I guess you could say it was flagnominal??
My boyfriend and I were discussing how weird it would be if an actual full-out war began and they had to use the draft.
Its really sad that these attacks happened, but things like this happens all of the time over in other countries and to them, WE are the terrorists. We are no different than any other country, not that much better or powerful...we want the same thing...oil. I feel terrible for the people in NYC and their friends and families but no more so than I should feel about the millions of innocent people over seas that are killed by even my own beloved country. I will always have pride in America, but I know that we are not perfect, not even close, not even a little bit, and probably not ever.