September 11, 2002
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Do you have any thoughts to share about this one year anniversary of the September 11th attacks in the US?

It was a terrible tragedy.My thoughts and prayers are with all who have suffered through this. I don't think there's really anything I can add that hasn't been said already.

Cara, 18
Valparaiso

My thoughts are what it might be like to be on top of a tall building with no way down but out the window. Thoughts of lives ended abruptly. Thoughts of what is next. Thoughts of family far away and family close. Thoughts of things that have not been tied up. Thoughts of which world leaders are on our side. Those that are not, will they fight against us? Thought of never seeing world peace in my lifetime. Thought of being too old to join the military. Thought of what can I do? I love my country. I love other countries as well. I would like us all to have a balance. Typically that meant the US did things for other countries with good intentions. We were totally ignorant to the real situation. Then we leave and they are no longer in our news. Out of site out of mind. God help us to be better citizens in this world, and help us to be better stewards of this earth.

Christopher, 28
San Mateo, CA USA

My thoughts go out to those who lost a loved one in this terrible tragedy.

Tam

I know that I haven't felt this emotional since my wedding day. Something about reliving that day,
hearing all of the news reports again, hearing the song, "A World I Know" by Collective Soul with all of those news clippings in it, hearing the National Anthem and America the Beautiful... it's almost sensory overload. I can recall the day clearly, but I think what sticks with me is that following week at the Kansas State football game... when the National Anthem was played... I, nor anyone else around me, has probably ever sang that song so loudly or proudly in our lives... and I don't think there was a dry eye in the house. I'm proud of my country and I will never forget.

9-11 Never Forget

Doug2, 29
Overland Park, KS USA

Not to share right now, no.

Fisch, 47
Preston, CT USA

I feel that it has been a year of pain, suffering, and sorrow. However, from these emotions we as Americans will grow stronger from this terrible ordeal. We have learned a great many lessons. In the end, I think the true American citizen will no longer take for granted the rights of life,
liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

Melodi, 19
Gahanna, OH USA

I hadn't realized how much 9/11 has affected me until this morning. I had a hard time keeping it together, because everything- all the feelings, all the images- kept rushing back. I think that our wounds are still very raw; we must move on, but at the same time, we must NEVER forget.

Jeremy, 14
Highlands Ranch, CO USA

I really wish that I could have spent this day at home wiht my loved ones watching coverage on the TV. Instead, it was just another day of school and work. Another anxious day of reading MSNBC and CNN headlines. That's ok, though. So far, everything's still OK. That's enough.

Firelady, 24
Frisco, TX USA

Not really, only a certain amount of confusion as to what is the most appropriate way to mark such a day.

Jane, 62
West Linn, OR USA

That I'm sick of dwelling on the whole thing. . .And that they need to come up with a better name than "September 11th" for the attacks.

Karen, 22
Ames, IA USA

All the news stories over the last week have dredged up some sadness and I've been feeling a bit off. I really hadn't expected it to affect me at all this 1 year anniversary.

Felicia, 36
Lowell, MA USA

It was very hard to deal with it because of all the media hype. I got in the habit of turning off the radio and skipping the articles in the newspaper. I don't know how people who were directly affected could handle it. It was like reliving the whole thing over and over again. I went to Mass in
the morning, called a good friend who was directly affected by the NYC attacks (she lives in the financial district) and was in a bad mood all day.

Laura, 37
Lowell, MA USA

Many people--including media planners--seem to be confused between Days of Remembering and National Holidays. In my mind, Remembrance is an individual pursuit. I have no quarrel with people who prefer to grieve in public, but I am not one of them.

Jill, 61
Saylorsburg, PA USA

I turned off the TV. It was a tragedy, and I'm still angry at the terrorists, but it's time to move on. Too much dwelling on the sadness gets maudlin. I just didn't want to go through it all again.

Judy, 62
Easton, KS USA

I'm answering this on the 12th, I awoke yesterday scared, of what I do not know. I thought we would have another day like last year and it really worried me. I am so glad that nothing had happened. I do not feel so stressed and I pray that we do not have another September 11th.

KarenNJ, 25
Milltown, NJ USA

It certainly was a sad day. I guess this is how my parents felt about Pearl Harbor. It was such a shock. I have been feeling blue all week. I went to work. (I work in Newark NJ by NYC) and take the Northeast corridor train in. So I was a little apprehensive about take mass transit. At work we
watched the remembrances on TV. It was a somber day. That night our town unveiled a monument commemorating 9-11 and listing the township people would died in the WTC attacks at a candle light service.

Janet, 44
E. Brunswick, NJ USA


This is a thought that I've made pretty vocal around Columbia University recently. Columbia, last year, cancelled classes on 9/11, but didn't cancel classes the rest of the week. We're in NYC. My friends in WV got out of classes that week. So this year, Ithought it would be a nice gesture for Columbia to cancel classes on 9/11 to allow students to go home and spend time with their families. Columbia did not, ignoring the letter-writing campaign I started. They had a ceremony at 8 in the morning, so it didn't interfere with classes, and that was that. Not a word spoken. You wouldn't have even known the date on that day. However, Columbia is getting a new president this year, and they've cancelled classes on the inauguration day to hold various festivities. What a
bunch of assholes. President Lee Bollinger can kiss my ass. I hate this school.

Cancer, 20
NYC, NY U
SA

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