story5389.xml

story5389.xml

born-digital

story

yes

no

2002-09-11

Viting had been very slow that day. We had anticipated a slow day, but not as bad at it had been. Finally around 11:00 am, someone came in to vote and said they just couldn't believe what was happening. In case you didn't know, it is illegel to have a radio or television or even newspapers or magazines inside the voting rooms. This is so they can't possibly see or hear anything that might influence their vote. Anyway, when we asked what was going on, they said that the World Trade Center had been hit by two seperate planes. That was all we knew for another two hours. Then we heard that Pittsburg had been attacked and about an hour later, we were told that there was a plane near Cleveland that was suspected of being held in control by hijackers. All of of thought that the whole United States was going to be attacked, little by little. It was one of the most terrifing days in my life. I wasn't afraid for my life as much as I was for my family and friends. It wasn't until the polls had almost closed that we heard that all planes had been ordered out of the sky and that just New York, Pennsylvanis and WashingtonD.D. had been hit. I say just because we had anticipated a much larger attack. When there wasn't anyone in the voting room, we all bowed our heads and prayed, even those of us who are not very religious.
I came home that night and turned on the television. I watched in horror as I saw the planes go into the buildings and even more horror as I watched people jumping to their deaths to get away from the fire. It was too much for me to comprehand and I had to turn it off. I was tired but knew I couldn't sleep. I called my children, all who live in other states, and my sisters. We were always in touch with one another, but it was important for me to talk to them.
I became angry over the next few days. I have always considered myself a liberal. In fact, one of the standing jokes was that when I get cut, I bleed to the left. But at first, I just wanted to close our borders at least for a while and find those who are in the country already illegaly and do with them what we must. I'm ashamed to say that I don't know if my feeling have changed that much over the past year.
I had been playing with the idea of a family reunion and 9/11 gelled it for me. Thankfuly, none of my family were harmed. We have since had two members of the family go to Afganistan to fight, but they have come home safe. I wish that were true for all of the people.
Respectfully submitted, Ginnie Errett-Porter