But though our hearts are broken, we will not break down.
Though our tears are falling, we will not fall.
Though the fires have burned, our fire will not burn out.
Though we have lost, we are not lost.
We wake up tomorrow in a different world. . .
But we wake up. . .
And for that, we are thankful.
“The markets open tomorrow, people go back to work, and we’ll show the world.”
—PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH, The New York Times 9/17/2001
FROM AN AOL POST, 9/21/2001 5:36 PM EDT
SUBJECT: EVERYONE LISTEN TO ME, AND QUIT YOUR BICKERING!!!
Before last Tuesday, we were living in a bubble that someone crashed a jet carrier into and burst. Now is this time for us to unite. Now is the time for race, religion, political party, ethnicity, and any other boundaries to be put away! We are Americans, and we should be standing up for our country.
The day the towers fell, American pride soared. Now we need to stand behind our leaders and use every ounce of patriotism we possess to support those who lead us. America will not fall, and American resolve is something that cannot be broken; it’s stronger than steel or concrete. And it doesn’t matter how many buildings fall; we will still be Americans and we will still have American pride.
“I wore this because we are going to rebuild. I wanted to drape my body in the America flag, is what I wanted to do.”
—A MAN WEARING A T-SHIRT THAT READS “WE WILL REBUILD,” The New York Times 9/14/2001
FROM AN AOL POST, 9/21/2001 8:32 PM EDT
SUBJECT: AN OPEN LETTER TO THOSE RESPONSIBLE
You must have been very pleased Tuesday morning as you watched those planes slam into the towers. You must have felt great satisfaction as you watched the Pentagon burn. Images of men and women jumping to their deaths, of our grief and our horror, must have brought a smile to your face.
But you have not defeated us—look again:
Heroic firemen and policemen, running toward the flames, offering their lives to save strangers. Wounded men and women struggling to carry to safety someone they didn’t even know. Bystanders ferrying wounded to hospitals in their own cars. Volunteers frantically trying to clear the rubble by hand, their fingers raw and bloody.
The horror and the carnage are your images.
The acts of heroism, of selflessness, of compassion and caring—those are our images, the images of America, of democracy and of freedom.
We will grieve, and we will be comforted. We will haul away your rubble and we will rebuild. We will turn your evil into resolve, and resolve into action. Like the mythological Phoenix, the towers will rise again from the ashes and the rubble that resulted from your unreasoning hatred.
“We have to express our grief and pause and say our prayers. But we also have to stay strong and we also have to continue with the search and rescue . . . And we have to send a clear message that New Yorkers aren’t intimidated.”
—GOVERNOR GEORGE PATAKI, Newsday 9/13/2001
FROM AN AOL POST, 9/23/2001 8:16 PM EDT
SUBJECT: MORE AWARE OF MY SURROUNDINGS
Since the attacks on September 11 I have become very aware of what and who is around me.
As a flight attendant I rarely ever paid much attention to who boarded my flights. Now I seem to remember details. I remember the guy from two days ago in the emergency exit row wearing a blue shirt and the couple in first class who hugged me and thanked me for coming to work.
I have become a more positive person, and I now know that I can’t take things for granted. So now I am enjoying every day to the fullest, I am flying three to four flights daily, and I am proud to be a flight attendant in the United States of America.
I wear a red, white, blue, and black ribbon every day to show how patriotic I am. I continue on with my life as normally as possible. And if I am one of those unfortunate ones to get laid off due to low passenger loads on my flights, I have already got the paperwork done to join the military and go fight for my country.
I will always be aware of my surroundings from this day forward, and will never look back and feel ashamed, because I know that what I do makes a difference to many people day after day.
“When Tower 2 came down, we just started digging. We keep on going ’cause that’s what we do.”
