Yahoo! is asking Americans how September 11 changed them. Below is an account from a reader.
A normal Tuesday, a normal morning, a normal day yawning while in homeroom waiting for the bell to signal the start of another day of high school. A counselor stormed into the room telling my teacher that a plane flew into a building in New York, it was that moment that changed my outlook on life and country. One plane flying into the World Trade Center looked like a pilot gone suicidal, the second plane brought up suspicion of a horrific mass suicide, the third one striking the Pentagon confirmed that we were under attack by an enemy literally losing their lives to destroy us, the fourth that never made it to its final destination made myself think if we should have all taken cover under our desks. There was nothing that this then 17 year old could do but watch and be struck with paranoia.
I never cared for New York as a teenager, I don’t enjoy the city life and viewed them as overpaid business workers roaming the streets in business attire. 9/11 changed my ignorance after watching everyday people, like me, running away from an approaching tidal wave of smoke and jumping from sky scrapers to avoid burning alive. I was in disbelief, I never thought I’d see the modern day version of the attack of Pearl Harbor happening right before my eyes. We weren’t prepared for any of this, who would be? I was raised thinking that only evil leaders made wars and soldiers in camouflaged uniforms did the fighting. I never thought that a person would wage war while wearing regular clothes.
The attacks affected everyone. I saw classmates that were once enemies hugging each other, customers at my place of work becoming friendly to one another, and road rage being settled by apologies and polite hand waves. These things don’t just happen, they are caused by a tragedy. A type of tragedy that reminds people that it doesn’t matter what political party you are or what God you believe in, someone across the ocean wants you dead and will take their own life to make sure you die.
I didn’t want to go to war, no one ever really does. However, no one wants to just sit and watch their fellow countrymen die. It was this that made me enlist in the US Navy and made me proud that my country didn’t just stand still when we are threatened. I became proud to be a US citizen and learned what patriotism is. Alas, my military days are now over, I’m now in college with students just barely old enough to enlist. With the 10th anniversary of 9/11 here, I often wonder if there was a difference in patriotism on 9/11 between my fellow students that were in their early teens and me being just old enough to fight in a war, but not legally drink a beer.
Ever since 9/11, our flag has flown strongly up high in the sky. Hooyah!