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Remembering 9/11
By Kaelee Germain
It was just like any other day around the world 15 years ago; families woke
up, got dressed, ate together, and left for their busy work day ahead.
However, 2996 of those American workers wouldn’t come home at the end
of the day, while 6,000 more would be injured during it. This day, of course,
will forever be remembered simply as “9/11.” It began with Al Qaeda
hijacking two American flights. At 8:06 am, American Airlines Flight 11
struck the north World Trades Center tower and at 9:03 United Airlines
Flight 175 struck the south World Trades Center tower. Exactly 102 minutes
is the time difference between the first attacks to the collapse of both towers.
It’s ironic isn’t it? That only 102 minutes separated our country from a
normal work day to our country’s leaders wanting war on Al Qaeda for
destroying the lives and futures of many Americans. In 102 minutes, the
average person may complete homework or go through a daily team
practice or make supper and have the dishes cleaned and put away. Yet
those 102 minutes are what changed America leading into the rest of the
twenty-first century.
As of 2016, one may spot the differences in our country, from the amped up
security at airports that take (on busy days) over an hour and a half to get
through, or the racism that’s been created against Muslims from our fears of
the terrorists that share the same religion, or even the creation of Homeland
Security. Even the harsh views of presidential candidates (you know the
one) on allowing Muslim immigrants into the country is a hard topic to create
views on now. On a slightly brighter note, there have been many examples
of unity that have brought this country together in part of the attacks. These
acts of unity include the creation of “Ground Zero” in New York City,
speeches made by political and community leaders alike, and the moment of
silence that begins the school day each day. America is not the only country
to have dealt with such catastrophe on this scale before. On the 22 of March
this year, bombers in Brussels killed nearly 32 people at Zaventem
International Airport. Before that, gunmen and suicide bombers killed over
100 people during the Paris attacks on November 13
th
.
Even before 9/11 there have been bombers and gunmen and all sorts of
evil. The importance of each of these events is how the world picks itself up
each time. To show that
a nation of the people
is far greater than
one
hateful, single-minded individual and that
nations of the people
have the
unity that can overcome
hundreds
of hateful individuals no matter how
gruesome they may be. On this September 11
th
, we must remember those
who have died due to the attacks, those who continue to fight for our
freedom against the same forces responsible for the attacks, and those who
are leading us as we come together as a country to move forward from the
attacks.
“Home”
By Eve Pouliot
My average day goes pretty simply. I
wake up and I’m exhausted from the
inability to sleep the previous night. But, I
get up. When you have things to do that’s
what you do. As the school day
progresses I do my best to push through
the tiredness and I have a really good
day most days. I get to be social and
productive. I love doing those things. But
by the end of the day I’m tired again. But
this time it’s not from a lack of sleep. It’s
because I really
don’t
want to go home.
My home life is sort of messed up right
now and it has been for a while. So I
don’t like it. But I understand that a lot of
people are the opposite way for one
reason or another. They have a rough
time at school and a good time at home. I
know there are some people who don’t
want to do either. They don’t want to be
at home and they don’t want to be at
school. I understand that too. Maybe
there are also people who like both. Let
me tell you, if you are one of those
people I envy you. But anyway, I’ve been
thinking and I bet there is a place in
everyone’s life that they actually feel
good. This place can be hard to find but I
bet it exists for everyone. Sometimes that
place is in plain sight but because you
feel so awful you don’t see it. But it’s
there and I encourage you to find this
place. I encourage you to find your home.
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