—NEW YORK CITY FIREFIGHTER, New York Magazine 9/24/2001
FROM AN AOL POST, 9/17/2001 9:18 PM EDT
SUBJECT: MEMBERS OF THE WALKING WOUNDED
I drove to work today, and I served the public. I looked into the faces of the walking wounded, and I took my place among them again at the close of day.
I reassured people who said, “I feel so guilty for coming here to shop.”
I touched their hand, and let them know that they were doing their part to keep the fabric of our society from falling apart.
Freedom is not just a word. It is a living, breathing concept that bin Laden can’t understand. It resides in our soul, and is treasured from our mother’s womb. He can’t understand how we can go on with life in the face of such loss. He can’t understand a nation that values Muslim Americans as he could never value them (as gracious, gentle people).
He doesn’t see the shame he has brought to them . . . not because they are part of his fanatical cause (for they are not), but because his race is theirs, as Tim McVeigh’s race was part of us. Ashamed that a man of Islam could take something so holy and distort it, twist it, and mangle it as he did the structure of the WTC. Please remember that Islamic Americans are not to blame. See them, as we all are, as “members of the walking wounded.”
“With malice toward none; with charity for all; with firmness in the right, as God gives us to see the right, let us strive on to finish the work we are in; to bind up the nation’s wounds; to care for him who shall have borne the battle, and for his widow and his orphan—to do all which may achieve and cherish a just and lasting peace among ourselves and with all nations.”
—ABRAHAM LINCOLN, SECOND INAUGURAL ADDRESS, 3/4/1865
UNITED
“We’ve seen the unfurling of flags, the lighting of candles, the giving of blood, the saying of prayers in English, Hebrew, and Arabic. We have seen the decency of a loving and giving people who have made the grief of strangers their own. My fellow citizens, for the last nine days, the entire world has seen for itself the state of our Union, and it is strong.”
—GEORGE W. BUSH, ADDRESS TO A JOINT SESSION OF CONGRESS 9/17/2001
FROM AN AOL POST, 9/16/2001 11:04 PM EDT
SUBJECT: GOD BLESS AMERICA
Over the past week I’ve heard a lot of people say “God Bless America.” Every time someone says that I say to myself, “He already has.”
I’m just 14, but I can see how God has blessed our great nation through this tragedy. First, he blessed us by making us a stronger nation. He brought us together. Through this terrible event he made us more united. When it looked like the terrorists had broken us, we stood behind our flag and before the world. We were united, along with our allies, under one common goal, to rid the world of evil. God has blessed us with an opportunity to do this.
Most of all, God blessed us with all the people lost. They have affected our lives whether we know it or not, and we thank God that we had a chance to know them, and we will miss them. Even though the horizon seems dark; the dust and ash will settle, and we will arise, a victorious nation. So when all hope seems lost, it’s not.
God has given us so many blessings through this, and they’re already noticeable today, but when our nerves settle, the blessings will shine through in splendid light.
“Then join hand in hand, brave Americans all! By uniting we stand, by dividing we fall.”
—JOHN DICKINSON, “THE LIBERTY SONG”
FROM AN AOL POST, 9/14/2001 3:30 PM EDT
SUBJECT: A NATION RISES
Through the rubble, dust and blood
Together friends and strangers stood
> Looking at each other, eye to eye
Not just people, rushing by
Stopping, helping, risking life
Caring not about meeting times
Looking not at race nor creed
Their only thought was those in need
Working side by side, brow to brow
Forgetting all but what is now
Digging in with all their might
Working hard, both day and night
As a nation united they take a stand
Helping each other, hand in hand
A nation bent, yet remaining strong
United together, standing tall
September eleventh, a nation fell
On that same day, it rose as well
“We Republicans and Democrats, House and Senate, stand strongly united behind the President, and we’ll work together to ensure that the full resources of the government are brought to bear in these efforts.”
—SENATE MAJORITY LEADER TOM DASCHLE, The New York Times 9/12/2001
FROM AN AOL POST, 9/17/2001 1:48 PM EDT
SUBJECT: AMERICAN
The time is here for us to drop the hyphen and be American. Not African, not Irish, not Italian, or whatever kind of hyphenation that is put in front of “American” to show loyalty to one’s roots.
