Wow its been 13 years since that dreadful morning-- I remember it well, I was at Franklin House at Temple University still sleep. The TV was on and they were talking bout the Towers. In my disoriented slumber, I assumed it was just a memorial from the basement bombings of the towers in 92-- until my roommate came in frantic like they just cancelled class for the rest of the week. At this point the 2nd plane hadnt hit yet. Me and him talking bout what we were going to get into now that we had the week off. Then the second plane hit and the expression on his face and mine changed from ecstasy to horror. Were looking at each other then at the TV then at each other then back at the TV. I remember picking up my cellphone and trying to call family and friends -- nothing. I got dressed and ran down to the student union-- mayhem. At temple it felt like half the undergraduates were from the DC/Maryland area and the other half were from new york-- by then I had learned that the pentagon was hit and a plane had crashed in an empty field in pennslyvania-- Everyone was panicking thinking philly was going to be next-- nobody s cell phone was working-- most routes into NY were closed and a lotta routes into DC-- the faculty advised us to stay put. We were at War. The days following as info was being release the tension amongst students was mounting. Some students had trashed the MSA( Muslim student association) and for the first time ya seen the strain in between the students and the community around them. I remember one night in particular I was walking from my friends dorm to my car, and a couple of students were arguing with some other students that just so happen to be wearing hijab or head covering. I came over and the shouting match quickly ended with the two students shouting some racial slur while leaving. The two young Muslim students as they looked up and thanked me, I apologized for the other two students. Ill never forget the painful look that they shared. I hopped in my car and headed back to Franklin house. I turned on the news and the same thing was happening around the country. Muslims everywhere were being harassed based on nothing but the fact that the media was filling their heads with hateful garbage and the masses were buying into the hype hook line and sinker. Thats what stays in my head about that dreadful day 13 years ago. Yes a lot of lives were lost, but what sticks out more than anything, was that was the first time I seen humanity lost in person . Let me tell you, it so much more painful then reading it in a book. I guess you can say on this fateful day 13 years ago I grew up and started seeing the world for what it is instead of what I wanted it to be.
Posted on: Thu, 11 Sep 2014 15:15:39 +0000
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