I remember 9/11. I was having phone sex with a woman from Chicago that I was seeing and I had just come back from Chicago to Los Angeles the night before. I was on the phone with her…and we were doing what people do…we were doing what we do when we are in love long distance…and then she said to me, “Turn on the T.V…” and I did. And the towers were collapsing. Jesus.
Days later I remember all of us lighting candles all across the city and coming together…it was such an incredible time of coming together and then it got ugly and full of war.
I remember all these images of people at first “being there” for us in the U.S.—even Native Islanders in Papua New Guinea singing and playing I think a conch shell and then it got ugly and full of war.
I remember standing in front of my Southern California apartment with the 25 other apartments arranged around a pool with my candle lit and I remember singing. “Go to the very edge where the summer ends and something else begins. Something else begins,” a song of renewal from my Wiccan circle sung at the changing of the wheel at Equinox.
I remember going to a lecture at Claremont and Dr. Marjorie Suchocki talking about process thought and asking, “Where is God in 9/11? God is with the people who fight back. Who helped each other.” The priest and the firefighter who do what priests and firefighters do. They went back into the buildings and rescued people. Cared for people. Gave last rites. I remember being at a Wiccan Ritual at this time, the turning of the year, two weeks after 9/11 and an older woman statuesque with bright white long hair saying “We are witches. We will do what witches do.” What should we do? How can we help? We are witches. We will do what witches do. Heal. Tend. Nurture. Bless.
That’s all any of us can do. What we must do. As artists, as doctors, as mothers, as students, as teachers…we do what we do to the best of what we do – that’s what we do. It takes the memory of 9/11 to remind us why we go the extra mile. For me, that is answering all the student e-mails, doing the research to create the new learning unit, staying up way past midnight –-again—processing all the add/drops so students do not lose their financial aid when their classes have been dropped …so students can get into my class, any class, if that is the option they have to stay in school. But it is not the extra mile, right? It is living as if we go the extra mile because it is how we do things. We do things because we do things because it is what we do. The world is a better place because we live here.
This is not just the small space of here, it is the large space of here, not just my small family, but the huge family, and not just my tribe of friends, Facebook and otherwise, but all of the people here that I am taking the journey with…all of us spinning on this blue planet….the Native Islanders blowing a conch shell for the Americans who were grieving. For me at that time spending hours trying to get through to New York, to my brother, who lived in the Village but how did I know that he was not visiting that section of New York at that time? I did not know. I did not know for so long. And they were blowing the conch shells for me—because that is what they do. I am not a Native Islander, not even a New Yorker, I am a Californian…but I was part of that energy transference. I knew they were playing for me as I dialed and dialed my brother’s number.
Yes, “we are the world,” as the lyrics sing. And in the coming election—to paraphrase another oft quoted phrase—“Yes, we can.”
Yes we can; if we do what we do– because it is what we do– and we continue to do it. We do what we do because it is what we do: and in difficult times, we roll up our sleeves and do what we do.
“Hope is a dangerous thing,” says Andy Dufrane in Shawshank Redemption, as he digs himself out of prison. As we remember 9/11 this month, and how we did what we did because we are who we are, let us re-attach ourselves to hope. Hope for a better world as this election draws closer. Hope—it’s a dangerous thing.
Oh, yes, we can.
Marie Cartier is a teacher, poet, writer, healer, artist, and scholar. She holds a BA in Communications from the University of New Hampshire; an MA in English/Poetry from Colorado State University; an MFA in Theatre Arts (Playwriting) from UCLA; an MFA in Film and TV (Screenwriting) from UCLA; and an MFA in Visual Art (Painting/Sculpture) from Claremont Graduate University. She is also a first degree black belt in karate, Shorin-Ryu Shi-Do-Kan Kobayashi style. Ms. Cartier has a Ph.D. in Religion with an emphasis on Women and Religion from Claremont Graduate University.
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Though I was only 11 years old and in 6th grade the morning of 9/11, I remember every detail as well. I also remember hearing my elders speak of G-d and wondering where he was during this time of disaster. At the time I had my answer to that question. My answer was that – G-d did not do this to us. People did this to us…Angry people who obviously thought that hurting the US would in someway solve the hatred they have for us as a nation. G-d gave us as his creatures, the free will to do as we please, good or bad. The actions that took place on 9/11 were evil, but as a nation we came together and helped one another as best we could. It’s a shame that it takes such a tragedy for us to recognize our family/friends/and strangers. “We are the world,” is a great lyric mentioned above. We as humans are the world, and we make our fate.
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I also remember every detail and i too was in the 6th grade, its crazy how certain memories stick out to us on such days like 9/11.(which there aren’t many) I am not sure what God wanted or what God’ plans are.
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thank you for your poste! i agree– it is a shame that it takes a tragedy for us to come together as a nation and a world– any ideas on how this could happen differently? i’m happy to dialogue with you about it.
