Once again, the administrator in the elementary school told me I should not worry. They did not inform the kids about the crash. I stood for few seconds in front of my car in the parking lot trying to decide where to go next. Without making a decision, I drove. News on the radio was coming out. The Pentagon hit. In the air there is fourth plane missing. Air traffic shut down all over the country. The president is in route to a secure location. Evacuation is underway in New York and DC.
I was in front of my home, although I never made the decision to go there, I entered, turned on the TV. My wife was not there yet, and no messages. I sat down, hundreds and hundreds of pictures were going through my mind. There was sadness setting-in for the first time deep down.
It cannot really be terrorist act.
It is impossible, three airplanes hit three landmarks within the hour all by coincident.
It must be terrorist act.
Who would be able to pull off such a thing?
How many thousands died?
How many lives altered forever?
Hundreds of people jumping from the north tower, reports said. What in heaven would be your feeling to jump from 1,368 feet high?
The phone rang; it was 1:30. My father was calling from Egypt. He was concerned; my mother took the handset from him she was crying. They know I travel for my work from time to time, they were afraid I might be in New York or Washington DC. I told them we are all fine, the kids are at school and I already talked to them. I said my wife was at work. I had to lie.
I remember the kids coming back from school, trying to explain to them what happened, what twisted human nature would do something like that. I remember my wife telling us how people were looking at her wearing headscarf as she was in the hospital she did not know then what happened, but nobody was mean to her. I remember telling them no religion in the world teaches such actions. I said we the Americans, regardless of religion color or dress code would be one hand. I remember.
I remember America speaking with one voice in a way I never heard before. We were hurt, but we were very proud people. There was no Democrats or republicans only Americans.
The whole world was Americans, this was the headline of many international daily publications on September 12, and we all trusted our leaders and felt strongly that out of the tragedy greatness is in the making.
What happened in the last five years, to have a president with 29 percent approval rating, a congress with 18 percent approval rating, and 69 percent of the people believe the country is heading in the wrong direction.
http://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2006/05/11/bushs-approval-ratings/
What happened since then?
That, I do not remember!
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