The fact of the matter is that attack was on Americans, all of us, the African, the Irish, the Italian, and so on. Those hijackers did not give a damn about our hyphens.
I feel strange writing this because I’m a product of the 60s. Anyone who was a teenager then knows what I’m talking about. I’ve never been the flag-waving type and probably never will, but right here right now, I’m proud to be an American and from this day on I’ll never refer to myself as an African-American again . . . I’m an AMERICAN.
FROM AN AOL POST, 9/14/2001 8:45 PM EDT
SUBJECT: FROM A PERSON LIVING IN THE SOUTH
I would like to send out my heartfelt condolences to the people of New York and Washington. I, along with millions of others, have watched in disbelief at what you have had to endure. I am just one person, of course, but I want to say how very proud you make me to be an American citizen.
I have heard my entire life that people living in New York, and certainly Washington, were pretty much cold, unfeeling people.
Nothing could be farther from the truth. I have watched with pride as you have helped each other and risked your lives for each other. I only hope I can come to your great and good part of the world one of these days and see for myself how you have rebuilt your cities and your lives.
Having lost my 17-year-old daughter in an automobile accident, I know the unbearable pain of losing a loved one. But let me tell you, I have never witnessed such dignity in despair. Thank you for restoring my faith in mankind. Especially in Americans.
“New York City & Washington, D.C.: Oklahoma cares. You stood with us in our darkest hour, now we stand with you.”
—FROM A FULL-PAGE STATEMENT SUBMITTED BY THE PEOPLE OF OKLAHOMA AND THE OKLAHOMA CITY NATIONAL MEMORIAL, The New York Times 9/13/2001
FROM AN AOL POST, 9/22/2001 12:59 AM EDT
SUBJECT: WHY DID WE HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL NOW?
In the past ten days we have heard countless stories of this tragedy bringing out the best in the American people. Our country has united. You only need to look down the street and see all the flags hanging from porches and on poles. But why is it that we need to have something of this horrible magnitude happen before we stop worrying about what politician slept with whom?
I guarantee that the same transformation of the American people occurred when Pearl Harbor was bombed. But 60 years is a long time to remember, and most people had forgotten and gone back to worrying about things that don’t really matter in the slightest.
Let’s make sure that we don’t forget this time, and keep what’s important in a clear perspective from now on.
FROM AN AOL POST, 9/23/2001 3:00 PM EDT
SUBJECT: HOW THE TERRORISTS ARE WINNING
If we don’t stop hate crimes happening all across the U.S., the terrorists will win. Before September 11, 2001, people were French-American, Mexican-American, African-American, Polish-American, or Swiss-American, or whatever. Now they ALL are just American.
One of my friends is from Afghanistan, and her family was hurt in just the same way as everyone else. Just because they’re Middle Eastern doesn’t mean they did it or that they’re all for bin Laden. One Middle Eastern man was KILLED in Arizona by some idiot calling himself a PATRIOT! America is not about violence or hate! It’s about freedom and certain inalienable rights: life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. That means stop the hatin’! We’re all American, and we’re in this together!
“We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. All life is interrelated.”
—DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR., “LETTER FROM BIRMINGHAM JAIL”
FROM AN AOL POST, 9/21/2001 10:24 AM EDT
SUBJECT: ONE NATION
When our country is attacked, we are not Catholic, Lutheran, Methodist, Muslim, Jewish or Buddhist, we are all Americans.
FROM AN AOL POST, 9/16/2001 8:36 AM EDT
SUBJECT: WE HAVE TO UNITE TO MAKE IT THROUGH THIS TRAGEDY
As an African-American woman, I ask that we all put aside our differences of race, status, and sexual orientation and unite as Americans.
As an open hand we are weak, but as a fist we are strong.