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If somehow communities were able to come together semi-annually remembering the many tragedies our nation has faced together. It’s definitely a hard issue to resolve or fix, at least immediately.
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I admire you and your blog. Thank you for sharing these memories with the world. You are a strong woman with many opinions and such knowledge and I enjoyed reading this article. I can definitely see that you are a poet by the way you write
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I remember waking up to my dad sitting at edge of the sofa with this look on his face that I hadn’t seen before. My mom pacing back and forth in the kitchen almost desperately and saying “que Dios nos cuide”. I then realized what they were watching and I stood there not wanting to believe it. To this day thinking about the events makes me both sad and mad. Its wanting to forgive for all those innocent life’s that were taken away but my heart is still hurt and during the process of forgiving anger arises. I was 19 then, its been 11yrs and although I try to find a piece of me to forgive, I simply cant, but what I do have is the strength and faith to continue praying for us so “we can continue doing what we do.”
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Hello Marie,
I really enjoyed your blog! I was at first a bit confused where you were going with it but as I kept reading I started thinking about what you stated. Why does a disaster have to happen for the world to come together? I believe the 9/11 terrorist act was just a group of people with hatred but for all of us to finally “care” for each other is dumb. God didn’t bring this upon us it was just a group of people that did. But I do believe God made us come together because we never acknowledged others people existence. I don’t know if it makes any sense but yes “we are the world” lyrics I do believe is a good reference to what I am trying to state. We are the world and this world was made under god so god is trying to bring us together after the incident of angry people bringing this terrorist act in our country.
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It’s terrible to think that things such as 9/11 are what brings a community together. I was in fifth grade when 9/11 took place. I remember waking up seeing my dad in shock, staring blankly into the TV. I don’t know why exactly it is that I remember this so distinctly. I don’t know if it’s because I had no idea what the Twin Towers were, what was happening, but I knew it was something awful. I remember going to class that morning and sitting there, not learning whatsoever, but just watching the same planes on repeat crashing into the buildings.
I feel that if the community came together more often we would have a stronger voice and we would be heard. Maybe women wouldn’t be scared and ashamed to voice their opinions.
The fact that you joined your community to sympathize together is wonderful. I’m sure things as such took place in my community too, I just wasn’t aware. My family didn’t attend and I still had no idea what was happening.
I work at the U.S. Attorneys Office in downtown, and I hear people talk about their experiences during the incident. My boss was at work and felt that everyone should go home to be with their families. Working where we work we’re always thinking that we’re next. It’s terrible…
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While the footage of 9/11 was being displayed all over the news, I had just left CSUN and went to go meet my family for lunch at a Thai restaurant nearby. I could not even eat my food. Everyone in the restaurant was in disbelief and fear. I could feel anger in the air. I could overhear people saying things like, “I can’t believe this is happening” or “My family lives there.” My mom and dad who both have strong beliefs in prayer, began to pray for those in New York and for all their families. They even asked me to start praying as well. They told me that with prayer, we can overcome anything, and as long as we believe we will persevere. That day I prayed my heart out. I too have family living there and I was so afraid for them. Thankfully they were all ok and away from the the area. Despite the tragedy, not only were my family and myself hopeful and believed that things would be ok, but the whole nation came together and kept each other strong by giving hope to all those who needed it the most. I cannot speak for everyone and say let’s do this or let’s do that, I can only speak for myself. I do agree with Dr. Cartier that it is sad how our nation only comes together when tragedy strikes, but on a positive note hopefully we learned from this and can keep peace alive by making a better effort to support each other as a whole and not just when things go wrong. We can only “hope” for the best.
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We are where we are today as a result of society. We have no one to blame, not even God. When national devastation, like 9/11 occurs, we often look to God and ask, why? Or how could you let something like this happen? But looking up to the sky is not always the answer. Who we really should be asking these questions too are the people within our society. God can only guide us so much and then the rest is up to us. We shape the society that we live in so why destroy it?
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Everyone has their special ways of remembering 9/11. It was my brother’s 6th birthday when this happened. I remember being in the 6th grade and arriving to school hours late. I remember being scared to go to sleep because I thought a plane would crash into my house. I slept with my mom that night. When asked the question Where was God, I believe he was there. He is an all knowing God. This was so tragic and tears come to my eyes everytime I see the tape of the planes crashing into the World Trade Center. This event is just a symbol that America can come together despite what race you are, religion, or any other demographic. And I beleive that’s what God wanted to show America. 9/11 will always be something to remeber, not only because it’s my younger brother’s birthday, but it reminds me of America coming together.
