Travelin’ Rick – 9/11
Hello everyone! It is with my deepest sympathy and sorrow that I bring you my latest adventure. I sat in horror in front of my television, as I watched the World Trade Centre in New York, being so viciously and senselessly attacked on the morning of September 11, 2001. Then just shortly after that incident, the Pentagon was attacked.
We here in Canada, consider the United States our friends. We mourn with them in this terrible tragedy.
Canadians have shared many tragedies with the United States. The death of President Kennedy, the Challenger disaster, the Oklahoma bombing, the Waco Texas standoff and the Columbine High School shootings. None of those tragedies come close to the extent of this one.
My first reaction to these horrific events was anger. This quickly subsided into sadness and then into fear.
My first reaction was probably normal, though not correct. We have to learn not to get angry, especially at an event like this. Carrying anger on our shoulders will not help anyone. The citizens of the United States need us to comfort them and console them. They do not need our anger.
Sadness is a very tough emotion to deal with. Thoughts raced through my mind of those poor people aboard the airplanes that were hi-jacked. These people were all innocent bystanders. Thoughts raced through my mind of the massive amount of people that were in the World Trade Centre Towers. The fear they must have felt. Thoughts raced through my mind of the loved ones left behind. That little girl will never see her father again. That wife will never see her husband again. That mother will never see her son again. Thoughts raced through my mind of the hundreds of police officers and firemen that were killed in this disaster.
Fear was probably the last emotion I felt out of the three, but probably the strongest and probably the one that will stay with me the longest. Why does an event like this instill fear in us? Probably because no-one knows when, where or if this will happen again. We have to be strong and continue on. We have to be brave.
My deepest sympathy and condolences go out to the victims and their families of this ruthless tragedy. God bless you all!
