Eighteen Years Later, What Have We Learned?

On this day in 2001, I, along with most Americans, watched a plane crash into the second tower. Shortly thereafter, I watched the towers collapse in a swirl of dust, debris and screams.

My main concern was for the firemen, since my husband is one. I knew they were climbing the steps and making valiant efforts to rescue people trapped inside.

The towers' collapse killed 343 firefighters. It's a number that sticks with me to this day.

In all, 2,974 people died in the attacks that occurred in New York City and at the Pentagon in Washington D.C. That number also includes the passengers of United 93, which did not hit its target but instead crashed in a field in Pennsylvania.

My place of employment closed at lunch time, as did many others. No one could work anyway, not with attacks on New York and Washington, DC on our minds.

I came home and watched footage of the event over and over again. My husband was not at the firehouse, but he was working at his second job installing septic tanks. This was pre-cellphone days, and I couldn't reach him to tell him what had happened.

After a while I came into my home office. I turned on the computer, and I played a puzzle game while the images settled in my mind and I tried to come to grips with what had happened. 

A feeling of helplessness settled over me. I think it settled over much of the nation. For many it hasn't yet gone away - I'm not sure it will, ever. It left many feeling emasculated and I don't believe that has yet been assuaged.

Most of the world stood by the USA while she grieved the loss of her citizens.

Air travel was suspended and the following afternoon I stood with a friend and looked up. Neither of us had ever seen the sky so pure and unmarred by jet trails.

The government used the attacks as a reason to implement the USA PATRIOT ACT, which abolished many civil liberties, including the right to check out what you wanted from a library without being turned into the police if somebody thought it was suspect. Unfortunately, while some of this kind of behavior settled down, the current federal government administration is encouraging these types of activities, particularly where it pertains to immigrants or anyone perceived as "other."

The government also began spying on emails and telephone conversations and doing other Big Brother things. I serious doubt that ever stopped.

The US led a coalition into Afghanistan. That war continues, though it is not well reported. This has become the longest war in history.

The 9/11 attacks are a sober reminder for me of how badly the US government sometimes behaves in world relations, how poorly some citizens of this world think of this country, and how hard our people work, pray, and play.

September 11 also reminds me that all in the world are a part of the circle of life. Everyone, regardless of race, color or creed, deserves a chance to live. That includes bankers in the World Trade Center and Iraqis huddled in their homes during bombings in Baghdad, shooting victims in schools and theaters, and everyone else who is robbed of their life prematurely.

I hope for peace every day and I wish for wisdom in the leaders who hold the decisions for such things in the palms of their hands.

Perhaps one day issues will be resolved without bloodshed and tears, and the world will lose its hatred for one another and embrace love. Unfortunately, I don't see that happening any time soon.

I wish that love, not vengeance and revenge, had been the lesson learned from September 11, 2001. Because for a day or two there, we united as a nation, grieving and striving to rescue those in harm's way, and much of the world stood with us, too.

If only it had lasted.