nmah2544.xml

nmah2544.xml

born-digital

story

yes

no

2002-09-10

I basically witnessed history on 9/11 as most other Americans claim they did, and that is watching on television. Half of the teachers were turning the television on in the classes so the students could see, and the other half stressed activy and/or work during that period. It was hard to get any new information once all four of the planes were down, as the stations kept playing the same videos/thoughts/etc. for what seemed to be an indefinate amount of time.

I don't think I realize yet how 9/11 has changed me, or even if it composed a change. I don't tend to evaluate myself in comparison to my attitude, behavior, or thoughts in the past, although I think it would be a safe bet to say that it has. Those who were not directly effected by 9/11 will not likely know how they were changed for some time, at least that's what I have gathered from my point of view.

I'm not sure yet what we should remember at this point and time. Of course most people (as I do) agree upon the obvious, which is the sacrifice of those that died, and the exhaustive attempts by others to save them. Also, we should remember 9/11 as the end of one chapter in American history and the beginning of another. That is to say, over the course of years American social and government change shifts the boundaries of our society, and thus September 11th is one of those events. Probably the last change on this scale was the post-Vietnam/Watergate change in public opinion on government, and government opinion on itself.

No, I didn't fly an American flag post-September 11th for the simple fact that they couldn't be found in stores for months. I would have, however, if I had came across one. My feelings about the American flag have not changed at all post-9/11. As a person who understands and studies history, my patriotism is already at a higher level than most people. That isn't to say that I am more patriotic than anyone else, as I am not, it is just a reference to the fact that people that understand the past of their nation can better appreciate the sacrifice demanded to sustain it.