lc_story204.xml

lc_story204.xml

born-digital

story

yes

no

2004-01-06

I work at the Mentor Public Library just outside of Cleveland. One of the ladies came in and said a small plane had flown
into one of the twin towers. We don't have
a TV, but do have a radio, so we listened to the NY story unfold. We also heard briefly of a plane flying over Cleveland that was clearly in distress, but that they'd lost contact with it. I drove home and brought
back a small portable TV with an old rabbit
ears antenna. We kept it on throughout the day. People lingered on their breaks to watch. The library was very subdued all day and for the following week. We kept the TV
on all the time for a couple of days, then just turned it on when we were on break, then finally after a week, I took it back home again. We now have an old TV available
if we need it.

Misinformation. Gossip and conjecture from the employees, patrons, TV commentators. I had a desperate and emotional need to know what was happening really, not just speculation. I do think the TV news anchors had the appropriate mood, but I wish they would go off the air rather than give life
to rumors. The worst moments were the people jumping. I couldn't believe my eyes and had to leave the room. My daughter and I had just flown into JFK from England a week before and driven past the towers on the way home. The sun was setting behind them and the were so beautiful, such a symbol of home after being away for 3 weeks. Welcoming.

I was and still am aghast at the ignorance that creates such hate on both sides. I watched our response, measured at first, get continually shriller. Many Americans do try to understand the Arab world, but not nearly enough. We as Americans have done a very poor job of understanding the Arab world. We don't travel enough, have a dismal knowledge of geography and culture, don't make an effort in general. Newscasts don't do much about world events (what can you do in 22 minutes). Just because we don't care about world events doesn't mean we shouldn't be exposed - in fact it means we should be exposed MORE. Our present administration seems to be more interested in telling than listening. It's our reponsibility as the most dominant nation on earth to lead rather than boss. If the world appears to hate us, we should be asking WHY?