September 11, 2007

Where Were You?

Where were you on September 11, 2001, when one of the greatest tragedies in U.S. history occurred? I think I read somewhere, that almost everyone remembers where they were, and what they were doing when they heard, or saw, the news. It was an event that changed the lives, and the direction of our country. Never was our country more united as a people, in those tragic days, and never has our country been more divideded, subsequently. There have been so many theories concerning that event, and so much blame placed on those undeserving of it. The fact is, that many precious lives were lost on that day. Many dreams died along with them. Dreams of those left behind, individually, and collectively, as a country. It is a day that will never be forgotten, and shouldn't be. It is a another reminder of man's inhumanity to man. It is a reminder that life can change in a nano-second, never to be the same again. It could happen again. Pray that it never does.

14 comments:

Anonymous said...

Oh, yes... I remember every detail, vividly.

Jan said...

I don't think that I've met anyone who doesn't.

Anonymous said...

I worked in a dialysis unit back then. Each person had a small TV and earphones so I didn't know anything until on lady yelled at me, "Rocky, come here! They're bombing New York!" We each took an ear bud and I squatted next to her chair so I could see what was happening. Eventually, I made it to the break room where we had a larger TV. I remember thinking what a horrible freak accident after the first plane, then the stunning realization after the other planes that this was an attack. I watched in unbelieving horror as the buildings collapsed and thought of all those people in those buildings. Although I did not know anyone who died in the towers that day, I was torn to the depths of my soul by the senseless deaths of so many mothers, fathers and children. They were all a part of us, whether we knew them or not; fellow Americans. I think the biggest impact of that day was to wake up America to the fact that we are no safer here than those in Israel or England or anywhere else in the world.

Anonymous said...

I remember that on the 11th of September I was talking to my editor about my manuscript to be published soon. He said on the phone:
"How can you be talking about your (damn) manuscript when there has been such an awful catastrophe in New York?"
I asked back:
"Which catastrophe?"
Then he told me. I felt awfully ashamed and ignorant.
I had been so busy working and so involved with my manuscript that I hadn't watched the news that day nor read a newspaper or listened to the radio.
Can you imagine?
I still feel ashamed, when I think of it today.

Jan said...

rockync..you, like most everyone, remember in detail, what you were doing at that moment.

It touched all of our lives in such a profound way.

Jan said...

Olivia, there is no need to be ashamed. You, like everyone else, were simply doing what had to be done, just living life.

Some knew immediately, and others not until later in the day, but everntually the whole world knew.

We can only pray that no one ever has to go through that again.

Paul said...

I was in the Dallas airport. Obviously, my flight was cancelled.
http://toatftbg.blogspot.com/2007/09/where-were-you.html

Jan said...

Paul..thank you for stoppig by!

There was a certain irony in where you happened to be, wasn't there?

Like the Kennedy assasination, it is an event which will stick in our memories for all time.

Anonymous said...

And like the assassination of Dr. Luther King Jr., too.

Jan said...

Yes, Olivia, like the assassination of Dr. King. That was another tragedy which will never be forgotten.

Desert Cat said...

I hadn't yet left for work. I had a small TV in the bottom of the closet. When I heard that a plane had hit the WTC, I dragged it out and turned it on. I ended up taking it to work with me that day and watching the developments in my cubicle.

That's the last time I watched TV.

Jan said...

DC...you mean that is the last time that you watched tv, since that day? Amazing!

Sometimes, I think we would all be better off not to watch it, but I am a newshound, and even when I try not to, I always do.

Desert Cat said...

Yup. After that event it went back in the closet, and sometime in the intervening years, Daisycat dug it out and donated it.

I've been occasionally "subjected" to CNN at the airport or in other public areas where it is blaring from monitors, but I don't really count that involuntary exposure. Those times only remind me why I don't watch.

I get all the news I want and need on the internet from various sources. I can usually cut straight to the chase and get the info I need without suffering through the droning blather of a talking head. Plus it is a lot easier to filter the spin from the printed word.

Jan said...

DC...if only we could get the news straight and simple, without all of the foolishness so-called journalists throw in with it.