nmah2486.xml

nmah2486.xml

born-digital

story

yes

no

2002-09-10

I was in my office (library acquisitions for a community college)
When I heard someone say that a plane had flown into the WTC.
My niece lives in New York City and I went to the front office
because there was a tv set there. I watched with unbelieving
horror the second plane flying into the second tower. I am a (or was)a
fan of action movies. Die Hard, Lethal Weapons, etc. It felt
like I was watching a movie. It didn't seem real. When the
towers collapsed it was as if it were part of a movie.

I kept trying to get in touch with my neice (I helped raise
her) because even though I knew she didn't work at the WTC.,
she might have been sent there on an errand.

It took over three hours before I got an e-mail message through
to her. Then I couldn't reach my sister (her mother) in
Largo, Florida, because our phones were blocked or full.

I can't forget about the people who died in the WTC., both
American and foreign. I have purposely tried to keep in my
mind that it wasn't only an American loss of lies, but people
died from many other countries also. I kept trying to see
the pictures of the people listed as missing, because I
didn't want to forget them. It is too easy to think of it
as this horrible disaster, like when you hear of the
thousands killed in earthquakes and you can't relate to it.
I didn't want to think of it like that, I wanted
to keep remembering these were people were people
with families and loved ones. I couldn't work, couldn't
concentrate. I kept thinking when the mayor said thousands of
people had been killed that he had to be mistaken. That they
got out of the building, but just hadn't been located.

My life has changed in that I know this isn't something that
happens only in other countries. I know that it isn't over and
I worry about my niece and others in heavily populated areas
because I am sure that the people who could plan this kind
of atrocity will not hesitate to do it again.

I was raised in a military family so I have always been patriotic.
However, the closeness and the humanity shown by people all
over the world as reminded me that it is very important
that we try to understand other cultures and countries. Too
long the American people have not paid attention to how others
view our actions in other parts of the world. We HAVE to
start understanding how our government is affecting others
and how we are perceived by others.

I remember visiting Europe during the Vietnam years and finding
hard to understand why non-Americans didn't see we were trying
to protect Vietnam from communism. They looked at us as bullies and
people interfering in something they should be concerned with.

I think we have a very bad image with other citizens from other
countries and it is something that we have to be concerned with.

I think we should remember the generosity, heroism and the caring that
came out of this horrible tragedy. The true American spirit came out during
this time. I also think we should remember the intolerance and
cruelty shown by a few. We perpetuate the intolerance and ignorance
shown by the people who committed this act when we attack
the innocent because of their beliefs and looks.

I would like to remember how America came together and stood
strong. I would like to remember that we didn't bow under the
threat and that we became a unit prepared to defend out country
and our way of life. I had always heard that under threat, Americans
changed from self-centered citizens to a strong unified group.
(I had been told this about World War II). I have seen it
in action during this time. Anyone who perceives us as weak
and spoiled and unable to fight back is mistaken. It isn't
the amount of military might that is important, it is the
strength of the people and we have shown that we are strong.

I had flag emblems that I put places, but my feelings about
the flag haven't changed. I have always been patriotic as
my father and brother and other relatives served in the
military. My father and uncles were career military.