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Copyright © 2001-2007 Novey Chou |
 September 11, 2001 September 15, 2001 Unless you've been hybernating this past week, you've probably seen and heard about the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center in New York City and the Pentagon. There's no word to describe the shock when I saw the news on CNN Tuesday morning. I froze in horror at the sights of the destruction of the Twin Towers in the familiar NYC skyline. Once I was able to snap out of the initial shock, first came the uncontrollable sobs and tears, then the realization that some of my friends might be caught in the midst of the destruction. I frantically dialed the numbers of my NYC friends and not surprisingly was unable to get through to any. I spent the rest of the day dialing the numbers and watching the coverage of the attack on cable news channels. Something I read on the Internet gave me the idea to send emails to my friends since most of the Internet services were undisturbed. By the end of the day most have responded to be shaken but safe. In the following days there were reported development in the investigation of who the prepetrators are and how they've managed to bring terror to the American soil in a scale never seem before. Arrests were made and people were questioned. It became clear that this attack may very well be the works of one fanatic Muslim Arab extremist Bin Laden and his supporters. Talks of war escalated, world nations lined up to show support and solidarity with the Americans, foreigners in Afghanistan are being evacuated and Arab/Muslim-Americans are feeling the sting of being seen as guilty by association. In the midst of all these are the victims still trapped under the debris, their loved ones holding vigils next to the fallen towers and the rescue workers who risk their lives tirelessly digging through the rubbles focusing on finding survivors. Having lived in the US for about half of my life, I have never felt so close to this nation as I do now. I have known to criticize the foreign policies of this nation and sometimes taken side with the opposing (knowing full well that it is a priviledge that I have the freedom to do/feel just that in this country), but when push comes to shove as it did this week, my whole heart and being is with our country and our people. Just as the Republicans and Democrates unite in their voice, the Americans and the non-American residents of this country unite in theirs. I have never been more proud of America than I do this week. And I've never realized just how much I love America till this week. I want to dedicate this page to all the victims of this tragedy, and all the people who feel the same hole in their hearts. I hope that our government will have the wisdom to seek justice in a way that no more innocent people will have to perish. Please remember that our goal should be to seek justice, not revenge. Otherwise it means the terrorists are successful in destroying our way of life, our belief in individual civil rights and the judicial system. I leave you with a wallpaper of the Twin Towers as I will always remember them, and this song by Don Henley: Remember when the days were long And rolled beneath a deep blue sky Didn't have a care in the world With mommy and daddy standing by When "happily ever after" fails And we've been poisoned by these fairy tales The lawyers dwell on small details Since daddy had to fly But I know a place where we can go That's still untouched by man We'll sit and watch the clouds roll by And the tall grass wave in the wind You can lay your head back on the ground And let your hair fall all around me Offer up your best defense But this is the end This is the end of the innocence O' beautiful, for spacious skies But now those skies are threatening They're beating plowshares into swords For this tired old man that we elected king Armchair warriors often fail And we've been poisoned by these fairy tales The lawyers clean up all details Since daddy had to lie But I know a place where we can go And was away this sin We'll sit and watch the clouds roll by And the tall grass wave in the wind Just lay your head back on the ground And let your hair spill all around me Offer up your best defense But this is the end This is the end of the innocence Who knows how long this will last Now we've come so far, so fast But, somewhere back there in the dust That same small town in each of us I need to remember this So baby give me just one kiss And let me take a long last look Before we say good bye Just lay your head back on the ground And let your hair fall all around me Offer up your best defense But this is the end This is the end of the innocence |
