September 11, 2003
Two Years ago,
things changed for all of us. I don't plan to post stuff like this here, but I'm compelled to set down my thoughts on these events that happened. I hope that it will help me remember the feelings I had that day and perhaps it will help you remember what you thought and felt that day.
I was sitting at my desk studying a document for a Space Station Mission Control Center console position I was going to start supporting in the next months. I heard something had happened and I went over to the TVs we have here that are usually used to watch shuttle launches. I saw the towers burning, and I was unable to understand. I didn't realize it was terrorists. I thought it was a piloting error. I went back to my desk, and turned on the walkman radio I keep in the top drawer of my desk. I heard that the north tower had fallen. I went numb. I walked back to the TV, where everyone was standing. The replays of the fall were being played. Slowly, the realization that it was Islamic terrorists came out. We were all just standing around, in shock. There was some apprehension. Were we at NASA going to be attacked? The news of the Pentagon attack made our fear more intense. I guess I didn't think of NASA as a target for such things, but then again, I didn't think that someone would do this with an airliner. The government shut down the center. The Space Station control was transferred to Russia and we all were sent home. Before I left, I called my fiancee, made sure she was okay, and told her what was going on here. I drove to a friend's house, and when I got there, he was surprised to see me. I could tell he didn't know. I told him to turn on the TV. I saw a little of what must have gone across my face when I learned it. Shock. Disbelief. We talked for a while. I left, and decided I didn't want to go home. I went to a local pub for lunch, even though I wasn't too hungry. Folks there were in shock, too. There were comments, patriotic, anti-terroristic, and just expressions of shock and horror.
I finally went home and listened to the president's address. The news media were worried and critical of President Bush because he wasn't visible. I was a bit angry at them for that. The last thing I wanted was to tell these bastards, if they were out there, where our commander in chief was. I remember his address helped. But the rest of the day was a blur.
The next day, I don't remember if we went back to work. I do remember that the sailboat races normally held on Wednesdays were cancelled. The race committee said although they were loathe to let the terrorists change the way we lived here, that it would be inappropriate to play when so many had died. We didn't much feel like sailing, anyway, so we sat at the bar and talked. More shock, more patriotism, more anger at these scum.
I guess my thoughts are this: They attacked us because we are successful. Our forebears created the best, most free country in the world. We continue to build on it. Now come these scum, these vermin, to tear us down, instead of building themselves up. Now I'm not saying that we're perfect, but I do think we're the best thing going on this planet. I like being free to play with boats, to live where I choose, to follow the career I want, to live, learn, and love who and what I choose. And these people, these scum, these radical Islamofascists, these vermin, want to take that away from me?! It's clear, at least to me, it is. We can't negotiate with them. We must defeat them.
That's all I have to say. If you've read this far, thanks. Commemorate 9/11 somehow, perhaps give blood, they can always use it. Or maybe just just think about it for a few moments and be thankful for what we have. I hope we resolve to keep what we have from being taken away.
I promise I'll post more Day Sailer articles tonight.
Victory, then Peace...
