Attack On America

I have started this special-edition, interactive commentary for everyone who wishes to participate.  Your comments will not be edited or censored, however I DO ask that you refrain from propagating rumors or unfounded reports.  Your comments, feelings, and opinions ARE welcome.  Pencil Stubs Online and AMEA Publications does not endorse nor accept any responsibility for the comments and statements contained in this document, including those made by myself.  You are welcome to post multiple times as your feelings and thoughts evolve, creating a kind of journal for your experiences.  No one is required to include their name or email address to comment, these fields are merely here for those willing to put them beside their comments.

That being said, I will now start off this commentary with my own thoughts.

     It is with mixed emotions that I write this.  Part of me wants to turn the other cheek, not to react to violence with violence.  Yet the Army Veteran, the Proud American, the overload of testosterone and youth make me want to nuke the sons of bitches that did this to us, but only after we beat them to a bloody pulp.  I know I'm not alone in these feelings, that is why I am encouraging your comments.

     As my co-workers began to arrive at the office, (I'm usually the first one in) I overheard them asking each other if they heard about the plane the struck the World Trade Center.  I didn't think too much of it, it seems planes are always crashing these days, however it was moments later that we discovered that the second plane had struck.  We quickly had a television set up that we normally use for training videos and tuned into the local NBC affiliate.

     It was then that we realized that the "accident" was no accident.  Throughout the morning as the events unfolded, and I witnessed the destruction to the World Trade Center in New York City, followed by the Pentagon, I began to realize what most of us had.  We were under terrorist attack.

     We had no idea when it would end, how far it would reach directly.  We already knew by this time that it was the most serious attack we have faced in a very long time.  Even at the time of this writing, in the mid-evening of the day, we still can't be certain that the attack is over.  We can only pray that it is.

     Myself and another co-worker went to the American Red Cross today (9/11/01), hoping that we could do SOMETHING to help, but we were turned away.  They weren't taking any donations, probably because since we are in the mid-west, they had no way to move the donations where they could be used.  You can bet that we will be there again tomorrow at noon when they open up.

     There are so many aspects to what has happened, it is hard to maintain a coherent thought.  I'm concerned about how easy it was to hijack four planes, to crash at least one in a restricted airspace.  I'm concerned about how we missed the signals, how something so tragic could have happened with scarcely a clue.  Yet everyone seems to be talking about how it was such a complicated operation, while I do feel it was complicated, it was really a very simple plan, probably the most likely to succeed.  I also can't claim to be surprised.  I've long known we are a very unpopular country in the world, and our security is superficial at best, although better than that of several other countries.

     I feel very deeply for the families of those who were taken by these terrorists, but they are not the only ones affected.  All over the country there has been a run on gasoline, as Americans fear the worst, and attempt to stock up on this highly valued product.  I suspect we could even experience riots and domestic disputes over gas and other supplies as folks react to the news and their anticipation of near future events as related to these attacks.  I strongly encourage people NOT to act on these feelings, to remember that we are all in this together, to stand on their own fortitude rather than reacting to their fears, further hurting their neighbors to their own gains.  This is what terrorism is all about, and what they hope to cause.

     The part that hurt me the most, that brought tears to my eyes, was when the news showed school officials trying to explain what happened to children.  I realized then, that although my own kids don't fully understand what happened, they are forever scarred by these events.  They will come to realize the full extent of what has happened, and the trust and love of humanity that we have long enjoyed will be lost to them.  Between violence in our schools and terrorism on our homeland, they will hate all those who are different from them, distrust them, and ultimately our society and everything we have worked for will be destroyed.

     On 9/11/01, America's innocence was destroyed.  We ARE a changed nation now, and certainly not for the better of mankind.  The ignition of the bomb that destroys humanity as we know it has been lit.  This attack has/will spark a retaliation, which will result in a series of counter-strikes, until we ultimately destroy ourselves.

     Do I think we should turn the other cheek?  No.  Should we strike back with force? I say YES.  Is it the right thing to do?  Will we emerge victorious? I doubt it...