Where were you then? Where are we now?

It's September 11, 2010, and this question is being asked a lot.

For the record, I was in a philosophy of knowledge class in the Palumbo Center at Gannon University.  The classroom was windowless, in the back of the Honors Program department on the third floor.  I had gotten there early to finish some reading, around 8:00a for an hour and a half class that started at 9:20a. 

So my first reaction was, "Oh, a plane hit a building in New York City."  I'd not seen any video, just heard things from the people who came in and had heard and seen the news.  The professor came in, said a few words about having to go on, and we did.

Later, a bit after 10:00a, someone went to the bathroom, and came back saying that one of the towers had fallen.  It really didn't shock me as much then, I didn't really know anything about the World Trade Center, even as a college senior at that point.  Most of my knowledge in those buildings were wrapped up in the one episode of The Simpsons and remembering it had been bombed before in 1993.  (I even remember where I was when I heard about the 1993 bombing, in the back seat of the minivan listening to the radio as my parents were driving out for their weekly meeting with their Amway sponsor.) 

Once class was over and we left, the main halls of Palumbo had couches and televisions mounted on the wall.  It was impossible to walk through, because everyone was just staring at the TVs.  That image, of everyone just frozen in place, enthralled at the looping images of plane crashing into tower, then tower coming down, lather, rinse, repeat, is the first that I associate with that day.

Last weekend, I flew to Seattle for a convention.  Talking about that trip was going to be this blog post, but as much as I wanted to post that, for some reason I felt I had to talk about the attacks today; that I'd be branded as some sort of anti-American heretic for refusing to talk about the 9/11 attacks on the anniversary. 

9 years ago we constantly said we'd never forget.  I tend to think more often than not these days we forget about 300 days out of the year, then flash remember as August starts to wain and September double digit days draw nearer.

The big news of the past week was not about the attacks, but of some church pastor who said he was going to burn Korans to make a statement.  Sure, it's protected free speech in this country, but actions have consequences, positive and negative, and odds were great there would be some dire consequences had that action gone down.  Then today comes around, and everyone is doing like I'm doing, remembering the heroes and the sacrifices. 

Maybe it's good we all still have this gut reaction to this date in history: it really seems to be the only time we can remember everything and reflect back on what's happened.  It'd be really bad if we started turning 9/11 into a Memorial Day or Labour Day, when we vaguely reflect on the reason for the day off and instead party through a 3 day weekend.  (Something I'm perfectly guilty of at times myself, just so I'm not pointing fingers at others I can't point at myself.)

I'd still like to have to not take my shoes off at an airport and be able to bring a full water bottle on one of these day though.  There's bound to be some point between vigilance and remembrance, and silly over reactions.

Comments

[Dena Dyer]

Welcome to THC! :) We're glad to have you as a part of the network.

[Miky]

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