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As I write this,it has been 2 weeks since the worst terrorist attack in U.S. history has struck my city,New York.It has also struck in our nations capitol and in near Pittsburgh,PA.I was gathered around a radio with some friends when I first heard.By that time both towers had been struck.I figured everything would be fine,but then I heard someone screaming on the radio,"Oh my god!! one of the towers just fell!!".Right away I was in shock,I was the st.George section of Staten Island,which has a great view of New York Harbor and the skyline.Me and a few people ran outside to a nearby peir and I think I speak for everyone who was there,that It was the most surreal sight we have ever seen.At that point,one of the towers was still standing,but it was black,and there was smoke all over.We then walked back to where we were,and by that time the second tower had collapsed.I then heard the Pentagon was hit,and the White house was hit,then seattle and Cleveland and Chicago was hit,of course those were jsut rumors,and thankfully I later found out that most of them were not true.I was still in shock.So many questions raced through my mind.How will New York ever recover from this? Are my friends and family ok?How many people are injured and worse? What is next? Am I going to die? I couldn't understand and still can't comprehend why anyone would do such a thing to all of those innocent people.Many feeling ahve gone through my mind since then.Anger for the people who did this.Relief at the fct that most of my friends were physically ok,save for one,who wasn't hurt that bad.Fear for the fact that my life,and everyone's lives will never evr be the same again.I don't want to go to war.I don't want to die yet.Some people may think that I am a coward,and maybe I am,but I don't think that killing other people will solve anything.I also don't think that Bush is fit enough to lead this country at a time like this,but i'll save that rant for another time.But after all the anger and fear,I calmed down a bit and thought about the heros.The Firefighters,Police officers,EMS workes and just plain people off of the street who risked their lives to help others.Rescue Company no.5 from Staen Island was among the first there.Rescue Company 5 lost almost everyone.Their truck came back to Staten Island the nexy morning with the glass broke,mirrors broken,covered in dust and driven by other firefighters.Then there are the volunteers.Firemen and Emergency workers from all over the world.Canada,Peurto Rico,England.A rescue team from Oklahoma city came in to help the brothers that helped them when they suffered.Mayor Rudy Guliani and Govener George Pataki have been pillars of strength throughout the whole ordeal.They have barely rested in nearly 2 weeks.Mayor Guliani was even trapped in a buliding for a short amount of time.The man is running a city that has had part of it's heart ripped out,and he keeps going,like a rock.He deserves a great deal of respect and should be allowed to stay in office.
We are New Yorkers,we are tough and we will make it through this,it will take time,years,possibly even decades,but we are,and always will be the greatest city EVER.People talk about rebuilding the towers,I say no,rebuild the spirit of the city,cause that is what's important.Eventually,hopefully,this will be but a tragic memory in the fabric of time.
Like Morgan Freeman says in the movie;"The shawshank redemption","Either you get busy living,or you get busy dying." What are you gonna do?? |
