Like the generation before us and the death of President Kennedy, most of this generation can remember exactly where they were September 11, 2001, when the Twin Towers were hit and subsequently fell. I certainly can. I was driving to work a little after six a.m. and heard the report of the first attack, which had occurred earlier, and then a few minutes later I heard the report of the second tower being hit. Both times I thought the planes involved were private planes and couldn’t understand how they had gotten so off course. When I arrived at school, a TV set was already on in the teacher media room, and around 7 am, all of us who were gathered around it, watching and listening to the reports, saw the South Tower fall. Unfathomable and Unbelievable.
Recently, I was cleaning and reorganizing some old writings and came across something I had written the week after the attacks in The Weekly Update (a weekly publication I wrote for the Anderson High School faculty). I would like to share part of it with you now and wonder if the words would still ring true today. Below is what I wrote on September 17, 2001:
* * * *
All that can be said has probably been said, but please indulge me as I would like to share a few reflections of my own.
It must be said that the terrorist did indeed accomplish every one of their objectives--just not quite in the manner they had hoped.
They tore families apart--but brought a nation together.
They shattered our innocence--but fortified our resolve.
They extinguished American lives--but ignited the American spirit.
They tumbled buildings--bur raised heroes.
They called into question our invincibility--but proved our patriotism.
They crumbled our arrogance--but solidified our pride.
They broke our hearts--but renewed our love for our fellow Americans.
They desired chaos--but delivered national clarity and purpose.
They forced the United States to its knees and humbled a great country--but before God, not terrorism.
They indeed shook the foundations of our buildings and proved that we are NOT the supreme power of the world--but in the process reestablished our trust in the ONE who is.
I also must agree with the high school student who assisted me with my shopping bags Saturday morning as she looked at the cars driving by with flags flying from their antennas.
“I hope this doesn’t all go away.”
I, too, hope that as the anger subsides, as the TV coverage decreases, as emotions wane, and lives return to normal, that our patriotism will endure; our prayers, persevere; our flags, continue to wave. And, after hearing about the recent shooting of an Indian Sikh in Arizona, I also hope we don’t succumb to unwarranted fear and unjustified actions and become what we abhor and despise.
* * * *
That was written fourteen years ago. So how are we doing today?
Recently, I was cleaning and reorganizing some old writings and came across something I had written the week after the attacks in The Weekly Update (a weekly publication I wrote for the Anderson High School faculty). I would like to share part of it with you now and wonder if the words would still ring true today. Below is what I wrote on September 17, 2001:
* * * *
All that can be said has probably been said, but please indulge me as I would like to share a few reflections of my own.
It must be said that the terrorist did indeed accomplish every one of their objectives--just not quite in the manner they had hoped.
They tore families apart--but brought a nation together.
They shattered our innocence--but fortified our resolve.
They extinguished American lives--but ignited the American spirit.
They tumbled buildings--bur raised heroes.
They called into question our invincibility--but proved our patriotism.
They crumbled our arrogance--but solidified our pride.
They broke our hearts--but renewed our love for our fellow Americans.
They desired chaos--but delivered national clarity and purpose.
They forced the United States to its knees and humbled a great country--but before God, not terrorism.
They indeed shook the foundations of our buildings and proved that we are NOT the supreme power of the world--but in the process reestablished our trust in the ONE who is.
I also must agree with the high school student who assisted me with my shopping bags Saturday morning as she looked at the cars driving by with flags flying from their antennas.
“I hope this doesn’t all go away.”
I, too, hope that as the anger subsides, as the TV coverage decreases, as emotions wane, and lives return to normal, that our patriotism will endure; our prayers, persevere; our flags, continue to wave. And, after hearing about the recent shooting of an Indian Sikh in Arizona, I also hope we don’t succumb to unwarranted fear and unjustified actions and become what we abhor and despise.
* * * *
That was written fourteen years ago. So how are we doing today?
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