Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource "September 11: Bearing Witness to History" Stories Submitted Online Description An account of the resource Visitors to the Smithsonian National Museum of American History's, "Bearing Witness to History" online exhibition submitted these reflections beginning in 2002. NMAH Story NMAH Story: Story How did you witness history on September 11th? Share your experience. I was working in Manhattan about 25 blocks away but could see what was happening by looking directly down the avenue. I will never forget the sight of these terrified and desperate people who appeared to be jumping from the upper floors as they must have been literally burning up and felt that this would be a less painful way to die. My knees buckled and I began to cry. I worked in the Trade Center for 2 years, and I walked back and forth through the structure almost daily when I was employed by a Money Center Bank for almost 2 years. I will never forget what I witnessed - it is the saddest day of my life. Nothing will ever bring closure to me as this was an act of brutality that can never be justified or explained. People compare these terrorists to animals. Unfortunately that analogy is unfair, as animals kill to survive, not for distorted rationale. In times like these I fantasize about ancient justice systems where living things, and I will call them things, not humans, would be punished to fit their crime. Not executed as per 21st century rules of justice, where humans are compassionate, but as would ancient law. Not swift, but slow and torturous, making them suffer for as long as possible, and having their fasmily and friends, their country and countrymen watch through the media, and recognize that these are not men, not animals, not anything worthy or respect or civil law. These things, with no feelings, should be brutalized and tortured in the presence of the world - to send a message that they will not be martyred, not go to a better life, not be looked upon as heros, but as the lowest form of pond scum, as cowards, and as psychotic beasts who rationalize their brutality with distortions. NMAH Story: Life Changed Has your life changed because of September 11, 2001? If so, tell us how. As you can tell, I have developed tremendous pent up hostility to living things of this nature. I have also found that I am depressed whenever I am in lower Manhatten, or even see pictures or films of the Trade Center. I knew no one personally who perished in this horror, but as I have when visiting museums in Washington and Isreal, a holocaust can only bring tears to my eyes. Innocent people murdered through the justification of madmen. It is in my thoughts as often as daily. NMAH Story: Remembered What do you think should be remembered about September 11th? I think that each individual will remember this day in their own way. There is no need to try to standardize what should be remembered. Each of us was touched in a different but emotionally stressful way. It is not something that anyone in this lifetime will ever forget. NMAH Story: Flag Did you fly an American flag after the events of September 11th? Have your feelings about the American flag changed as a result of September 11th? Yes, my home has a flag displayed. I love this country, and I am proud to be an American. I think that given the opportunity, more people would opt to be an American than any other nationality. Those who speak against us would be your neigbor if they could. They are jealous of the fact that this great nation can function at such a high level, with more prosperity shared among more individuals than in any other place in the world. It is also the only country that is truly a world wide culture, of all religions, races, and a of the most diverse ethnic backgrounds, who can live together without internal war. I think that our flag is a symbol, and that this symbol represents wealth and power to many folks in the the rest of the world. In reality it represents the strength and breadth of the diversity of the people who have worked together to make this country the best place in the world to live and raise a family. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource nmah713.xml 911DA Item Elements describing a September 11 Digital Archive item. Status The process status of this item. approved Consent Whether September 11 Digital Archive has permission to possess this item. full Posting Whether the contributor gave permission to post this item. yes Copyright Whether the contributor holds copyright to this item. yes Source The source of this item. born-digital Media Type The media type of this item. story Created by Author Whether the author created this item. yes Described by Author Whether the description of this item was submitted by the author. no Date Entered The date this item was entered into the archive. 2002-09-01 IP Address The IP address of the device used to submit the item. 24.184.29.103