Johnny, aged 10 1/2, is thinking more about September 11, 2001, as the anniversary date approaches.
How can you say that? How can I forget about September 11, 2001?
I could have lost my older brother, Erich, in the terror attacks (he saw the whole thing happen; he lives in New York City, not far from where the attacks took place), and for several days, I didn't know if he was dead or alive! Thank GOD he survived; but he isn't the same..we ALL aren't. That day changed life as we knew it, and because of it, many people lost loved ones in a way that didn't have to happen, but it DID.
I will NEVER forget the images I saw on tv later that night, and I will never forget the helpless feeling I felt in not knowing if my brother was alive or DEAD; and I will never forget the looks on everyone's faces at school. Everyone was so upset, and a lot of kids (and grownups) were crying. When mommy came to get me at school later that morning (we got out early, and we didn't go back for a week), she was crying, and when we got home, daddy was crying, too, and so was Barbara and a lot of my brothers and sisters. We couldn't believe the news, and we couldn't believe that some people could be so full of hate and jealousy towards us here in America.
How COULD I forget the sight of the Twin Towers burning, and then falling an hour later; and seeing people's bodies falling from the burning building? I mean, what choice did THEY have?? How could I forget the tears in the eyes of the President as he spoke to us, trying hard not to cry as he spoke about what happened, and then the Congress and House guys holding hands and singing religious songs and praying; or the sight of people crying as they tried to come to terms over what had happened earlier that day?
How COULD I forget the sight of those people over in Iraq (or somewhere that way) laughing and dancing in the streets as they burned American flags; and the sick feeling inside my belly as I saw this on television? Don't they know what they did was WRONG, and don't they know that there is nothing "religious" about taking people's lives in such a horrible way?
How could I forget the helplessness on both mommy's and our friend M'buti's face when we found out that Stephanie Green, a friend of theirs, had died in the attacks? How could I forget the voice of the pastor at church as he spoke of the attacks, and the sounds of the church goers wailing and praying that night, as the screen behind the pulpit was filled with the images of the terror attacks? How could I forget the sight of my sister, Ronee', struggling to sing "God Bless America Again" as tears poured down her face?
People tell me to get over it, but the truth of the matter is, I CAN'T. I lost a friend in the attacks, and I could have lost my brother, Erich. I can't look at the New York City skyline now without crying because I am only reminded of the Twin Towers, and it makes me physically sick inside. I think of those terrorists and how proud they must be for making our lives a living hell, and I think of just how evil and full of hate they are; and then I feel sorry for them because they don't know how to love or how to BE loved.
So DON'T tell me to get "over it" because I CAN'T. Many innocent people died at the hands of hate-filled terrorists who find nothing better than to kill innocent people in "the name of religion", and now our country lives in fear and uncertainty. Airports and other public places are crawling with cops or guards, and we can't go anywhere now without being checked for weapons or bombs. People are more wary of each other, and people no longer can be trusted. And too many people's lives were forever changed because their loved ones are no longer coming back; and I am sorry, but I CAN'T "get over it", and I can't ever forget about September 11, 2001!
How can you say that? How can I forget about September 11, 2001?