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9/11 was an eye opener for everyone and at the time of this horrific event I was in 5th grade. I was definitely young not really understanding what I was watching on tv. I remember being with my babysitter the morning of the event and the news broadcasting the planes hit the towers and then all of sudden they drop. When the towers dropped so did my heart because what I did know was that there were still people in those towers and on the planes who had no chance of surviving. It is a shame that those people were robbed their lives but we now have to cherish the blessing we get to wake up every morning for them. Now every 9/11 I like to remember the lives that were lost and hear their stories on tv and man they were all heros. As a new mother, it makes me realize even more that life is short and you should always cherish what you have and as a new mother I can better relate to those mothers who lost their children that day. Thank you Marie for this article and for remembering the victims of 9/11 and for sharing your own personal story.
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I remember when 9/11 happened I was getting ready for school, I was only 8 years old, but I knew that this was such a huge deal, and that the aftermath wasn’t going to be good. Who knew that we would have lived through such a tragic event. I would have never expected for that to happen in my lifetime. It’s weird reading about it in history books nowadays. It’s sad to think that people only come together and support each other when there is a time of need. We should be there for each other at all times, because we all do really need each other to survive in this crazy world. Who knows what other big event will happen, and when. We just need to be prepared for it before it happens once again. This blog post was really eye opening, and it made complete sense to me.
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I actually have mixed feelings for two distinctive sides. The first is obviously that I feel terrible for the innocent victims of 9/11. Like other innocent people who suffer and die everyday worldwide, they too are in my prayers.
The other side which I feel more “sensitive” to is the fact that immediately after 9/11, the obvious scapegoats were anyone of middle-eastern descent and/OR Muslims. (Not ALL middle-eastern people are Muslim and vice versa).
I understand that this article aims for the immediate caring, hospitalization, and aid of the people within any nation. The word “teamwork” comes to mind loud and clear in such critical situations.
On the other hand, I also recall the fingers that were wrongly pointed at Muslims. I obviously can’t speak on behalf of the terrorists who tragically killed thousands of innocent people; but as a Muslim, I DO know that terrorism and violence is NOT what Islam teaches. So basically, those who behave that way clearly do not represent Islam at all.
Going back to the scapegoatism, I noticed an intensely growing number of stereotyping and racism against not just Muslims, but middle-eastern people who were not even Muslim. This is extremely dangerous because hate crimes still exist today. Just recently, there had been a tragic shooting in a Sikh temple in Wisconsin. “The narrative that has emerged in both media coverage and public discourse since then has been one of religious mistaken identity. It presumes that the killer, identified as a white supremacist named Wade M. Page, may have shot the Sikhs because he ignorantly believed they were Muslim” (http://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/11/us/if-the-sikh-temple-had-been-a-muslim-mosque-on-religion.html?_r=0). This is exactly what happens when ignorant racism occurs—innocent people are killed either way.
Moreover, I just wanted to point out that the years following 9/11 derived so much ignorance against Muslims to the point that normal people actually became interested and curious about why the Muslims (NOT terrorists) believe and behave the way they do. Such curiosity in human nature encourages people to seek knowledge and before they realize it, they learn aspects and material they never knew before—like going to school! The most ironic portion of the aftermath is the rapid numbers of regular American converts since 9/11. For example, “An estimated 25 percent of American Muslims are converts. Some came of age as Americans first and discovered Islam as adults” (http://www.nytimes.com/2005/04/30/nyregion/30converts.html).
To wrap up, we learn two major pointers in tragic disasters: 1) The caring and teamwork of a people within a nation is incredible and obviously life-changing, hence we’re each trying our best to save lives! ☺ 2) Racism and hate crimes are unacceptably dangerously life-threatening for EVERYONE; in such cases, knowledge is crucially important. ☺ I wish for all people to be respectful and stay safe! ☺
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I remember that morning. I usually wake up to the music on the radio but that day my husband woke me up just to see what’s on TV. I saw the first tower tower burning and then saw the plane hit the second one. My husband and I were just there the year before, on the same viewing deck where somebody jumped off to escape the fire. It was a terrible day that day..watching all the people running, the ashes, the dead, the injured, the heroes who tried to save lives and more lives. More so the day after, when stories about the people who died and got hurt were made known. But right on TV one can see the sense of community, the value of human spirit at a time of need. People came together and helped those they didn’t even know. One does not see that in a daily basis and yes, it’s a shame that it comes only in times of tragic events. But as you said, there is hope ….that people will do better and do the best they can, at the best or the worst time… and maybe the world will be better.
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The morning of 9/11 I walked by my mothers room, and noticed she was standing there naked, with a towel over her head, and a tooth brush in her mouth, staring at the T.V. I thought it was odd…so naturally I asked her what was going on, and she told me. I was in 8th grade, unable to truly grasp the severity of the situation. The T.V looked more like a horror movie than actuality. As soon as I got to school the teachers were explaining the situation to their students. It was awful. Every one was terrified. I agree with Tiffany, It is up to us to shape the world we live in, and to ask “why?” to the right people.
