On the day September 11, 2001, I was in school roaming the hallways after science class when I heard people talking about how there was a bombing. I didn’t believe it at first, since it came from those types of kids who would tell any store to get some attention. Later on, though, the principle came on the announcements and told the school what had happened, and not to panic. I came home from school watching the footage on my television just in awe of what I was seeing. I saw footage after "American Airlines Flight 77 veered from its path and crashed into the Pentagon"[1] and heard the stories of how the passengers of Flight 93 stormed the cockpit. Though I knew no one who had died in the terrorist attacks, the attacks greatly impacted my life.
On September 11, 2001, I had soccer practice scheduled. I loved to play soccer, but I had no urge to go that night. I wanted to stay inside of my safe home and watch the news instead. We had soccer practice anyways, which turned out to be a gloomy one instead of the playful happy ones we usually have. It only struck me later that I was fearful to go outside that day. Common sense would have told me that soccer fields were not a target of a terrorist attack, but after what I had seen on the television, what was true?
The following months brought America together. Patriotism was seen everywhere like it had never been seen before. Every car held a mini American flag magnet, which was always sold out at stores. American flags were raised at houses who had not had one before. Shirts with the American flag on it became a part of regular attire. Americans wanted to do anything they could to help. Blood donation lines became so long they had to turn people down.
"The World Trade Center attack pushed the nation into a recession."[2] Most of the internet companies were loosing the profitability they saw in the 1990’s. Hit hard most of all were programmers like my father. My father worked for Phillip Morris during 2001. Around March 2002, my father was laid off after his contract had run its course. He spent the next six months looking for a new job, eventually having to settle for one that paid half the salary he used to have. I remember Christmas that year was the best one I've had with my family, even though a lot of the presents were from discount stores.
The effects of 9/11 can still be seen today in our "War on Terrorism" in the Middle East. Each day soldiers die from guerilla attacks by groups in Iraq and Afghanistan while America tries to set up a government that can hold its own. The world countries that sympathized with America after the terrorist attacks, turned away when we called for help in the War in the Middle East. The World Trade Center attack brought the country together, but the effects pushed us farther way from the rest of the world.
[1] Nation of Nations, pg 992
[2] Nation of Nations, pg. 993
[2] Nation of Nations, pg. 993
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