nmah2795.xml
Title
nmah2795.xml
Source
born-digital
Media Type
story
Date Entered
2002-09-10
NMAH Story: Story
This is an email I sent to European coworkers on September 12, trying to share some of my thoughts and feelings in those dark days:
Dear friends in Europe and the UK,
Thank you for the expressions of support and concern that several of you have sent. Here is a day in the life of the US, September 12:
We wake up hoping that yesterday was only a nightmare. We watch TV, but not as much as yesterday. People everywhere wear long, serious faces. The stores are quiet--we can hardly talk about the usual topics. The disasters are discussed wherever we gather. Airports are closed, and some family and friends are stranded. Churches hold prayer services each evening. Tears flow at all hours of the day and night. Friends and family call one another to ask, "Are you all right? Was anyone in your family flying? Do you know anyone in Manhattan? Have they found any more survivors?"
Our hearts are broken.
Most of us in the US don't think of ourselves as better or more special than others--we know we are blessed far beyond what we deserve. Most Americans, I'm sure, didn't believe we were invincible. Only God is invincible. When we are wounded, we bleed--like any nation, large or small.
We are a young nation that happens to be very big: like a child, we rush impulsively into situations where we think we can help others and ourselves. We alienate nations and individuals through our mistakes--but also through our good acts. We are made up of nearly every race and ethnicity on the planet--yet somehow we are seen as the Ugly Americans. Who is an American, anyway? We are Arab, Jewish, black, white, Asian, European, indigenous. In my small town we are East Indian, Hmong, Maidu Indian, African-American, Caucasian, Mexican . . .
Today, the US flag flew in countless places in our homeland: on cars, on houses and businesses, on bridges. One woman stood and held a flag on a hill near the Pentagon for an hour.
There is angry talk of vengeance and terror in return, but there is also talk of justice and healing. We line up to give blood. We send checks to the Red Cross. We hug each other often and say, "I love you" in case there is not another opportunity to do so.
Dear friends in Europe and the UK,
Thank you for the expressions of support and concern that several of you have sent. Here is a day in the life of the US, September 12:
We wake up hoping that yesterday was only a nightmare. We watch TV, but not as much as yesterday. People everywhere wear long, serious faces. The stores are quiet--we can hardly talk about the usual topics. The disasters are discussed wherever we gather. Airports are closed, and some family and friends are stranded. Churches hold prayer services each evening. Tears flow at all hours of the day and night. Friends and family call one another to ask, "Are you all right? Was anyone in your family flying? Do you know anyone in Manhattan? Have they found any more survivors?"
Our hearts are broken.
Most of us in the US don't think of ourselves as better or more special than others--we know we are blessed far beyond what we deserve. Most Americans, I'm sure, didn't believe we were invincible. Only God is invincible. When we are wounded, we bleed--like any nation, large or small.
We are a young nation that happens to be very big: like a child, we rush impulsively into situations where we think we can help others and ourselves. We alienate nations and individuals through our mistakes--but also through our good acts. We are made up of nearly every race and ethnicity on the planet--yet somehow we are seen as the Ugly Americans. Who is an American, anyway? We are Arab, Jewish, black, white, Asian, European, indigenous. In my small town we are East Indian, Hmong, Maidu Indian, African-American, Caucasian, Mexican . . .
Today, the US flag flew in countless places in our homeland: on cars, on houses and businesses, on bridges. One woman stood and held a flag on a hill near the Pentagon for an hour.
There is angry talk of vengeance and terror in return, but there is also talk of justice and healing. We line up to give blood. We send checks to the Red Cross. We hug each other often and say, "I love you" in case there is not another opportunity to do so.
NMAH Story: Life Changed
I have applied to work in public service, representing the United States.
NMAH Story: Remembered
Many, many people were heroes on September 11, 2001. We should honor the acts of goodness that followed that act. Vengeance belongs to the Lord.
NMAH Story: Flag
Citation
“nmah2795.xml,” September 11 Digital Archive, accessed November 22, 2024, https://911digitalarchive.org/items/show/42157.