story7769.xml

story7769.xml

born-digital

story

yes

no

2002-09-17

When I first heard of the attacks on the World Trade Center, I was in my fourth period class, Human Geography. At first I thought that the pilot of the plane had lost control while flying to his destination. But then I soon realized the reality of it all. I could not believe it. Those things only happened in the movies, it wasn??t supposed to be true. Everyone in the class was in a state of shock and wonder. We then heard about the attack on the Pentagon and the second plane hitting the WTC. Our school principal came on the PA and accounted this news to us. His voice sounded very distressed and concerned. As the day went along, everyone was talking about the incident. Finally it was time to go home. The first thing I did was turn on the television. That??s when it really truly hit me. All the devastation and confusion shown on TV was just so overwhelming and unreal. When I heard of all those people who died in the planes, I felt so sad for those families.
During that tough period, I began to think back on my life and family. I realized how lucky I was and how family is so important to oneself. I was glued to the television for about a week. The media did an excellent job in covering all the details of the incident. Each time I turned on the TV I gained new knowledge and could see with my own eyes the destruction of the towers and bravery of all the firemen. It was so touching and sad at the same time. Although the attack left a great unforgetable hole in my of our lives, it still had some positive outcome. Everyone really bonded as an American, even other countries participated with our struggle by providing us with support. Also our patriotism rocketed sky high and the outpour of American flags was magnificant. One thing that did dissapoint me was that some people acted out their angry and fear out on the people of the Muslim/Iraq ethinicity. Those people, just like the people on the planes are innocent. However, some of our Americans didn??t think that and lashed out on them by harassing them. This did dissapoint because I thought that we were mature enough to realize reality from fear.
Now a year later after that tragic attack on our nation, people are going about their same old ways. It just shows that even though a tragedy happened people do move on. Moving on is the only way to let the past go and prove to those terrorists that they will not win and that we will never fall down. I will always remember September 11, 2000 as a day of sadness but more of an unification of our whole nation. It will be imbended in my mind for many years and I will tell my children and grandchildren of the bravery and patriotism I witnessed with my own eyes.