It has already been six years of remembrance, have you already forgotten?
I woke up Tuesday morning asking myself “Would today be like any ordinary day or would today be different? I turned on the television and watched CNN. The news media, our government, and people across our nation took a moment of silence to honor the lives lost on September 11, and to remember our heroes for that day. As I stepped outside, I thought to myself, “Would people around me honor this day?”
To my expectations, Tuesday was a typical normal day. People believe that what had happened miles away and six years ago doesn’t matter. People have moved on and have moved past that day of tragedy to completely forget that what had happened on September 11 was to be forgotten. I thought “we will never forget” or is it will we forget?
Last year I spent part of my summer vacation in New York city. It was the five year anniversary of September 11. I roamed the streets of New York city, not as a tourist (well, maybe just a little), but as a “New Yorker”. I rode the city busses from one area to the next, traveled on the subway, and experienced walking around the city. Adjusting to the fast-paced life of New York was somewhat difficult, but in a couple of days, I was used to it.
I remember sitting on the bus and eavesdropping on a conversation between a history professor and an elderly man. After the elderly man had realized he was talking to a history professor, he began talking about September 11. He recapped how he felt that day and noticed how everyone around him felt exactly the same way he did. They were all scared. “It’s so sad” he said “so sad.” I’m not certain why he decided to bring up September 11, but hearing his experiences about that day had brought tears to my eyes. Maybe he was looking for answers of why it had happened and he hoped that by talking to a history professor, he would get his answers, but he didn’t.
Peoples view about September 11 is different in the east coast than in the west. Maybe people on the west coast tend to easily forget about September 11 because since it was thousands of miles away, it didn’t impact their lives.
I cried on September 11, 2001. I cried for the innocent lives lost that day, I cried because it was a sudden shock, and I cried because I was scared. Most of all, I cried because I understood what my U.S. history teacher had told me what the advantage is of living in America. Some of my classmates said that the advantage of living in America is having a huge and powerful military, a good economy, and plenty of job opportunity. Yet, my teacher questioned us of the benefit of a good military. We think having a good military provides defense. My teacher finally told us the main advantage about living in America is safety. We never have to worry about attacks on our country or sleep at night wondering whether a missile would explode into our bedrooms. In other countries, people fear themselves to sleep and wonder if tonight will be their last day on Earth. A dead silence fills the classroom. The realization of being safe in America is what we never thought as an advantage because we’re so used to being safe. We were all quiet because we have taken it for granted.
September 11, 2001 was indeed something I will never forget. Safety, the most important thing our government tries to provide us with everyday has been overlooked by Americans; but, maybe people forget about September 11 because it was just too horrible to remember. People want to forget their sufferings and move on with their lives. As for me, I will never forget that day. September 11 will not only be a day of remembrance but to me, it will be a symbol. A symbol because it was the first time I realized that living in America isn’t as safe as I thought it would be.
a distant mind @
10:44 PM
Friday, September 7, 2007
Rule #1: Keep your eyes on the road.
Rule #2: Yield to pedestrians.
Rule #3: SLOW DOWN!!
I can’t seem to stress the last rule good enough! Does anyone understand the meaning of “drive safe”? I don’t understand why someone would want to put the lives of other people, especially myself, at risk. When a car zooms right by me, I tell myself reasons why they are in a hurry. “He’s late for an appointment. She needs to use the restroom. There’s an emergency at home.” Whatever the reason may be, it doesn’t justify you to drive 80 miles per hour in a 65 miles per hour speed zone. My aunt used to say, “Oh! He’s in a rush to die.” If you are already late for an appointment, class, or work, expect to be late! Don’t test time by speeding down the highway. Here is a reality check for you-- you aren’t Superman!
Another pet peeve of mine is talking on the phone while driving. I don’t care who is on the phone. Pay attention to the road and not your phone. I can admit I can be guilty for talking on the phone. I’m talking to my friend in Iraq and he can’t call me back. But at least I have the decency to pull over to the slow lane so people can pass me by. If it’s really important, I’ll pull over to the side of the road. I hate driving while talking on the phone. If I see a person talking on the phone and driving fast, I cross my fingers hoping he or she will get in a car accident. Yes, I know I’m cruel. Sometimes people need to learn the hard way.
Imagine being in a city where everyone around you drives really fast because they are always in a rush. They will honk at you for no apparent reason or honk at you to get out of their way. If you are a pedestrian, don’t bother getting in the way of a driver, because he will not stop for you. He is not hesitant to run you over! For your information, this isn’t an imaginary place, it is New York city.
I experienced a life threatening moment on a New York bridge. We were close to exiting off the bridge when the car in front of us suddenly stops. If you didn’t know, it’s illegal to stop for any reason on their bridges. The driver in front of us had suddenly changed her mind and decided to take a different exit off the bridge. Our car comes to a complete stop on the bridge to avoid rear-ending her and our car engine dies. The car won’t start and we are stuck in the middle of the bridge. Knowing how fast everyone drives in the city, I grasp at the sides of my seat, looking for my something to grab my hands on to. I expect to get rear-ended and I expect the air bags to pop out. My heart beats rapidly. Looking at my side view mirror, cars behind us are able to switch lanes last minute. Drivers are honking at us. Luckily, the car engine starts again. We pass by the driver in front of us who had caused us to suddenly break, and she gets a middle finger pointed at her from my aunt.
I will never forget that moment. A small little mistake from the driver in front of us had put my life in danger. I wish something would have happened to her. Sometimes I wish I really did get rear-ended so she could get rear-ended as well. But all I can tell myself was “It’s good to be alive.”
Another car incident that haunts me to this day occurred while I was at work. I decided to stop what I was working on to ring up a customer. As I walked away, a car had driven inside our store. I had realized that if I didn’t walk away at that moment, or if I didn’t decide to ring up that customer, I could have been the tragedy for that day. When I later looked at pictures of where the car was inside my store, I imagine how I would have died. If I didn’t decide to move for that one second, that car would have smashed my body against an aisle. I’m glad no one was hurt that day. I’m glad to be alive. It frustrates me because the driver didn’t know what happened. SHE JUST DIDN’T KNOW! It makes me mad. I wish I had my revenge. But I’m stuck with the thought that no matter how careful I am while driving, there is always someone, just someone out there who isn’t paying attention.
Let this be a reminder to you, "as you drive, please be considerate of others around you." You never know the effect you have as a driver. So once again, please “drive safe.”
a distant mind @
10:22 PM