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I see how terrible events bring people together and the beauty that can come from a tragedy. We do not come together as people all the time because we are not meant to. Individuality is beautiful and so is synergy. We teach each other to be independent and we teach each other that companionship and unity are our safety net. Sometimes it does take disaster to bring people together. As human beings we do not require togetherness at every moment. Compassion and unity are beautiful because they are not constant, but it is these traits in human beings that make disaster managable.
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I was back in my country, Bangladesh,during the incident of 9/11. That might be the reason it did not affect me as much as others who were here in the united states. I was 8 years old. I remember reading about this on every single news paper and watching it on the news.
As I was reading through the posts here I found it to be beautiful and heart warming how people came together during that time in the honor of those who lost their lives
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I remember i was only 3rd grade when 9/11 happened. I was playing on the playground during recess when i heard some teachers talking about planes crashing into the World Trade Center towers. I didn’t know what was going on and i was very confused. When school was over i came home and turned on the T.V. Every channel was replaying when the planes were crashing into the towers. When i looked over at my mom tears were running down her face as the towers were beginning to collapse. She felt so much pain because New York was her hometown. It was where she was born and grew up for most of her life. I felt like when 9/11 happened the world had stopped for a few seconds.
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9/11 was definitely a day of coming together for the entire country. I remember that day as well. I was at home watching it happen and I remember was crying. Crying for what was going on and crying for those in New York even though I knew no one in the city. It was a day or sadness but also a day of trying to support everyone in the country because we were doing this together.
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I will take this with me from now on: “Go to the very edge where the summer ends and something else begins. Something else begins,”. So beautiful. Such a beautiful passage that you’ve written here. Such a wonderful testimony to the deep hope and healing that can be born out of brokenness, so long as we keep doing what we do.
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I remember very minimal details of 9/11. I remember going to school that morning and walking into my fourth grade class with the television on with news of the attack. I didn’t quite understand what was happening. Years after I quickly understood the chaos surrounding the terrorist attack. The only way people can understand the tragedies around us is if they are the stories headlined rather than the gossip that seems to be more important. What bigger event will it take for everyone to rally get together and care for the world we live in? Its difficult to get everyone together to care unless it directly affects them. We’ll never forget the things that happened but it definitely requires our attention and recognition.
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I remember i was in the 5th grade when it all happened. My brother was being dropped off school first and then my dad was going to come back for me. My mother was brushing my hair and she got a call from my dad who was listening to the radio and i didnt understand what was going on at all! i never heard of the towers before and i didnt get why they were burning down. After i remember being very scared of everything. As far as God goes, i really dont believe that anyone or anything controls what happens to us. I dont follow any religion and i will believe in god when i meet him. I am opened minded to anything as long as it can be proven. I think we make out own destiny and we cant ask the question why is this happeneing and why am i being punished. the saying goes Sh*t happens, all we can do is learn to deal with it and most of the time we will get through it!
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In difficult times we are who we are and we are going to do what we do, no matter what the situation. Through our experiences we grow to be who we are and dictate what we will do. I was in high school when 9/11 happened. At school we were all feeling the same shock and fear. As you stated in your paper about firefighters and priests did what they did because of who they are. I also remember that there was scams involved with 9/11 donations. The fact that these scams were done is because sometimes circumstances don’t change a persons behavior because they are who they are. It is not defined by the situation but by how people react to a situation.
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I was starting second grade when the event happened and I distinctly remember seeing the event play over multiple times on the news. Being so young, I didn’t know what to think. I didn’t know it was going to become something I’d read in my U.S. history text book ten years later. I didn’t know it was going to be so massive and influential in its coming years. Although I wasn’t able to understand the severity of the situation, I was able to see the unity and national pride that arose during this time. Overall, our nation endured a lot, but as you said, people not only did people do what they had to, but people went beyond what they did to help others even if they didn’t see it that way. They only knew that helping would be the right thing to do during a time when it was most needed, and I am glad to know that we can proudly say this. Our nation could have easily fallen apart, but everyone rose together and did what they had to do to keep the country and its people together.
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I remember waking up for school on the morning of 9/11. I went to my neighbors’ house and he told me what had happened. I was in the 6th grade at the time and honestly, did not fully understand how tragic and severe this was. The school day was spent in mourning and watching the news. It was the first time I had actually seen the world’s ugly side. We spent the day looking at each other in confusion. How do things like this happen? Why wasn’t it us?
A few days later we had an alarm because of a specific type of plane flying over our school. It turned out to be no big deal, but I remember watching those planes, wondering why? Why not us?
Within those days I remember watching the news, watching the families line up, looking for family members lost on 9/11. My mom quickly turned the channel. It was real. The nation was coming together, everyone was paranoid, terrified, and it was happening all around me.
I feel that that paranoia never left us. As we continue the war, our nation still lives in fear of terrorism. We need to stick together and stay strong. Although it created a lot of fear, it is comforting to see how quickly people help each other out in time of need.
