I remember where I was on September 11th, 2001. My now ex-husband was at work when my neighbor banged on my wall and told me to turn the TV on. The news stations were replaying the towers being hit. I watched in absolute horror as another plane hit by a field of trees. I don’t remember understanding what was going on, just sitting there in terror. I watched as strangers helped strangers out, as people watched as the Twin Towers fell while running in horror, and eventually watched as people distorted what happened into some sort of government conspiracy.
I used to think humans were out to do something only for themselves; self-centered and driven for self-preservation. September 11, 2001 proved that under certain circumstances not only can people come together for the better of others, but they can hold onto each other 10 years later as family. This country suffered a huge loss that day, and yet it has brought us all together as one.
I now live 45 minutes from NORAD. I have heard and read so many views on 9/11 in the past 10 years. My fear is that NORAD will be the next target in hopes of disabling this country if we are ever attacked again. My children are 7 yrs old, 5 yrs old, 4 yrs old and 2 1/2 yrs old. My oldest has learned a few things in school about September 11th. Today, on the 10 year anniversary of September 11th, I have shown her pictures and video of the Twin Towers; both before and after the attacks. We have talked about what a terrorist is (our definition is “anyone who attacks a country – regardless of who they are”) and believe the best way to teach a child is without racial profiling, without anger or hate, and to accept that not everyone thinks or believes the way they do.
I have personally transformed into a person who never thought the US could be a target, to wondering how safe this country really is. My husband and I have even talked about moving out of the country simply because of the way it is being run. We fear that living so close to NORAD could cause future issues if ever we were attacked again. But my stance towards the people in the United States has changed, and for the better. I do not feel that most of us are out for personal gain, and, despite the fact that we have all suffered great loss – emotional, mentally, physically and spiritually, that we – as citizens of the United States of America – still care about what happens in the US.