nmah459.xml

nmah459.xml

born-digital

story

yes

no

2002-08-27

I was sitting in my math class, in Miami, playing cards when my friend received a phone call from his aunt in Trinidad. She told him what happened and he told us. We didn't take it that serious until we changed classes, and i went into Government and they had the T.V. on. I came in just in time to see the second plane hit. From then on we were glued to the television. I watched as the towers went down and as people ran for safety. I couldn't help myself, i began crying and i couldn't stop. Lunch time was silent around the school, and driving home from school was worse. The radio stations were silent, only playing news, the road had an irie silence to it. No horns, no braking, nothing. Just complete silence.

The next day we had a school wide prayer in the gym for the lives that were lost and those affected. Since i'm west indian, my features resemble those who are responsible for September 11th. As i walked into the gym, eyes started staring. People were making comments such as "why is she here, she isnt christian," "why is SHE crying, she doens't believe in God." I realized that they way people look at me was about to change. My friends whom have known me for so long, changed around me. In October, FLorida Highway Patrol pulled me over because i was "supposedly" speeding. They were to white officers. One of the officers looked at me and said "i'm going to give you a ticket for anything i can find on you." They gave me a ticket for going 96, when my car only goes to 80. He gave me a ticket for tints that he said were illegal. He made me open my eye and take out my contact to prove to him i was wearing corrective lenses. My father kept us in the house for weeks after the attack, because of all the hate crimes that were being committed. Even though we're hindu, the average person doesn't know the difference and they don't care to educated themselves, so we were at danger.

I think all the people who didn't think twice about their life being in danger, and did something to help should be remembered. Even those who were hundreds of miles away, they still donated, and collected stuffed animals for the children. The way AMERICA came together to help those in need should be remembered.

Yes i do fly an american flag, and yes my feelings have changed. I have never seen a nation pull together like i did after the events of September 11th. Even though this is not my home country, i am proud to say that i'm an american, and to show everyone that we will stand strong.