My generation is defined by September 11th, 2001 and the ways in which the country changed after that act of terrorism.
In 2011, I was twelve years old, old enough to be aware of the way things were and see how much things have changed. I was old enough to recall every moment of that day as well as my confusion about what had happened. I instantly knew the travesty of the events, but I would not understand until later the gravity to which they would affect my life.
Every person I know can recount exactly where they were and how they found out that day, eleven years ago. Anyone who was cognizant of the world around them is aware of how our world changed. For those like me, immediately after hearing of the attacks, our sense of security and safety would be forever extinguished; for others, it took a little longer. Ever since that day, I have the constant trepidation of evil and hatred in the world. And I have a lack of understanding for those misanthropes that cause pain in the hearts of any individual regardless of sexuality, religion, age, gender, nationality, or ethnicity. To this day, this affects me in subtle ways that are not always obviously apparent.
When the towers came down, I never imagined that I would one day live in New York. Even when moving to New York, it did not cross my mind how the history of this city would affect my life here. I an uneasy every time an alarm goes off in my office building. When a terrorist attack or an event that causes individuals to evacuate a building occurs, I become concerned. The city that I live is no longer a tiny town in the Midwest but the city iconic of America and the previous target of numerous attacks. When something in New York gains national attention, my mother is the first one to call to make sure I was where I should be and not where the event has occurred. The high security that has resulted from 9/11 is not something I only encounter at the airport any more. Police in the subway checking bags, at Bryant Park before a movie, at any public place that draws a crowd. Police all around. Whenever I go downtown and get off the subway near Fulton or the WTC, I feel an internal agitation of feelings to be near Ground Zero and at the foot of the Freedom Tower (One WTC). While the new WTC buildings are erected, they are a beautiful sight in the skyline; however, to me, they will always represent the rebuilding of lives, business, country and spirit after September 11th, 2001.
I am unsure that I will ever live through the anniversary without shedding a tear. The repercussions extend far beyond the families and infrastructure destroyed. From the lung disease and cancers first responders suffer to the trillions in debt our nation is in from fighting “the war on terrorism,” the repercussions has shaped my generation and those that come after it. I do not believe that time will ever make my turbulence about being certain places in the city fade. For I will forever remember that day and honor the lives lost and the heroes made.
For some amazing 9/11 stories:
The Real Heroes are Dead (New Yorker)
Nation Stands In Disbelief And Horror (WSJ/Pulitzer Prize Winner)
Amazing photo.
The Photo is a great opener.
If you look carefully you also see the city which continued to live and be busy as ever. Evil and hatred have always been in the world, but we should not fear it. We should go against it. You continued Hatred is based on the extreme dislike or the dislike intensity which brings down the positive thinking of some one. enmity is a negative thing we better get rid off.
The world is too beautiful to let you become warp in a negative spiral by all the hate which, I do agree, can find in this world. But when you look carefully, you shall be able to see, in the small things of life, the nicer things, the beauty which is in the heart of many and even more in nature.
Being brought up as an Evangelical, you probably heard about how
God carries His people and is willing to guide those who seek Him. He has placed in every hearth of His creation the seed, either to rot in the sun, to grow on the rocks, or to be laying in fertile earth, to grow-up and to be fertile on its own.Looking at your website, it seems that today, you are ready to tackle the world, and to have your stem coming up higher in between the weeds.
Several weeds are very good for health, but we need to know how to use them and have to be sure not to overuse or to go over the allowed quantity.
The good and the bad, can all come to our advantage. Even from the worst experience we have got we can learn a lot, if we are willing to learn from it and do not use it to get self-pity.Self-deception, self-delusion, self-deceit do all have the ‘self’ as the core. Persons can have a feeling which is more concerned about their self; they may have a self-complacency, a self-assertion, and would like to be self-sufficient in the world which either has to turn around their ego or in which they want to find a place for their ego. No matter what happens, somewhere they and we do have to fit in this world.
Better is it to be in self-control and to direct that self-command from a secure inside, full of self-possession. Today you are at that turning point to find that restraint were the positivism shall be stronger than the negativism. In a certain way it is only by letting the positive ideas come into your mind that you shall regain your self-control.
When living in a cosmopolitan city it is important that you have a protective shield around you.
Being in an environment where there are thousands of people you should be aware that with more than one million different characters, the place shall have to face different opinions and very different situations each day. Why should you tremble every time an alarm goes off in your office building? Does that mean that you did not prepare yourself beforehand? Have you not looked at all the possible exits and ways out when this or that happens. Wherever you come you should try to see what could happen when fire brakes out or when there are some lunatics who bring others and you in danger and cause panic. Knowing what to do shall make you more secure. For sure living in such a big city, you shall encounter more than one unpleasant experience, sometimes with a lot of violence. The cities I lived in: Antwerp, Köln, London, where smaller that New York, but also there I encountered more than once violence. Several times I had to flee places for the attacks of the IRA, and I still get goose pimples when I see the blood spread after the bomb attacks. (Also the noise of the people screaming does not go out of my head at certain moments, when the remembrance is back there.) Being concerned is good, and much better than being afraid. Though in a certain way the fear shall always be there. But it is better for your own protection that you try to make your insight spiritual life stronger so that you do not fear the people so much,
but fear more God.I do agree I also was not so sure when 7 people attacked me and one kept pushing a knife into my coat. But I kept calm and did not want to let me do. I walked further to the exit of the park, in the hope to encounter people who could come to my rescue, with a soft but decided voice. I got back under the people on the street, facing only a few cuts and having to buy a new coat. but I was alive and kicking again.
Having worked in the show-business I was often on the streets late at night (or should I say early in the morning) and a target for muggers and rapists. The thieves I could mostly keep away from me, taking on such a body language, they knew they should not come to close or should stop following me. Showing fear is making you the easy prey.
Now I am retired, I got some part-time work as a security officer, and I want to warn you that terrorists and scum shall always be one step before us. The work we do is really necessary (I am afraid I do have to admit.) So be pleased there are all those security checks at airports, train-stations and other public places. But never forget you have to be prepared too. Being aware of what can go wrong shall help you when there goes something wrong.
But know that you only live once, and when your time to go shall come, it will be there, whatever you try to do. But we should show others that we can be stronger than they think. And that strength has to be build from the inside of your self. Bit by bit, day by day, by trying to learn from the good but also from the bad experiences, you shall be able to build up your personality and make yourself stronger.
I wish you the best of luck with your journey into the world of becoming a better you.
You misunderstood my wording. (I have since changed it.) I am not afraid of anything, literally. I don’t fear the hatred of the world because I am disillusioned and think it is going to attack me. I fear for the future due to acts of violence, terrorism, etc. and the repercussions of these acts. I do not believe this country or world is handling these things in a correct way.
In addition, I am well aware of the meaning of the word hate. I do not believe you have any authority to tell me how to live my life. If you ask anyone who knows me, I am one of the most positive people they have met. I am all about action and not about dwelling. Actually, I believe you understood my point but skewed it.
Also, if you had looked at my other posts, you would be well aware that I believe there is absolutely no higher power. I adamantly believe that and HATE having grown up in a religious community. (Therefore, I didn’t read any of your sentences that have the words “him” capitalized or “god”.) I leave your post up for others to read but edited. I would appreciate in the future that you do not preach in my comments nor do you direct any unsolicited advice at me.
My entire point is to address the ways in which things have changed since that day and acknowledge those who were there or affected (like my roommate). I cannot write about anyone else’s experiences but my own. So that is the perspective that I choose.
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