On 9/11
September 11, 2002
By Democratic Underground Readers

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It's been quite a while since we've seen the anguish and pain that was suffered on 9/11 - the tragedy that was. Grief, loss, and sadness may still be in our hearts, but we continue to be resilient and ever hopeful that someday this world could live in peace.

As a 14-year-old Filipino whose life was changed by an enormous catastrophe, I remembered where I was that fateful day. Studying for an exam that night (time here in the country was +12 hours from East Coast time), I was at my desk fiddling with my pen when my father called me to watch TV, that something has happened. I then viewed the screen with horror, as one of the two World Trade Center towers were up in flames. I sat there aghast, not believing what I had just seen. Minutes later, a plane swiftly crashed through the South Tower, creating a massive hole. No, this can't be happening, I thought, as tears streamed down my cheeks. Then a report came that the Pentagon was hit by a hijacked passenger airline. Is this the end of the world? Is this the start of the Third World War? Not to be consoled, the second WTC tower collapsed like Lego blocks, forcing every piece down to the ground. And one side of the Pentagon fell apart. And a hijacked passenger airline rammed through a field in Pennsylvania. And lastly, the incident that started it all, the North Tower of the WTC just came crashing down in a pile of rubble and bodies. It was a terrorist attack.

What was a bright Tuesday morning in America became a dark day at the start of a new century. The Manhattan skyline was clouded with smoke, ash, and soot. The World Trade Towers, once the symbol of strength and economic power, was now just a clutter of debris. The structure which took years to be constructed only took a few minutes to break down. Even the control center of the world's most powerful military was unimaginably attacked. The United States was again vulnerable to such cataclysm. But the only thing that kept rambling through my head was the innocent souls of every race and creed that were taken inconsiderately by the vicious terrorists. They woke up thinking it's another day of work, but they didn't think this day was to be their last. The people in the airplanes never reached their destination. A lot of them didn't have the chance to say their final goodbyes. Lives were lost, and dreams were shattered.

As days went by, I have heard a lot of stories from people who lost loved ones in the attacks. I was ultimately moved by those victims in the towers, making every effort to tell their relatives that they are all right, saying how much they love them in the midst of panic and danger. It was just too touching. Even if I didn't know these people, I shared their loss. Their sacrifice and courage were truly unforgettable. In an instant, these mere mortals became larger-than-life heroes, whether they were government officials, firefighters, policemen, or civilians. There was an overwhelming sense of unity everywhere, as shown by the clips and scenes literally cascading from the television. It made me think that even in the face of adversity, there is this bond that consolidates people into one mutual connection. That even in trying times there is always someone to lend a hand.

And after sorrow comes action. George W. Bush along with his war cabinet took full responsibility of the case at hand, and made the strategic decision to bomb Afghanistan, the haven of the terrorists. In my opinion, it was a terrific job. It was success early on. Bush, whom I never thought could be an effective president, took my admiration on his handling of the crisis. But even after the Taliban was driven away and UBL's lieutenants have been captured, there is no certain time as to when this War On Terror will end. When I reached my 14th birthday last year, I made a simple but hard wish: world peace.

Before the start of my adolescence I was already interested in current events, but after this occurrence, I realized just how much of an advantage this particular passion was. Keeping close watch on the latest-breaking news, I became the source of information to my friends and family. 9/11 was the subject of my school theme papers, which led me to discover my creativity with the written word. Now, I am a Features Columnist of my school's official publication, and my articles dealt with a lot of you-know-what.

Sometimes, it takes a big incident to bring forth the best quality in a person, and in my case it was writing. I poured a lot of my thoughts and opinion in my compositions. It became my soothing ground. I never really pursued it when I was younger, but after receiving encouragement and compliments from my colleagues, I�m confident to say I'm good at it now. The thought of becoming a journalist one day have crossed my mind several times already, but there's still a long time to make my mind up about the future.

One year effected greater awareness in me. One year made me think about living my life in a brighter perspective. I pray more often, more than ever. I am still anxious up to this day, fearing the threat of another dreadful strike. But I shouldn't let this fear reign in my heart. We all shouldn't. We are brave enough to come past such an atrocity, and we are standing guard. As nations and as peoples, we have undoubtedly created a link so strong, so insurmountable that the terrorists will not have the tenacity to break it.

I remember that in the weeks after the attacks there came an old phrase, "we shall overcome." It was the perfect adage to hold onto those gloomy days. In the most depressing moments there is still a glimmer of hope that tomorrow will be a better morning. No matter how hard the difficulties were, we can always face the challenges - and as always, we can be able to come off as more improved individuals.

While the impending danger on matters about Iraq still lingering, and the continuing terror alerts looming along the way, we can only wish that this first anniversary will be a safer one.

We are lovers of democracy. We are defenders of freedom.

And yes, we can overcome whatever it is that comes our way.

— Stephie87

I first learned about the 9/11 attacks on DU when I logged into the Latest Breaking News section right after breakfast. Like everyone else, I spent the first day in shock. I had lived in the greater New York area, and the World Trade Center had always been a landmark to watch for as I flew into and out of LaGuardia Airport on my trips back to Minnesota. My church organized a memorial service that day, and I wept for the dead and wondered fearfully what was going on.

Within a few days, my sorrow and fear gave way to suspicion and anger. As a longtime mystery fan, I kept seeing things that didn't add up: Bush's remarkably indifferent reaction, the finding of a supposed hijacker's passport at a site where nearly everything else had been crushed and burned into dust, the speed with which the Busheviks decided that Osama bin Laden was the culprit and that Afghanistan had to be bombed even farther back into the Stone Age.

One year later, I'm still suspicious and angry, although I'm not yet ready to don the full tin foil hat gear. What troubles me most at this point is the Busheviks' assault on civil liberties and the meek way in which most Americans are taking it. Comparisons with Nazi Germany may be too harsh, but I feel that we're in the same position as the Argentines and Uruguayans were when they willingly gave up their civil liberties to "fight terrorism" in the 1970s.

— Karen Sandness

1. 8:15am
Glorious morning!
Summer's haze has lifted now
Bringing on the blue.

2. 8:22am
Behind shades, I watch.
Writers are always watching.
Every day, new stories.

3. 8:35am
Yogurt and some fruit.
The email and the coffee,
Classical music.

4. 8:48am
Breaking news alert!
But they never interrupt�
A plane has struck the...

5. 8:50am
Newsradio on.
Email friends. Find breaking news.
What is going on?

6. 10:05am
The North Tower burns.
A second plane and impact...
And then time just stops.

7. I am in midtown
Grabbing a smoke and trembling
Under tall buildings.

8. The South Tower falls.
The horror is just too huge.
It cannot be held.

9. The North Tower falls.
Beyond shock now, we are numb,
Uncomprehending. 10. Sirens and silence.
We find our way back home.
Stunned and silent.

11. Seen from the platform,
The plume of smoke reaches us,
Ashes drifting still.

— nostamj

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