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Coming together as a nation is what I really remember from this time. Although I was only 11, and in the sixth grade I remember exactly where I was and who I was with at the exact moment I found out about the planes and the twin towers. That was a very sad day, I remember all 7 periods we did nothing but watch the TV. When I got home I found out there was word that L.A. might possibly get hit as well. Being an 11 year old and having a best friend and family in L.A. I was extremely scared. My mom had to comfort me and my brother. I also had, and still do, a cousin who is a flight attendant for Delta so waiting to hear word on her was hard. We couldn’t sleep in our rooms, we had to sleep out in the living room. I can’t really remember what happened after that, but I do remember that everyone came together and supported one another all across the country. It really brought our country together.
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9/11 was a terrible day to experience. I was a cashier at a supermarket. My regular costumers who usually come in for donuts and for a small chat with the cashier (me), this day was different. They came in for bottled water and canned food. I jokingly asked why the sudden change of their usual purchase. I looked at the faces of fright while they said, “Go home Myriam prepare for the worst.” Little did I know that when I got home to my mother and children the television showed burning people jumping off buildings. That image will stay with me forever.
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This post was very insightful. I respect the honesty and sincerity of your views. 9/11 was a day in America’s history that none of us will forget. It was a time when everyone came together as one and did what we have to do as one. If everyday the world could be united as we were for 9/11 everything would be so much better. The fact that something catastrophic has to happen in order for us to be one , saddens me. I remember 9/11 I was in the 6th grade , in the morning , on my way to school , I heard the news . My mom called me and told me what happened and I was confused on why someone would personally harm others. But once again I was young ..
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I think we can all say that 9/11 was a day we will always remember. It was a day that nothing else mattered but to be with loved ones. I was only 7 years old, and first heard the news on the radio. The reporters were so frantic, I didn’t know exactly what had happened until I got into class and my teacher had told us. Being so young, we didn’t realize how big everything actually was. It wasn’t until I watched the news and saw the footage, that I realized how devastating it all was. I felt so helpless being so far away from it, I wanted to help. I realized all I could do is pray. Pray for the loved ones, the heroes, everyone emotionally and physically involved. I called all of my family back east to make sure they were okay, and thank God they were. That day will always be remembered as day that we as America became one.
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Hi Professor Cartier,
I think its interesting that although Sept 11 the day the terrorists hit was over 10 years ago each person can remember exactly what they were doing when they found out. I was reading the other comments and along with a lot of them, I was in 6th grade and didn’t quite understand was a “terrorist attack” really was at that time. I find it weird that 9/11 hasn’t been turned into a national day of remembrance much like president’s day.
Hope, I believe along with Andy Dufrane is a very dangerous and powerful thing. Actually i think its the most powerful emotion, simply because there can always be hope, even in the worst of situations. Thats one thing we should all remember and keep in mind.
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I remember waking up and turning the television on, and at first, they mentioned the twin towers at first I thought that it was the men’s central jail since they call them like that too. That a riot was going on or something like that, until my boyfriend told me, “No, they mean the Twin Towers in New York!” I noticed that it impacted us all. I found myself letting go of grudges that I had with family member’s, just because we never know when it will be our last day and nothing is worth holding something inside and not speaking to our loved ones. I found many people looking towards religion more and attending church more than ever before. Neighbors talking more standing outside holding candles, and even attaching the American flag on the antenna’s of their car. We wore the t-shirt’s with symbols of the Statue of Liberty and showed our American pride. It is sad to see that it takes something bad to reunite us all. I felt bad for the people that died in those towers, the people trying to save them (firefighters, police officers, etc..), and we cannot forget those that went without a fight going to the Pentagon. I remember we were all in state of alert thinking anything could happen here, and we were all preparing ourselves. I was taking some classes at Los Angeles Valley College and since we were at high state of alert the classes were canceled. I saw the movie, “Remember Me” and I do not know if it is a true story, but each person that passed away there, had a different story to tell and family members that impacted them forever. May they rest in paradise.
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Reading your post was such an eye opener. From what you said about the Native Islanders,” I am not a Native Islander, not even a New Yorker, I am a Californian…but I was part of that energy transference. I knew they were playing for me as I dialed and dialed my brother’s number.” This made me feel as if I was important with all the struggles going through that time ,they could’ve helped me give me that energy. I did question a lot as to where is God when this happened? I was really really curious about the whole situation when it came to God and 9/11, but it is interesting hearing people’s theories.
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I remember this day clearly. I was in the 3rd grade, 8 years old. I was already in school, sitting at my desk. Out of no where, the principle gave an announcement to all the classes saying to turn on the televisions. We were watching the buildings as they burned and fell, people jumping out of the buildings, falling to their death. Immediately after that, so many of my classmates left, their parents were so scared that they came to pick them up from school. I was scared. The whole school stayed inside the whole day, the doors locked. I went to school, basically in the middle of downtown LA and the LAX airport, and there were rumors that planes were headed to either one of those places…till this day, I still get scared when I think about 9/11.
