I was actually going to blog about something else, but given today’s date, I thought it appropriate to blog about 9/11.
I don’t think there is anyone above the age of 6 who does not remember specifically where they were and what they were doing when they learned of 9/11. Where were you? What were you doing?
I was a freshman in high school, Concord Carlisle Regional High School (METCO program)…14 years old. It was 2nd period and I had gym (I hated gym). Once we all got changed our gym teacher, Mr. Moss, called us into the school gym, sat us on the bleachers and told us what happened. I just started at him waiting for an “LOL”. He was a jokester and I was waiting for him to say “just kidding. Go run some laps”. Unfortunately, he didn’t. He went on to say that if we had family or knew anyone who worked in the twin towers that we wanted to try and check up on, we were excused to go and make phone calls. He also informed us that guidance counselors and teachers were at our disposal if we needed someone to talk to.
I honestly didn’t understand what was going on or what any of this meant. I thought it was sad but had no real extreme emotional reaction. It hadn’t hit yet. Then we all dispersed and went to the cafeteria where I saw countless students crying and worrying. So many TVs all over the school showing the planes crashing into the twin towers then the collapse over and over again. Then I thought to myself “well I’m thankful I don’t live in NY”. Clearly at this point I still didn’t get it. The rest of the day at school was so depressing. The mood was shot.
I got home that evening and after seeing my family’s reaction, the worry, the frantic news, the president’s address. I think it all began to hit. I think for the first time I understood what was going on in that moment and I was immediately gripped with fear and anger. I was angry because I was convinced this was all George Bush’s fault. I don’t remember why, but my logic was that Bush’s father started this bad relationship with over seas…they were already pissed and then his son comes into the presidency which pisses them off so they attacked. As a kid I never wanted Bush to win anyways…so this was my justification (hey. What did I know about government and politics then).
I remember for the next upcoming months it was like sitting and waiting for the other shoe to fall. For another attack to come. What if they were coming to Boston next? What if there was a phase 3, 4, 5, 6. every time I heard an airplane over my head I would get scared. What if they planned to crash into my school? Then the anthrax scare came along…..oh God. I didn’t even want mail in my house. Then it was declared that we were going to war. Oh Lord no! I Immediately thought of the World Wars we previously had and all the war movies that I saw on TV and thought that all of this was going to come to the U.S. So I came up with this brilliant idea to write a journal about everything that was going on because I was determined to become the next Anne Frank (smh). That was short lived as it turned out the war was being fought overseas.
I couldn’t have even imagined at that age what this would mean for America going forward. It’s interesting how I remember that day so vividly but it happened 11 years ago today. Has 11 years really passed? It kind of seems like yesterday. I learned an important lesson that day. To never take life or people for granted. Your whole world can change literally in the blink of an eye. I’m sure those people going to work in the Pentagon and the twin towers never realized this was the last day they were going to be alive, the last time seeing their families, last time walking into their work place. I’m sure those on the airplanes never thought that they wouldn’t reach their final destination. That the fire fighters, police officers etc never thought that this was the the day that active duty will take their lives.
It’s important that we continue to move forward. To not harbor any hate in our hearts over what has happened. Yes it hurts, but vengeance is the Lord’s and He will deal with whoever played a part in this if He hasn’t already has. Our ways our not God’s ways and our thoughts are not His thoughts. Only He knows why He allowed what happened to happen and we have to trust Him in this. Let’s spend this day remembering everyone who lost and sacrificed their lives on that day and those that continue to sacrifice their lives so that we can be safe and continue to enjoy the freedom this country offers us.
God bless America
-Tasha
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