I wasn't going to do this. Not because I don't have thoughts about this, or things to say... But because this blog isn't necessarily the place for it. I've scrapped those thoughts and will put this here. I won't update about it publicly, but it will be here for anyone who reads this. I've spent far too much time in the last few days and years reading accounts, looking at information and expanding my knowledge of what physically happened on that day.
September 11, 2001 I was in high school, outside Philadelphia Pennsylvania USA. I was 14, in 9th grade if I count back correctly.. I was in French class when I heard that something had happened. Completely unaware until sometime around 10am because I carted myself off to school at 7:15am. My french teacher refused to acknowledge anything had happened and went on with the class. Murmurs began to filtrate, something had happened in NY, NY, something bad. At home room (after first period) there was an announcement made over the loudspeaker system that two planes had hit the North and South towers of the world trade center. Many of my classmates lost parents, brothers, sisters and friends that day. Philadelphia is very close to NY, there are trains that run directly there.
My grandfather worked in Manhattan. I didn't know if he was ok for hours. No one could call in, no one could call out.
I got a phone call from my mom, she was stuck at work and was sending our neighbor to pick up me, my sisters and her two children (two of our friends) and we were to go back to her house until she came to pick us up. We got to her house and turned on the television. I'm sure I don't have to articulate the drop I felt in my stomach the first time I watched the footage of the second plane hitting the south tower. I saw them collapse (after the fact, it was almost 12 noon when we were finally out of school).
I received an update about my grandfather, he was fine, far away from the central area of the attacks and safe. He'd be returning home as soon as possible.
It is still hard for me to imagine the hatred that the people to hijacked the plane must have felt, the absolute loathing for America that they needed to do what they did. Compared to other disasters (natural or otherwise) the actual count of deaths for all the 9/11/01 occurrences are few, but they are remembered most clearly.
I had a few friends out of state call me to make sure I was ok after Flight 93 crashed in Pennsylvania. The site of the crash was close to Pittsburgh, far, far from Philadelphia. I was fine. The passengers of Flight 93 were one of the first details I researched years later. The other information came after, but the plane that failed to hit its intended target has always been fond to me. I wanted to know the names of the people that stood up in the face of fear.
It still boggles my mind that someone would willingly kill themselves for a god, any god. It is days like 9/11 I am glad I am an Atheist, not to turn this into a religious argument (because it isn't). Like other occurrences in my life, it is hard for me to image a God that would allow things like this to happen. I woke up this morning fearing something else had happened, something terrible. But everything was ok. Kamm and I went and celebrated life with friends, in our own way. Today was good. Tomorrow will be good. I hope America, and the world never forgets the unity that can exist with a common cause.
I love you all.
September 11, 2001 I was in high school, outside Philadelphia Pennsylvania USA. I was 14, in 9th grade if I count back correctly.. I was in French class when I heard that something had happened. Completely unaware until sometime around 10am because I carted myself off to school at 7:15am. My french teacher refused to acknowledge anything had happened and went on with the class. Murmurs began to filtrate, something had happened in NY, NY, something bad. At home room (after first period) there was an announcement made over the loudspeaker system that two planes had hit the North and South towers of the world trade center. Many of my classmates lost parents, brothers, sisters and friends that day. Philadelphia is very close to NY, there are trains that run directly there.
My grandfather worked in Manhattan. I didn't know if he was ok for hours. No one could call in, no one could call out.
I got a phone call from my mom, she was stuck at work and was sending our neighbor to pick up me, my sisters and her two children (two of our friends) and we were to go back to her house until she came to pick us up. We got to her house and turned on the television. I'm sure I don't have to articulate the drop I felt in my stomach the first time I watched the footage of the second plane hitting the south tower. I saw them collapse (after the fact, it was almost 12 noon when we were finally out of school).
I received an update about my grandfather, he was fine, far away from the central area of the attacks and safe. He'd be returning home as soon as possible.
It is still hard for me to imagine the hatred that the people to hijacked the plane must have felt, the absolute loathing for America that they needed to do what they did. Compared to other disasters (natural or otherwise) the actual count of deaths for all the 9/11/01 occurrences are few, but they are remembered most clearly.
I had a few friends out of state call me to make sure I was ok after Flight 93 crashed in Pennsylvania. The site of the crash was close to Pittsburgh, far, far from Philadelphia. I was fine. The passengers of Flight 93 were one of the first details I researched years later. The other information came after, but the plane that failed to hit its intended target has always been fond to me. I wanted to know the names of the people that stood up in the face of fear.
It still boggles my mind that someone would willingly kill themselves for a god, any god. It is days like 9/11 I am glad I am an Atheist, not to turn this into a religious argument (because it isn't). Like other occurrences in my life, it is hard for me to image a God that would allow things like this to happen. I woke up this morning fearing something else had happened, something terrible. But everything was ok. Kamm and I went and celebrated life with friends, in our own way. Today was good. Tomorrow will be good. I hope America, and the world never forgets the unity that can exist with a common cause.
I love you all.
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