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On the day of September 11th I was 8 years old. I remember getting ready for school and my parents telling me what happened that morning. At 8 years old I didn’t really think logically about what happened but I do remember everyone’s reactions. The day it happened I remember the devastation of the erosion. However, one positive thing came out of this situation; America was united. People united together to help the people who were in trouble, and their families. September 11th was a terrible day that no one will ever forget.
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I remember a tiny bit of what happened when the terrorist attack came at September 11, 2001. I remember my father was watching the the news about the attack when my brother and I were getting ready for school. I remember he tried explaining to me what happened, but I did not really understand what he was talking about. I also remember my 3rd grade teacher asked the class what happened that day and she said it was a tragedy. I honestly did not understand why that happened because I was so young, but now that I am older I understood clearly about the situation. I feel like 9/11 is a day our whole nation became one because we all felt in our hearts that it was tragic day for the people who have died from this horrible devastation.
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Thank you for sharing this, shows your true character! I was only 10 years old at the time and i can honestly say it changed the way that i viewed the world. It was probably the first moment in my childhood life when i saw how “real” the world could get.
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I remember the day fairly well even though I was only 8 years old. I remember that this was the first time I really saw the world as a bigger place then just what I saw in my everyday life. I love how you pointed that out in this article, about how the world is connected, and we are all connected to everyone, not just the people we know.
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I was in 7th grade when this tragic event took place. I dont remember many days of 7th grade, but I remember this day. Everyday on the way to school my mom picked up my friend Heather, and every morning Heather and I called each other. Heather’s brother in law is in the Army and I remember her telling me that her sister was crying because her husband would probably have to go away to war. I was young at the time and had no idea what was going on, or the huge impact that event would have on the rest of my entire life. Eleven years later, I understand and comprehend that event in a totally different manner. I appreciate your post here, it really makes you think about life. The life we are living, the world we live in, and the things that we do.
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I remember the morning of 9/11. I was at home, just around the corner from where I live now and my mom called me. She told me to turn on the television. I remember watching as the day unfolded. Who would have thought we would have still been at war? How has the war morphed? Were we looking for revenge? It started out as a war on terror and then it was searching for weapons of mass destruction, which turned out not to exist. How many more died because of the war? The last estimate I heard is that the US would be out of afghanistan in 24 months. I think someone told me recently that the people we are training over in the middle east and using these tactics against us. Their have been so many tragedies. So much has happened in the 11 years since the attack. Too much to know or keep track of. The events that day and since that day have touched us all. We can only remember so much. Everyone seems to remember where they are on days of tragedy yet for some reason we have a hard time remembering where we were on days of joy. We all have so much to be joyful for
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I wish I could remember my exact moments and thoughts about 9/11. I was pretty young and wish I could have mentally experienced what went on more; but I feel as if the fact that it not being relevant to MY every day life, it didn’t really affect ME personally, if that makes sense. And I really love how your blog is straight forward and plain honest–it means a lot, and is easy to see through your words. My favorite part about this blog is where you talk about where God is in 9/11, and how God is in the people who fight for the country and save the people. I enlisted in the Marines because I want to be able to say I have helped our country or people in general, I hope I have an affect in everybody’s life and make a difference as well.
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It is very sad that what happened in the 9/11. It should be a normal day but it didn’t. I am an international student and when I saw the news, I cant help crying. I keep calling my relatives and friends in the US. It is lucky that they are all fine. However, it cause a global financial crisis. My father’s business was affected by it and I believe that the effect is bigger in the US.
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Everytime I remember 9/11 I get the chills I can only imagine the pain of the family members who had a lost one in this tragic event. I was in elementary school when 9/11 happened so of course the actual story was not said how it actually occured my parents and teachers tried to put this situation in the best way ever to not scare me; however, it is scary to think about how much hatred their is amongst this crazy world we live in. We need to stick together in order to prevent events like these from happening again. I believe no one was expecting this so we need to be prepared once again because we will never know whats coming our way now and not wait until another horrible incident occurs to unite. Do we have to unite only when a tradegy happens? This event touched each an one of us and it suck to know that their are people who like harming eachother due to rivalry. I feel as if it does nothing but crate tension and diminishes peace and yes I agree we need to do what we do best and stay together and showing support to one another.
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So first off I want to begin by saying that I responded to the blog site A WHILE AGO but just noticed that I wrote on an entirely different story… smart one Shelby. Second, I wanted to mention that I truly loved reading this blog. I was shocked at the way you opened with your journal, sharing such intimate details of your personal life, but LOVED how you did so. Reading this struck up my own personal memories of September 11th and waking up to the bad news. I was only in 5th grade and it was then in that moment when I had my first real moment of being PROUD TO BE AN AMERICAN and what being an American meant. I will never forget that day as along as I live. This blog illustrates what it means to stick together and to become a means of unity. It strikes awareness and holds people accountable so an incident like that cant and more so wont happen again. And most importantly it spreads support to everyone effected, because everyone was somewhere, with someone, doing something on that tragic day and it’s important that even though years have passed we continue to support and love.
