When the Towers Came Down

It is hard to imagine that 25 years have passed since terrorists attacked the United States by hijacking four airliners and crashing them into the World Trade Center twin towers in New York, the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia, and a field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania — the last of those airliners having been diverted by brave passengers and crew members who fought back.

Below is something I wrote on September 30, 2024, in my blog post about War. It came back to me today because it still says what I feel when I think about 9/11, the shock of that day, and the long shadow it cast over so many of us.

At the time, I wrote about how that day still catches me in ordinary moments, and how quickly memory can turn into grief, anger, and reflection all over again.

“I am reminded of 9/11 so often, when I happen to glance at the clock and see 9:11, be it in the morning or at night. I find it almost spooky how often I will glance at the clock at just that time. Without fail, I give pause to mourn the tragedies of that day, and the changes in the North American psyche that it caused.

I remember that I was getting gas in my car that morning, and when I went in to pay, I noticed all the staff and customers staring at the TV they had on the counter. Of course, I asked what was up and found out immediately that someone had crashed airliners into the New York towers. Later, I was to find out about the other crashes. I remember feeling completely stunned! I had always felt that Canada and the USA were immune to such things, being so far away from the typical war-torn areas. No, I didn’t think about Pearl Harbor at the time, only now in retrospect. I immediately went to check on Denise and Emma to ensure they were okay. Needless to say, we stayed glued to the TV for the rest of that day, and on and off for many days to follow. It was during this time that my hate for the media became solidified. The incessant replays of the tower crashes, along with the repetitive scenes of cheering foreigners, seemed designed to keep the anger raw and to feed years of mistrust and hatred. The whole ordeal was horrific enough in terms of grief and loss without the constant beating of the hornet’s nest, for lack of a better description.

If you are like me, one of your initial feelings was rage. I remember thinking that the US should nuke “those bastards.” It was probably a typical response, but I was grateful that cooler heads prevailed in the US and no such action was taken, at least on that level. I can only imagine that such a reaction would have led to further nuclear retaliation and, possibly, a complete breakdown of civilization. Sadly, I, like many others, continue to harbor resentments that are not easily dispelled. Of course, as a reasonably healthy person, I am able to reason things out with myself and conclude that 9/11 was the result of a radical group, not an entire race. Heaven knows that I would not like to be blamed for some of the crazies we have here in North America. I guess, if one thinks about it, that is why nations are able to get back on an even keel, even after a war. Certainly, we as a nation understand that someone like the architect of the Holocaust was a tyrant of the worst kind, while the typical German citizen was as typical as we are, but found it impossible to stop him without the efforts of a world at war that came to be.”

We must never forget the atrocities that befell us all on this day, twenty-five years ago. Please take a moment with me to remember the fallen and all those who have suffered because of it. Let us also give thanks to those who continue to do what they can to keep our countries safe.

Donald B. Cheke – Saskatoon, SK