9/11 Anniversary: What We Can Do to Move Forward
Although the day is almost through, and each and every one of you is already likely beyond saturated with 9/11 coverage, I felt that I wanted to add my perspective to the deluge. Ten years have gone by since our world changed immensely, and it just feels right to put something here.
That day, I was 15; a sophomore in high school in New Hampshire. When the attacks happened I was in my B period class (which was either Spanish or Biology; I can remember my schedule that day exactly except that those classes were interchangeable), yet I didn’t find out about it until later in the day. I happily went about my day through choir, gym and lunch until I was heading down the hall to my F period Advanced English class, when my friend Aslynn stopped me in the hallway. She had seen the news and cornered me before I entered the classroom. She spewed something at me about airplanes, attacking, New York, DC and buildings, and they don’t know what’s going on, and everyone is freaking out and she has to go. I walked dazed into my classroom and asked what was going on. We proceeded to watch the news for the rest of class, and I watched the second tower fall over and over again. I couldn’t believe how a vast tower made of steel and glass could fall as if a sandcastle to the sea. I couldn’t understand it. My next class was history, and although the administration had apparently asked our teachers not to show us the news or really talk about what was happening (nice, right?), my history teacher answered our questions. We were all upper middle class kids from a small town in New Hampshire, and most of us had never heard of Osama bin Laden before. Not one of us could fathom why anyone would want to commit such terror against the United States. We were the best and most powerful nation in the world; why do this to us? We were released early that day.
9/11 was very eye-opening to me. I was very naive about the world and understanding our place in it. I didn’t have the knowledge of history and politics that I do now, and couldn’t understand the nature of religious and political extremism. Perhaps 9/11 is what pushed me forward into wanting to learn more about the world around me. It brought my country off the giant pedestal I had always held it on, and made me re-examine our policies a bit more closely. I think this was a shared experience for many other Americans.
What I remember most about the weeks after 9/11 was the feeling of community and togetherness that brought our nation together. We were bonded by tragedy and filled with the hope that we could heal, rebuild and show the world that we were strong and united; that no form of hate could tear us down. I miss that feeling. That closeness.
Soon after, we launched into an invasion in Afghanistan. Someone had to pay for their transgressions. I must admit that I was not totally against this war. I wasn’t absolutely for it, but if we could get the terrorists that hurt our country, then so be it. But hindsight is 20/20.
And then came Iraq, and our country started to split in two. Iraq was not about 9/11. It never was. But we had pledged to fight evildoers, and so we went.
Now it is ten years later. The wounds from 9/11 have healed in various degrees. Ours wars in Afghanistan and Iraq are still being fought, although are increasingly overbloated, unpopular and seemingly unsuccessful. My generation has forever changed thanks to a quickly evolving political, social and cultural landscape.
I spent the past few weeks welling up with tears over stories and coverage of the upcoming anniversary. I thought that I would have been prepared for the occasion, but as the date grew nearer, it was apparent that I wasn’t. After hearing survivors’ stories about the dead and tapes of the pilots on the hijacked planes, I have been more or less avoiding coverage whenever possible. Today, I watched a part of the ceremony at Ground Zero while at the gym, and tried to avoid crying on the arc trainer. My wounds from the attacks have healed, but the anniversary has been an emotional experience for me.
I went to church this morning for our “Homecoming Sunday,” or the first service back from summer. I was a ball of emotions today as I mourned for those who died ten years ago, prayed for their families and loved ones and rejoiced in the community of my parish. We were reminded to be grateful for our lives, and to live in the house of love instead of fear. I was comforted and uplifted by the words read, said and sung and felt ready to take on the day and move forward in the world.
Here is what I believe we can do: work together to use our soft power influence in the world-words and diplomacy instead of weapons. Remember that revenge is not justice. Give back to others and act selflessly when you can. Never forget 9/11. Never forget those who died in the attacks or who died trying to save others. Never forget how it impacted your life. Never forget how it changed America. Work to create that feeling of resilience, unity and community that we once held. We can hold it once again.
Falling Feet First 