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9/11 is embedded in the minds of all Americans in so many different ways, but I think everyone had thoughts about God, a higher power or simply the devastating effects of hatred that day. I remember it was only two days after my birthday on 9/9 and I was still staying over a friend’s house celebrating while my mother was away. I saw the fire and devastation light up the television screen as those magnificent twin towers collapsed. I was to young to understand the implications of that attack… to young to understand why someone, anyone would ever fill their actions with so much hatred and hurt so many people. I was to young then to realize that our nations was deeply, permanently affected. I understood slowly though as time went on and as troops where sent off and as President Bush made it America’s campaign against evil. It was evident in the way that we drew together to support our armed forces. Drew together to support those who had lost loved ones, friends and family. We drew together as a nation, maybe for once really UNITED. I guess like you said, “We were doing what we do.” Finally.
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i don’t remember what i was doing on that day. i think its partly because i don’t want to remember. it was such a heavy event that changed the lives of every single person in the world. it was very sad. not until years later did i realize that people came together. its sad that a tragic event always pulls people together.
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I remember the first Students for Quality Education meeting I attended (a student club on CSUN campus that organizes to defend our education). They were organizing for a march and a rally that would take place March 4, 2009. I remember the lead student organizer asking us what we were good at and what did we do best. Some people said they were really good with making banners, fliers, speaking in public, etc. The skills varied! When March 4th came, over seven thousand students, faculty, and community members were present. It was a very empowering moment! To make it clear though we weren’t the only organization organizing for this event, there were also unions. It was very much so a collective effort. Reading this blog reminded me that happened on March 4 , 2009 happened because we all did what we did and we did it together. I think it is important for us to realize that we all have a place and a role to play in changing the world. I really enjoyed this blog!
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I was only 8 years old when 9/11 happened. I remember i was coming home from school getting ready to watch my cartoons but on every channel their was breaking news of the attack. Since i was only 8 years old I did not know what was happening. I remember seeing the planes crashing into the building and people on top of the roof. It was a very sad time for the people in new york, and not until now i realized how much people came together and supported them.
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I was 8 years old when 9/11 happened. I remember i was coming home from elementary school and I was getting ready to watch m daily cartoons but on every channel their was breaking news coming in from new york. All i remember seeing was people running, building in flames and planes crashing into the building. It was a very sad time for New York and until now I did not realize how much we came together as a country to support them.
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I remember like it was just yesterday, this day is embedded in my head. I was in 8th grade and I was on my way to school listening to the radio unsure of what was happening. Our teacher kept the news on and we didn’t do any work that day, just watching the tragedy unfolding. I got taken out of school early because my family wanted to go visit with my brother and his wife. My brother was in the Marines at the time and we were unsure of what was going to happen. Once we got to my brother’s house my sister-in-law was very frightened because my brother wasn’t allowed to come home because his military base was on lock down. He eventually was allowed to come hope later that day and we were just sitting together watching the news and praying. Although it was a scary day I felt comforted because my family had come together and were there for each other. We had so many concerns on what was going to happen to our country and whether my brother would have to go to war. At that moment we did what we could and we were there for each other cherishing our time together. My brother thankfully didn’t have to go to the Afghanistan war but did have to go to the Iraq war. During his time in the military my family and I sent a lot of care packages to the troop, it was our way of doing something small. I believe Marie’s message is so powerful that if everyone does a little something and goes that extra mile we would live in a much better world. We shouldn’t wait for a tragedy to come together and be there for each other.
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Remembering 9/11 is always a hard thing seeing how the towers were collapsing and getting on fire. I was about 9 years old when this happened and it was something scary to see on TV. Flipping through all the channels looking for cartoon and not being able to see anything but the towers on fire, that was an image that i couldn’t get out of my head for a while. I didn’t quiet understand what was going on why there was planes crashing onto building, if it was an accident if it was on purpose if it was a terrorist attack it was unclear to me. 9/11 will always be a sad tragedy to remember.
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At the time of the collapse I was getting ready for and remembering that I thought that we were no longer safe as I thought we were. Seeing all the families and their stories still strikes a chord that is really painful. At school we had a discussion about it and I remember thinking that for a bunch of 5th graders we were a very close group after the collapse.
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I also remember this horrible tradegy that took place on 9/11. That was a horrible thing to face, because many loved ones died. I do think that it’s a good thing that every year when September 11 comes around, we all have a moment of silence in rememberance of all the ones who lost a loved one during that time. May all those people rest in peace.
