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a new way of looking at... life >> 9/11 reader reflections |
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i gave people an opportunity to express feelings or ruminations about the events that transpired on 9/11 here at project aristotle. while these are the people that responded immediately, i would encourage anyone else that wishes to respond to please do so, and i will add it here. the best thing right now is to communicate.
"i don't like feeling that i got to look over my shoulder. i don't like wanting to attack someone if they say the wrong thing. i shouldn't have to feel like this - but i do and can't help it. i am angry, scared, and don't know what's going to happen next. a part of me wants to be on that plane that crashed in Pa just so i could've attacked those cowardly bastards. another part of me wants to forget what happened. i can't. i turn on the TV - bam, there it is. same with the newspaper and the same with daily conversation. i can't get this off of my mind and i want whoever is responsible to be left in a room with me for five minutes. things shouldn't be like this. i don't think i've ever been this angry before in my life. i'm out.............." - jason burleson "I've been running this through my head since the Friday following the attacks. I went to a non-denominational prayer mass that night at the Catholic church in Westmont - not so much for myself but to show community support. It turned out to be an interesting event. "Being a former alter girl, I literally stopped in my tracks when I walked into this church I had never visited and saw a US flag (proudly) displayed on the alter. After a short prayer, I sat back and began to watch the people poor in. Old people in red, white, and blue sweatsuits, young people that had come alone, children wearing shirts with flags and eagles on them, veterans in uniform, Phillipinos, African Americans, Indians, Caucasions, and people I couldn't 'label'. As I previewed the music selection, I was pleasantly surprised to see a sample of the community gathering. "The mass was filled with surprises. The priest informed us that everyone was welcome, that he would be incorporating The Pledge of Allegiance into the mass, and that we would be singing patriotic songs. An interesting experience, but what struck me most was his sermon. He opened with the following line, "Now is the perfect time to be an Athiest." Then there was silence. We sat for a moment then he went on to say, "Whether you're a Catholic, a Jew, a Muslim... if you worship and believe in a loving God then now is the most difficult time...... Taking of lives will not undo what has been done." "It was very interesting to see a crowded room of people, most dressed in something patriotic or holding a flag, stew in their conflict. The God fearing part of you is against retaliation and murder. The patriot in you wants thought-out, strategic, effective actions put into place. And this is where I get stuck! I've come so far as to say that I am against carpet bombing and the taking of lives. I am disturbed by the fact that our soil has been invaded and I hope that we are as mighty a nation as we believe. I am disgusted with some of the ignorance I see around me and find no tolerance for hateful acts. I pity my co-worker that laughed at me because I taped a paper flag on my car, she said I was 'going too far'. I am irate that my freedoms and my security have been threatened. "I am by no means a good Catholic (as one would define one), but I do pray every night and I try to lead a good life. Since the priest put it into words I have struggled with this issue. I don't believe talks are the answer. It is unfortunate, but this group is irrational and plays by their own rules. I actually think they feel as strongly about their beliefs as I feel about mine. Fascinating, but frightening. "Innoncence lost, my friend. I think it's time for us to wake up - and America is going to foot-the-bill. This was an attack on civilized nations. It's easier to think of it as as issue of national security - then it doesn't sound so bad. But that isn't truly the answer, now is it? I don't have an answer. All I can say is that this behavior must be stopped - we've been tip-toeing around this guy for what - 8 years, 9 years? Ponder the possibilities if we did nothing! "Stuck between a rock and a hard place. I think this is one of those times when you chose the act that benefits most of the people/s." - jen mallock "my routine that morning was like any other. woke, meandered around half asleep and confused, took a shower, got ready for class, and then i realized that i had some time to make coffee. I made myself coffee and turned on the T.V. i had it on cnn, they were talking about 9/11 day, and the little precautions that people need to consider to safe proof their home. Before I left for class, CNN made a special report that an airlplane had hit the towers, and then i left for class. i usually ignore Television news (i have issues with T.V...it's the spawn of satan) so i left for class thinking only that perhaps a private single prop or some other small plane had hit the towers. i really didnt think that much else about it. a little later i was walking through the university center and i saw on the news that a second plane had hit the towers. and then i watched them fall..the only thing that i can remember thinking was, all those people, all those people, and i started thinking about their families and friends. and i started to cry... i still cry... for a week i was glued to the tv. it's hard for me to put into words the kinds of thoughts that i was having... i just don't want anymore hate... suffering... needless death... senseless death... i'm tired of seeing people die because of abstract concepts that mean nothing, its absurd... all of it... and i refuse to play anymore..." - matthew french "My intial reaction when I first heard was disbelief. It was around 2:00 A.M. in Korea, when some of my friends from work came over to my room to let me know what was going on. I thought it was joke, nodded and said "Really, that sux," and lay back down. So they left, I tried to go back to sleep, but people yelling in the hallways kept waking me up. After about 30 minutes of this, I finally dragged myself up to the dayroom to see what’s going on. Before i got there, i jokely told myself, "but i don't won't to go to war." "When I walked into that room and saw WTO building Collapsing on the TV, it hit me. It was just pure shock. I just stood there shaking, thinking: Oh my god, it’s not a joke, it’s not a joke.., How the hell are we going to fight a war like that? I want to go home. "I tried to call home, but all lines to the States were jammed as well as the internet. I wanted to be home. Here i was in South Korea when people were dying at home. America was hurt and i should be there helping not watching it on TV. I wanted to do something. I kept waiting for them to ask for volunteers. I didn't know who, or where, but i wanted to go. Put me on a plane, i'm ready let's go. The call never came, so i went to work the next morning as usual. It wasn't usual, but we kept working. I ended donating some money to the Red Cross later that day." - rev... |