So today's post is not one that has to do with my new path of life. I instead want to step back 11 years ago today and reflect on that one act of terrorism that has forever changed how our country thinks/feels.
As I walked into my classroom today, I knew that I wanted to discuss with my students not just the events from 9/11 but also the lasting effects that 9/11 has had. It is difficult still for me to fathom that many of my students are too young to remember the events that happened. I struggle with how to impart on them the huge impact this has had and continues to have on our every day lives. This is something that they have always had to live with, as far as they can remember. The sheer size of the event is difficult still to comprehend, even for me...someone who is old enough to not only remember where I was when the news hit the country, but also old enough to remember how I was feeling, or actually the numbness that I felt that day.
Watching documentaries today, I again start to feel those emotions come rushing back to me, but also new ones as I begin to better comprehend how a wife or sister or aunt or friend would feel knowing that a special person in their lives is now a wonderful memory for them to keep. I also remember how this country came together and stood as one against a threat that was so unknown to us. It was amazing to see flags literally everywhere...on cars, in yards, hanging from houses, worn by people...everywhere.
However, this solidarity seems to be dissipating from our country. Over the past 11 years we have become much more solitary creatures. We are terrified of anyone who looks "un-American" whatever that may mean. Anyone who even resembles someone who could be from another country is automatically shunned. This is not the America that we claim was "united." America is a country made of families who immigrated, no matter how long ago or how recently. This is the America that we should be fighting to hold on to, not the one we have created that breeds hate or distrust among those who may be different.
I realized that this has become such an ingrained way of thinking after spending the day with my students and hearing some of the things they said. It was disturbing to hear how such a mistrust of others has become a part of our culture and I only hope we can once again be more accepting of people who don't fit the mold of what our society calls "American."
I also want to take a moment to thank anyone who may be reading this that has served our country to protect our freedoms and also to the first responders who gave of themselves to work at Ground Zero. Today helps us to realize that while we are already beginning to memorialize the events from that day, we are still healing.
As I walked into my classroom today, I knew that I wanted to discuss with my students not just the events from 9/11 but also the lasting effects that 9/11 has had. It is difficult still for me to fathom that many of my students are too young to remember the events that happened. I struggle with how to impart on them the huge impact this has had and continues to have on our every day lives. This is something that they have always had to live with, as far as they can remember. The sheer size of the event is difficult still to comprehend, even for me...someone who is old enough to not only remember where I was when the news hit the country, but also old enough to remember how I was feeling, or actually the numbness that I felt that day.
Watching documentaries today, I again start to feel those emotions come rushing back to me, but also new ones as I begin to better comprehend how a wife or sister or aunt or friend would feel knowing that a special person in their lives is now a wonderful memory for them to keep. I also remember how this country came together and stood as one against a threat that was so unknown to us. It was amazing to see flags literally everywhere...on cars, in yards, hanging from houses, worn by people...everywhere.
However, this solidarity seems to be dissipating from our country. Over the past 11 years we have become much more solitary creatures. We are terrified of anyone who looks "un-American" whatever that may mean. Anyone who even resembles someone who could be from another country is automatically shunned. This is not the America that we claim was "united." America is a country made of families who immigrated, no matter how long ago or how recently. This is the America that we should be fighting to hold on to, not the one we have created that breeds hate or distrust among those who may be different.
I realized that this has become such an ingrained way of thinking after spending the day with my students and hearing some of the things they said. It was disturbing to hear how such a mistrust of others has become a part of our culture and I only hope we can once again be more accepting of people who don't fit the mold of what our society calls "American."
I also want to take a moment to thank anyone who may be reading this that has served our country to protect our freedoms and also to the first responders who gave of themselves to work at Ground Zero. Today helps us to realize that while we are already beginning to memorialize the events from that day, we are still healing.
