Not a normal work day

By Amy Howell
Staff Writer

Every morning things at work happen the same way. When I arrive, I turn on my computer and the Internet computer and the television in the newsroom and start on the business of the day at my desk.
On Monday morning, March 11, 2002, there was an unexpected change. As I walked to my desk, I heard the mayor of New York City, George Pataki, say, “The second plane has just hit the World Trade Center.” He had asked for a moment of silent reflection from all who heard his announcement, and it seemed a blanket of silence fell over the city. The only sound that could be heard was that of his crying heard through his microphone.
I stopped in the middle of the newsroom, lowered my head and thanked God again for His blessings.
For six months our entire country has worked toward healing. We have come together in a way that has never before been seen. The barriers of religion, sex and race have been lowered in order to fight a stronger battle – the war against terrorism.
Our country has been faced with the harsh reality that she is not untouchable. Our innocence was stricken when those terrorists hit us in the heart of one of the busiest cities in the United States and then our nation’s defense hub.
I first got the news traveling in my car from Eastman to Milledgeville for class. The announcers on the radio were giving each detail as it was released on CNN.
I was saddened for the many lives that were lost and the many families that I knew were suffering the loss of their loved ones. My sadness turned soon,
however, to anger. How could any person who God had allowed existence have a heart so full of hate that he would want to do something like this to the country that we love so much?
Now, I have come to realize that maybe these people didn’t know how much we love America. Maybe we didn’t even know how much we loved her until we were at risk of losing the freedoms that we have.
If they didn’t know before, they certainly know now. Our president and his advisors took immediate action to protect our country – and now we are at war.
Just to see or hear the word “war” sends fear through my veins because I have read and heard the suffering that countries have endured as a result of war. I can’t stand to think of our country suffering any more than it already has.
I am proud to be an American and am thankful more and more every day for the freedoms that that title entails.
I am confident that even though the road may be long and the way may be rough, America will prevail. And even though we may always have some fear in our hearts, we will have faith in the strength of our country.

Posted by Colonnade Archives on Mar 15 2002. Filed under News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry