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Everyone can remember where they were on September 11th.
I was in middle school on Long Island, NY when an announcement rang over the loudspeaker: "There's been an incident at the World Trade Center."
No one quite knew what to think.
I was in middle school on Long Island, NY when an announcement rang over the loudspeaker: "There's been an incident at the World Trade Center."
No one quite knew what to think.
My mom picked me up from school that day and tried to explain what happened. I had learned she tried to take me out of school earlier in the day, but the school would not allow it. I still couldn't comprehend what it all meant. I in no way could imagine the extent of the tragedy.
As I returned home, Jordy and I started goofing around per usual. My father, who works in the heart of New York City called to assure us he was safe. That's when the gravity of it all started to kick in. I turned on the news and watched with abject horror. We had been attacked.
There was no joking around anymore. I stayed glued to the TV the rest of the day. The next few months were scary. Threats of other attacks. Anthrax scares. Through it all, however, I've never seen a more united community. We were proud to be New Yorkers. Proud to be Americans.
As we know now, this feeling of unity was ultimately exploited to tragic ends. It led us to war. It devastated our economy. It instilled us with fear. And tragically I believe these feelings of panic were the seeds that grew into our divisions today.
I don't believe all is lost. We need a leader who speaks to the best in us. We need to get back to the concept of objective truth. We need to stand for our values, even in discomfort. Democracy hangs in the balance this election. We are the ones we have been waiting for. /End
