I have been sitting in front of this blank computer screen for what feels like hours, leading me to the conclusion that nothing more can be said. For any American to feel the way that I am feeling, all they would need to do is take a short ride up to Route 3 and glance to the right. The skyline looks empty like something is missing. The World Trade Center buildings and the shattered financial district represent our sense of safety and security of living in America.
American has always been a safe place. Fighting never seems to take place on our home soil. Even terrorist attacks on us, our freedom and our country have taken place abroad. As I look up towards the skyline and get that sinking feeling that something is not right, I realize how our lives have changed. The gap in the skyline, the gap in our lives – It’s our safety that’s missing. No one ever believed for once second that anyone would come to the greatest country in the world and pull something so atrocious off. No one ever believed that there would come a day in our lifetime when we would have to be scared lying in our own beds, knowing we were 30 miles from a war zone.
As a country, we were badly shaken. When the buildings collapsed, so did our sense of security and all that was right in our world. Values were re-assessed and re-organized. The entire nation took a step back and looked at their lives. Suddenly, what was on TV or what brand of heels you were wearing was not as important as finding your loved ones. Even New York City was stagnant for a week. Jaded New Yorkers who do not respond to anything from beeping taxis or gunshots left the city in utter fear, terrified of what could happen next.
Now, one month later – pride prevails over fear. Our country has taken these attacks and banded together, uniting stronger tan ever before. The terrorists made us realize the safety that we took for granted. They made us realize all that we had and lost in those few precious moments. They made us realize all we could do, and that all it would take to accomplish defeating them is sticking together with everything we had. Highways are plastered with banners. Flags wave high from every flat surface and rooftop. God Bless America finally had ALL of its verses recognized. Teams are finally quiet through the entire national anthem. Every house, car and landmark has USA branded all over it. Whether in the form of stick on flags, banners, messages or in names of lives lost – America is showing its true colors – red, white and blue.
by MR age 17