FROM AN AOL POST, 9/14/2001 2:41 AM EDT
SUBJECT: I WAS AT MY HOME SWEET HOME
I was at home when I heard the news. My daughter called me from work. At that moment I felt that New York was right here in my home, as well as feeling that I was in New York.
“No man is an island, entire of itself; every man is a piece of the continent.”
—JOHN DONNE, “FOR WHOM THE BELL TOLLS”
FROM AN AOL POST, 9/15/2001 12:45 PM EDT
SUBJECT: WE ARE ONE
On that Tuesday, all Americans were New Yorkers and all humans were Americans.
“This is a crime against the foundations of our common humanity. Our response must be to stand shoulder to shoulder.”
—PRESIDENT OF IRELAND MARY MCALEESE, The New York Times 9/12/2001
FROM AN AOL POST, 9/16/2001 4:12 PM EDT
SUBJECT: PUTTING DIFFERENCES ASIDE
Thank you to all the foreigners who became one with us on September 11. I think we finally realized how to put all our differences aside and become one race, the human race.
I’m from New York, and my brother is a police officer. He was at his second job, or he would have been there helping before knowing the full toll. He did end up going there after work and did help pull a few broken hurting souls from that monstrous rubble.
Yesterday I heard someone call in to my radio station saying that the firefighters and police officers who risked their lives weren’t heroes because they get paid to do it; therefore, it was their job. Where else do you see people delving into a wreckage that you know could kill them to pull out wounded souls? Where else do you toss aside your own safety, your own life to save the lives of others?
We have had many problems in New York with our police officers. I won’t say no, but two days ago they were all heroes, every one of them. I want to thank them as well.
I want to thank the newscasters who haven’t once said “I can’t go there, I’ll be hurt,” but took us straight there to help us bear witness to the cruelty of those faceless, masked people. And bearing witness is important so that we never forget and never let it happen again.
Two days ago we lost our innocence, our belief that we were safe and untouchable, and, in some ways, our freedom. Yet we gained togetherness, we gained appreciation of our police and buildings, we gained family—New York, America, and the world gathered together and became a family.
“The salvation of mankind lies only in making everything the concern of all.”
—ALEXANDER SOLZHENIT
SYN, NOBEL LECTURE, 1970
FROM AN AOL POST, 9/14/2001 7:02 PM EDT
SUBJECT: GOD BLESS
Watching TV Tuesday morning and seeing plane number one hit the first tower, I actually thought it was an accident. Until plane number two came along. When I saw the second plane hit, all my thoughts just went blank. I have never felt so sad in my life. All I could think was “God, please help us.”
Our home was destroyed in a matter of minutes. Everything we know was taken away from us, but everything at the same time was gained. We all pulled together, from firefighters to police officers, from volunteers to hotline staffers. We will pull through this and we will win at the end.
I have never been so proud to be an American. May God help us and may God forgive the ones that do not know any better.
“‘And kill not that which Allah has held sacred.’ May Allah expose the wrong doers and bring them to justice, no matter who they are.”
—FROM A SIGN ON A MOSQUE DOOR QUOTING THE KORAN, New York Magazine 9/24/2001
FROM AN AOL POST, 9/15/2001 1:21 AM EDT
SUBJECT: MY SYMPATHIES ARE WITH YOU
Tonight, as a Friday night Jimtown High School football game started, the firefighters of Baugo Township in Elkhart, Indiana, brought the flag out and put it up. And as the high school choir sang and the band played and the director played taps and the flag was raised to half-staff, people in the bleachers were only thinking of how something this horrible could possibly happen to the United States.
“USA” was written out on the field in red, white, and blue, and at the end of the memorial, red, white, and blue balloons were released into the air, and we had a moment of silence for the lives lost due to terrorism.
Everyone has felt the impact of this, and all I can say is that everyone across the country is really showing how united we are.
Because We Are Americans Page 7