A young man in his mid 20's writes of September 11, 2001, and how it has affected him emotionally and physically.
What can be said about September 11, 2001? I don't think there are enough words to describe the horror, fear, uncertainty, or shock we all felt as Americans when our great Nation was attacked by cowardly foreign terrorists who had nothing but hatred and death on their evil minds.
I don't think we will ever forget the frightening images that played out on our television screens that awful day, first, not knowing what was going on, why it was happening, and then realizing that we were under attack, and all because some people hated us enough to try to bring us down to our knees. I don't think I will ever forget the stricken look of horror and shock on the young face of my wife, M'buti, as I came home from work, or having her come to my arms, and then sob like a child as she held me tight. I don't think I will ever forget Louie Sandusky, my boss, crying, as she told me what had happened, as she had seen the events take place, as they were happening, on live tv while she was on her break at work. I don't think I will ever forget the faces of those around me; each face held a look of shock, fear, disbelief, horror, or uncertainty; there was not one smile to be seen that tragic day.
I don't think I will ever forget the horrific images of the one World Trade Center Tower burning, then, as if on cue, the other plane slamming into the other Tower in an orange fireball as it exploded upon contact; and then, the Towers falling about an hour later, killing most of those inside; and trapping those who were valiantly trying to rescue those injured or trapped already by the fires that were burning out of control. Over 1,500 people were killed that day, it turned out: men, women, even inoccent little children; people who were only doing their job or people who just happened to be at the wrong place at the wrong time. Included in the list of victims was a friend of ours, Stephanie Green, who was killed by the first plane slamming into the Tower. She was killed instantly, although it took some time to find that out. (At first, we thought she had died when the building fell, but it turned out that Stephanie died when the plane first hit the building. It hit just a few floors below her.) So we knew someone who had died in the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, and that made it especially hard for us. How could people so full of hate and jealousy kill innocent people was far beyond my comprehension, and I still don't understand the reasonings behind their beliefs of perpetrating the terror attacks to this day. Because of their actions, and their cowardice, one of our dearest friends is now dead, and nothing will ever bring her back to life! She is gone forever, and I still can't believe she died in such a horrific, henious, evil way!
And because of September 11, 2001, people are scared or fearful, and too many have nightmares; and they can't cope with the threat of terrorism. People have had to make major adjustments in their travel plans, and travel is much more strict and secure now than before the events of September 11, and too many people have been forsaken their travel plans, for fear that THEY will become targets of terrorist attacks themselves.
Also, young children have witnessed the horror of September 11, 2001, and they don't understand why their parents are so sad or scared; or those who lost loved ones in the terrorist attacks don't understand "why mommy or daddy, who worked at the World Trade Center Towers, or Uncle Mortie, who was a fireman, aren't coming home" or "why Aunt Polly was burned on the face like she was". They don't understand why people hate, and they don't understand why buildings had to burn or planes had to crash in the way they did. They don't understand why the President of the United States cried that day, or why he seemed so sad when he talked to the American people that day, and for days afterward. I know Jubaki wasn't really affected by the terror attacks (he was just over a year old back then; he was too young to understand or know of the events), but Louie's kids were; to this day, Johnny, her son, still has nightmares of his brother, Erick, dying in the attacks (he didn't; he survived, thank God!), and Ronee', her daughter, cries whenever she thinks of what happened that day, and why she still can't bring herself to watch the news to this day, for fear "another September 11, 2001 will happen again". And Barbara still writes in her journal about "those terroristic bastards" and how she loathes them so; and how she has trouble trusting those people who live over in that part of the world or are of the Muslim faith, even though she has Muslim friends.
So September 11, 2001, has affected each and every one in a profound way, and I don't think we will ever be the same as a result. This is a scary world we live in now, and it is uncertain as to what will happen next. But we must go on and try to make semblence over what happened, and pray that nothing of this magnitude EVER happens again!
(((karen))) i don't think anyone will ever forget the horrors of september 11...it touched us in a way that can never be forgotten...it stole our innocence...maybe we were stupid, pretending that nothing could ever happen on our shores...how wrong we were...we can only pray it never happens again...powerful, emotional write...you're right, what can be said?...thank you for sharing this...(((HUGS))) and love, karla. :(
