I sit here at the computer today, trying to think of how to start my homework assignment. This assignment is for English class, and we have to write about September 11 and the terrorist attacks that happened here in America last year.
We can write poetry, essays, or do a report--or even a short story. The choices are many, and we have the choice to decide what medium we are going to use. (I am going for the essay.)
"TEARS FOR AMERICA--9-11 MEMORIES"
Before the terrorist attacks that took place last year, 9-11 used to mean the emergency number that people call in the event of a crime, a fire, or some sort of medical emergency. Now, thanks to the terrorists, 9-11 means something altogether different, and we aren't feeling so safe or secure as we were prior to the attacks on our country.
I remember that day like it was only yesterday. I was waiting for the school bus that morning, and daddy had the news on; when a breaking news story ensued. The news reported that a plane had accidentally crashed into the side of one of the World Trade Centers and now it was afire. I didn't think too much about it (planes fly around there all the time; it was bound to happen someday)--but then came the second plane. It ran into the other tower; it didn't even try to swerve to avoid hitting it (HOW in the world could you miss such a MASSIVE BUILDING 110 stories high???); it DELIBERATELY ran into the side of the building; and now, both were on fire.
It was a terrorist attack, pure and simple; there was no denying that!!
And, as a direct result, thousands were killed; they were saying at least 25,000 were presumed dead--or higher; the numbers were incredible. It was clearly the worst disaster our country had ever faced since the attack of Pearl Harbor during World War II--and those weren't even terrorists. (They might as well had been...)
I remember feeling sick and scared; I also remember feeling nauseous. (It ended up that I didn't go to school that day; I was feeling rather poorly; but my other brothers and sisters did--they went to school. Like me, they were silent, and they didn't say very much. They just looked at one another, shock and disbelief written on their young faces.)
I also remember daddy calling us and saying that the Towers had fallen. I couldn't believe my ears; but when I turned on the television set, there were the towers falling into a cloud of debris and smoke; the blue sky turned black, and it reminded me somewhat of a volcanic eruption. It was all so surreal, and it was spooky!!
Yet that wasn't the end of it. More terroristic acts would follow. It ended up that the Pentagon was struck (more people killed there), and another plane had gone down into a field in Pennsylvania; the intended target was either the White House or the Capitol in Washington, D.C. But a heroic fellow by the name of Todd Beamer had purposely run the plane into the ground; sure, they were killed, along with the hijackers on board; but many more lives had been saved. It could have been a whole lot worse than it already was--and it was already plenty bad then.
Now it is nearly a year later to the day, and too many people are left feeling scared and uncertain over what tomorrow may bring; and there's talk of more terrorist threats; and people are again feeling old wounds reopen. But we also have to hang on to hope, and the realization that the terrorists failed the first time; for..AMERICA IS STILL STANDING! She may be bruised and bleeding, but..she has NOT FALLEN, and we have become united as one to try to get rid of this evil known as terrorism.
And we are MORE DETERMINED THAN EVER TO RID THIS WORLD OF THIS EVIL!!!! TERRORISM WILL NOT PREVAIL!!!!!
"GOD BLESS AMERICA" and "LET US NOT FORGET"!!!!!!!!!
