9/11: Never Forget

Today is 9.11.2017. I still remember the day it happened. I had taken the day off for a doctor's appointment. My alarm was set to the radio. When it went off, I was still too sleepy to register. After a couple of snoozes as my brain started to wake up, I heard something about a plane hitting the second tower.

I quickly turned on the TV and watched with incredulity the nonstop footage. It did not seem real, but it was. I heard Chicago was evacuating the Loop. I heard from friends who were being herded onto Metra trains, which apparently had a very efficient evacuation plan to get people out of the city quickly and in an orderly manner. I heard about business travelers being stranded as all flights and Amtrak had been canceled. I heard from friends and colleagues who unsuccessfully tried to reach friends and family in New York. I know people who have lost someone that day.

The doctor's office had the news on. It was impossible to ignore. The enormity of the tragedy gave way to bewilderment. There were people who hated us so much they were willing to put on an unmissable spectacle and sacrifice thousands of people just to prove a point.

Then the backlash and posturing. That day's events gave people permission to articulate their hatred, racism, bigotry, and ignorance masked as righteous indignation. They legitimized terrorist acts regardless of the ideology behind them. It wasn't that hard to justify attacking a particular group of people if they're defending their way of life against infidels.

So, reader, I am asking for your stories. What are your memories? How has 9/11 changed you?

As always, please keep it civil and relevant. I promise I will refrain from commenting on your experience, but I might be curious enough to ask questions to better understand your story.