September 11

I don't think the world will ever forget this unprecedented act of cowardice - the terrorist attack on America at the World Trade Centre Towers in New York City and The Pentagon in Washington. Twelve years later, I remember things so clearly.... September 11, 2001 was a Tuesday, the second day of the new school year.. At 4:00 pm (9:00 am New York Time) I was in class with my Pre-Intermediate kids (11 year-olds). The class finished at 4:30 pm. My Intermediate kids had already been waiting in the hall. They looked pale and scared. I thought it was the back-to-school-shock- after- the- summer break. I smiled at them and said:

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"Hey!!!  It's not the end of the world...just another school year! And summer will come again!".

Then one of my students solemnly said:

" Miss, it's the end of the world for some people.... You know, I saw it on TV ... the Twin Towers in New York fell down and many people were killed!"

That student - one of the best I've ever had - is a bright boy with a vivid imagination.  I smiled again and said:

" So,  aliens from outer space attacked the USA.....Right?"

"No, Miss", another kid said " Not aliens...terrorists! It's on TV"

And as I rushed into my office, a girl asked:

"What's a terrorist?"

"A terrorist", I answered, "is a very bad person who wants to scare innocent people and sometimes kill them."

I turned on the TV in my office ..... I couldn't believe that was real! I cried my heart out and  still have tears in my eyes 12 years later.. I don't have the words to express the horror, the shock and the revulsion I felt while watching briefly on CNN what was happening in the USA.

Let us not forget and let us pray for all the innocent victims. May they all rest in peace.

 

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Ironically enough, September 11 is also a birthday celebration: my great friend Walid's birthday but also the birthday of this blog. On September 11, 2004 I joined TypePad - the best blogging plarform ever - and have never regretted it since then : 953 posts and 6,553 comments in addition to your visits. Thank you very much from the bottom of my heart.

This post has been slightly adapted from my post published on September 11, 2011

 

Comments

[Agnes]

hard to believe 12 years have passed...

[Faith]

Anastasia, I remember this day so vividly. Being a teacher, I was just beginning the day and seeing the innocent smiles of small children. My friend came to me and said, come to the Media Center. I did and what I saw broke my heart. I sobbed!!! I looked at these children who would grow up either to hate or love the world. I wondered of the impact of the World Trade towers. I thought of the firefighters and police officers who risked their lives, many of them sacrificing their lives to save others (my brother was a fire fighter). I remember calling my brother and saying I was so afraid for him. His comment to me was, "Cookie, I love what I do. I would do anything to help someone else". Today my nephew is also a fire fighter and he says the same thing. My 19 yr old nephew is an Army Infantryman. He wants to protect his country from any other terrorists who might try to attack. I pray for them (and others) all the time. I weep for children growing up in a world of so many uncertainties... and then I think, My hope is not in the world but in Jesus. I have to give my family to Jesus every day and stay in peace knowing whatever happens, HE already knows what is happening. My hope, my peace is in God.

[Anastasia]

Indeed, it's hard to believe that 12 years have passed since then. Time heals all wounds, doesn't it?

[Anastasia]

I can only imagine how terrible it was for you to hear on the news that this outrageous act of cowardice was actually happening in your own country! I believe in God and pray for peace in the world every day, especially considering what is happening in Syria - just around my part of the world.