How do you know when you've reached a travesty in American Society? When you come upon September 11th and don't even realize it.
I can't even believe I forgot it! It doesn't even really make any sense, I saw the date yesterday and I totally realized that yesterday was Sept. 10th, but the thought did not enter my head; American tragedy, anniversary, tomorrow. I didn't notice until the powers that be at our school came over the intercom and told us that we would have a moment of silence. I was currently making copies for Mr. Stewart at the time, and he seemed busy as well so I went on with my work and did not take that moment. I even had the chance to do so again, when the Jr. High annoucement came through right after.
The rest of the day I didn't think about it at all... until I got into Government 6th period. Ms. Emily is one of my favorite teachers of all time and she has gone up in my book of awesome people that walk this planet. Today we watched the first half of a CNN documentary on 9/11.
When 9/11 actually happened I was 12, in sixth grade, and not allowed to know about the circumstance till I was done taking the Istep, (something I will never forget or forgive school system!). At the time I didn't even really grasp what was happening, because it seemed so far removed from me. I'd never been to New York, or Washington DC or even Pennsylvania. Even now I've only been to NYC for about 24 hours. My first thought was Rapture being a Christian and 12 at the time. My second thought was my cousin who lives in Yonkers. Luckily she was fine. I later found out that my uncle had been in the air that morning, but was totally okay and somewhere in Minnasota.
Having a chance to look at the video footage and the first hand accounts, now at the age of 18 where I can fully understand what happened that day, is amazing. It makes realize that people did die. I always knew, but it really had never sunk in. Watching that second plane hit the second tower, there is an automatic imprint in the side of the building after the impact. You can see the shape of the plane, and you realize there were people in there. At that instant maybe 100 people just died. You just watched people die. And as the towers themselves came down. Thousands of people died right there. The only good thing is that it was quick. Those who threw themselves out the windows of those buildings were not so lucky. They had to watch the ground come up towards them. Those of flight 93, who willing gave their lives, they had to sit and dwell on the fact of what would happen. They were so brave. I'm not sure I could do it.
Looking at those pictures and taking a step back and reminding yourself of what happened that day makes you remember why we're fighting terrorism. I don't claim to know if Iraq is where the terror really was, but I do know that Saddam was a bad man and deserved do die for what he did to innocent people. Osama Bin Laden is still out there, and I believe he is the man responsible for that horrible day 6 years ago. Have people already forgotten what it felt like to look at those images and watch fellow American's die in the blink of an eye? We are so quick to judge and make observations when we don't think about what brought us to where we are. Maybe it's just being the daughter of a History teacher that makes me remember things so well, but seriously! I don't understand why anyone would say that WE caused 9/11 or why Bush is just going on a payback attack. Maybe I'm just a small town conservative girl, but it doesn't make any sense. It's like supporting our country has gone out of style.
We need to remember every day, not just once a year. Remember the sacrifice. Remember the Heroes. Remember the day. Maybe we'll stop judging and start supporting again.
I so aggree. Actually I feel rather bad too as like you I'm almost forgot to was 9/11 too.
I had no idea what the World Trade center was that day. It wasn't until I heard the news reports on the radio that i started to understand. the regular programs were off. Everything seemed to be on the tradegdy. Watching the CNN documentary a year later even it still shockd me. I really think that it's too easy to forget. I hate it when people start complaining about the war or dicounting the sucess we've had. This is our country we have freedom here and that's more important than anything else. That's what this is about, not payback, it's protecting the freedom that these people died for. I know for one thing, I'm going to remember better. You're right that some may consider this jsut conservative talk. But I'd like them to think about what things would be like if we'd jsut appeased the terroist not reacted????