On Tuesday, Sept. 11, 2001, the entire world was thrown off track. Amazement, shock, horror and sheer terror spread throughout the world.
The twin towers of the World Trade Center, in all their splendor, crumbled to the ground after hijacked airliners slammed into them.
As if the destruction of two of the world’s tallest skyscrapers wasn’t enough, less than an hour later, the Pentagon was struck by yet another hijacked plane. Minutes after the Pentagon attack, the fourth hijacked plane crashed into a field southeast of Pittsburgh.
With a death toll exceeding 3,000, many people suffered from intense emotional anguish and trauma as a result of 9/11.
The catastrophe that occurred on 9/11 will never leave our memory. As an American, I can say that it has left a stamp on my heart.
The scene keeps replaying in my mind whenever I think about it. I never thought what happens in action films could ever become a reality and take so many real lives.
I wasn’t looking at actors who can just get up off the floor and brush the dust off their clothes and go on with their lives. Those were real people who died. People who have husbands, wives, children, mothers, fathers, friends and so much more to live for.
As the year has progressed, I close my eyes and see the banners that roll across the television that say “We Will Never Forget,” and the shirts that read “United We Stand.”
I believe with all my heart that America will truly always remember 9/11, though I’m not so sure that we are, in fact, united.
Sure, we saw the firefighters hugging those who were mourning. We saw former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani getting down and dirty and helping out in the rubble alongside President Bush. We saw black hugging white, we saw blood donors, we saw businessmen in their suits helping firefighters to rescue people.
When we saw all of this on television, or in the newspapers, or when we were listening to it on the radio, did we also happen to see the old man wearing a turban walking down the street and wonder, is he a terrorist?
The events of 9/11 have left a huge impact on our society. We’ve become more aware of our surroundings, especially at airports. In the days after the attacks, many people who had absolutely nothing to do with the tragedy were being punished because they looked like they would fit the role of terrorists.
I remember being at LAX a little less than three weeks ago for a short trip I had planned. I couldn’t get my eyes to stop scanning the area surrounding the boarding gate to see if anyone who looked unusual was going to board the plane I was taking.
Finally, they set on a Muslim couple traveling with their child. The woman was veiled, the man had a beard and the child was in a stroller. Even though I knew deep down they were harmless, I could not stop the tension I felt when I saw them.
I used to adore flying, but when I was waiting to board my plane, I dreaded it. I don’t believe I’m the only American who views Muslims differently after 9/11. Let us face the facts. We haven’t become united, we’ve actually become divided. We are left with bitter feelings toward our neighbors because of their race or religion, and that simply isn’t right.
Like me, America will never be the same again. The feeling of security has been ripped from our hearts. Our confidence has been altered. But even so, I believe we will regain what we once had. I will soon fly again, and I’m working on my fears and preconceived notions. If I can get past those, so can the rest of America.
As we commermorate the anniversary of Sept. 11, let us mourn those lost, let us picture Ground Zero, let us remember and never forget how America will always stand with its head held high. But let us also remember that we need to work on acceptance and tolerance as well.