11 September began in an extremely ordinary manner and most of it was an extremely ordinary day. Work was hectic as usual, had dinner with a friend.
Checked my email when I got home and was surprised to receive an email from my sister in New York who HARDLY ever sent me emails.
The subject said: “World Trade Center Attack” and content was short — You will not believe what just happened!! About 9:00a.m. today 2 small planes ( we think they’re Cessna ) hit the world trade center. They think it was a terrorist attack.
I figured, well Cessna, big hole in building, another stab at the US by some terrorist group.
Then I turned on the TV to watch the news.
I was numbed by what I saw. Right now the World Trade Center NY has ceased to exist. Within very short moments, tens of thousands of lives ended. I watched replays of how the towers collapsed. We have just witnessed the Pearl Harbour of our generation.
I am not sure what I am feeling right now — anger? Sadness? Disappointment or disillusionment? Frustration that nobody can do anything? I am just dazed and numbed that there can be such blatant disregard for human life.
This is only the beginning. I am sure that the repercussions and chain of events that will follow will not be miniscule. In an already dire economic situation where the world catches a cold when the US sneezes, this totally takes it off the scale. But more than just this, I am saddened by these events and how hundreds of thousands of lives will be affected — friends and family of the victims, and the lives that have to be restored, pieces that have to be picked up where life can never be the same again.
Life will go on and I do not doubt the resilience of the human spirit and how each of us must rise to the occasion. This may perhaps have happened halfway across the globe from where we are but it doesn’t change the fact that lives were lost. And if in our small little ways, we can make a difference, let’s do that.
Remember the lives of the people that were lost, their immediate family and friends — say a quiet prayer for them, take a moment of silence and count the blessings that we have. This will be a day that will be remembered, and I pray that it will be the last such day. For those of you who have friends and family who have are affected, I offer you my sympathies and condolences.