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I remember when 9/11 happened; I was young and in Jr. High. I never understood the situation but all I remember was America in tragedy and then the word “terrorism”. My teacher in Jr. High looked freaked out and everyone just had their eyes locked on the news. It wasn’t until I started college that I began to critically analyze many situations. I never did this in High School, at least not for these kinds of situations. All I remember from after the 9/11 attacks was how many people got together and created a space where they could all grieve, love, understand, and support each other. Then right after everyone was angry. Anger was transformed into hatred, to terrorism.
P.S. When I read your article I definitely read it in a poetic way. The Native Islanders themselves could even blow their conch shells to this article upon reading it because it sounds so melodic. Nice!
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I can vaguely remember where I was and what I was doing during 9/11. I was in 4th grade sitting at my dining room table eating breakfast when my parents turned on the news and was devastated. The next thing I remember was sitting at my desk in my class room listening to my teacher explain what was going on. Immediately all I could think of was my friend that I made in summer school who was moving to New York. I didn’t know what part of New York she moved to, but I was very nervous that it was in the city where the terrorist attack was. Just like you said, you had no idea if your brother was safe or not, I had no idea if my friend was safe. I remember emailing her, but I never got a response. I know I was just a little kid at the time, I may have written down her email address wrong, but thinking about it now, I really do hope she was not near the city. I was too young to appreciate anything that was going on in respect of 9/11, but now I can finally realize how poetic it was especially the Native Islander and their conch shells. Thank you so much for sharing with us your experience during the 9/11 tragedy.
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Although 9/11 happened 11 years ago, I definitely remember the reaction everyone around me had that day. There was a sudden frozen reaction that I saw my teacher, fellow students, had. I wasn’t too familiar about the twin towers or how important that site/location was until we watched the news about the terrorist attack. I was in shock and didn’t realize the impact until later on that day when I watched the news more and saw so many people’s lives were taken and their families’ affected and broken because of their this sudden attack to their loved ones living in New York in that area. It was very tragic and a loss of so many people at once is very overwhelming, I believe that day became the starting point of America coming together in strength, hope, and improvement in lending a helping hand or ear.
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I was only seven on 9/11 , but I remember seeing the devastation among my family. The thought of what happened on 9/11 is sobering and a true tragedy. Through this hardship, I believe that God used this tragedy for the good of Americans. As you said, everyone did what they did best. The selflessness that this country held at that time was astonishing and admirable. The way we pulled together with a unwavering sense of unity, I have never witnessed and I don’t think we’ll ever witness that kind of strength and unity within my lifetime. It is awe-inspiring.
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I remember the morning of 9/11 as though it was yesterday. I was in 8th grade. I was just waking up and walked downstairs to my parent’s bedroom, like I did every morning. My parents started screaming. I jumped on their bed and didn’t really understand what was happening. I remember my parents being in shock and I kept asking them “why is that building on fire?” “why are people running and crying?” I ended up being a few hours late to school but the classroom TVs were on mute all day. The teachers tried to explain what was happening but honestly, I don’t think I fully understood the meaning until a few months afterwards. Lately it has been the east coast storm Sandy that has America coming together and donating to. . It’s interesting that it takes a huge catastrophe to bring people together and I am still asking “why?”
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I remember the morning of 9/11 very vividly. My brother and I were getting ready for school, and my mom was unpacking our luggages, because we had just returned home from a trip to NY visiting my mom’s family. As she would every morning, my mother had turned on the morning news, and all of a sudden we saw breaking news and it showed the twin towers. it was around 6:15am and our house phone wouldn’t stop ringing. All of my moms family members were calling to let us know they were okay, and if any one called to let them know because they weren’t able to call anyone within the tristate area. I couldn’t believe the buildings I had so many memories at, going to work with one of my mom’s cousins, wouldn’t be there the next time we went to New York. Its been 11 years, yet I get sad every time I remember, or see anything that reminds me of the WTC. Even though we didn’t lose any immediate family members, a distant relative did end up getting trapped in the building because she was helping one of her coworkers,who was a new mom, escape. Its very sad that people usually come together only during sad times, and now after 11 years mostly show their “patriotism” a few days before the 9/11 anniversaries. I wish people would be as kind/respecting/caring of one another. as they were the few weeks and month right after the attack , all the time.
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I was nine on the morning of 9/11. I did not quite know what was going on, but i distinctly remember that everyone was in a state of shock. My teacher ( I was in elementary school) stood in class, eyes transfixed on the TV, forgetting we were even in class at all. My mom, who dropped me off at school tried to explain to me what was going on but I was more interested in finding my friends to play our games. After a few days of news watching, I started to understand the significance of the situation, that war would be coming, and that ugly times were ahead. Sure enough, people were flying out to the middle east for war, Baghdad was being bombed, people were dying, and the numbers kept rising. It was a crazy time in my life and in the history of our country, and I hope nothing that drastic happens again.
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