BOSTON, 13 September — America will never be the same again. The massive strikes against the twin towers of the World Trade Center and the Pentagon have cast a pall of gloom and shock over the nation. In a matter of hours, both the epicenter of America’s financial community and the stronghold of its military might suffered horrific blows. Now Manhattan has been declared a disaster area and a state of emergency prevails in Washington D.C. The United States is a nation under siege.
As the news of the heinous act spread across the country, Americans became transfixed in front of their television screens, caught in tidal waves of shock and grief. Hour after hour television networks replayed the scenes of the planes smashing into the twin towers. By evening, the number of questions began to grow and answers were in short supply. Angry listeners called in to radio talk shows demanding that someone explain the failure of the government’s intelligence gathering operations. “Why was there no warning?” was the question on everyone’s lips. I must commend the media for restraining themselves and exercising caution in assigning blame before the evidence could be examined.
Americans used to feel invincible. Their lives were safe and predictable. Not anymore. December 7, the day that lived in infamy has been replaced. September 11 will now be remembered as the bloodiest day in US history. The live images of New Yorkers hanging out windows, begging for rescue as the World Trade Center collapsed upon them will be etched in the American psyche forever. No words can describe the terror and no punishment will be too much for the perpetrators of this inhumane and cowardly act which targeted a nation.
From coast to coast, the USA was paralyzed after the attack. People cleared store shelves of bread and batteries and hunkered down at home in front of their televisions. But there were many who could not sit idly by and watch the misery. Even while the questions “Who” and “Why” echoed in their minds these unsung heroes showed that the true spirit of the American people is alive and well. Donors lined up to give blood. Bystanders carried the injured to hospitals. Construction crews stepped forward to lend equipment and skills to the rescue effort. Hospitals and Fire Departments from cities hundreds of miles away volunteered their services. People of every race and creed stood side by side, caring and sharing with perfect strangers in the midst of this terrible calamity.
Yes, America will never be the same again, but it can emerge stronger and more able to confront challenges. It is important to remember as the investigation into the tragedy proceeds that terrorists have no religion and no country. The justice-loving peoples of the world must unite to catch these criminals and to root out all forms of terror. Future generations should never have to witness such horrific scenes again. Our hearts go out to the victims, their families and the nation.
