72 20 2325 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource "September 11: Bearing Witness to History" Stories Submitted Online Description An account of the resource Visitors to the Smithsonian National Museum of American History's, "Bearing Witness to History" online exhibition submitted these reflections beginning in 2002. NMAH Story NMAH Story: Story How did you witness history on September 11th? Share your experience. I wasn't able to see what happened because i was in school and the teachers wouldn't let us watch it. NMAH Story: Life Changed Has your life changed because of September 11, 2001? If so, tell us how. yes it has because know i know for sure that goverment had something to with act of terriosm NMAH Story: Remembered What do you think should be remembered about September 11th? i think the american people should remember that our goverment is a bunch of bull NMAH Story: Flag Did you fly an American flag after the events of September 11th? Have your feelings about the American flag changed as a result of September 11th? I didn't because I strongly fell that what happened could and should be easily avoided, plus I'm cuban Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource nmah2584.xml 911DA Item Elements describing a September 11 Digital Archive item. Status The process status of this item. approved Consent Whether September 11 Digital Archive has permission to possess this item. full Posting Whether the contributor gave permission to post this item. yes Copyright Whether the contributor holds copyright to this item. yes Source The source of this item. born-digital Media Type The media type of this item. story Created by Author Whether the author created this item. yes Described by Author Whether the description of this item was submitted by the author. no Date Entered The date this item was entered into the archive. 2002-09-10 IP Address The IP address of the device used to submit the item. 209.79.83.185 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource "September 11: Bearing Witness to History" Stories Submitted Online Description An account of the resource Visitors to the Smithsonian National Museum of American History's, "Bearing Witness to History" online exhibition submitted these reflections beginning in 2002. NMAH Story NMAH Story: Story How did you witness history on September 11th? Share your experience. I live in Dallas, Texas. On 9/11, I had just brought my son to day-care. I was on my way to buy my sister-in-law a Christmas gift when everything started to unfold. I vividly remember being stopped at a red light, and started to pay attention to the local radio station that pre-empted their Oldies music with a flash that a Plane hit the WTC. Nothing was confirmed at that time (type of plane, extent of injuries etc.). I shrugged it off, thinking somebody got lost in the sky while piloting their Cessna. Being a Native New Yorker, I literally grew up with the towers. My father worked at Federal Plaza in Manhattan and would take me to work with him once or twice a year. I remember going to the city and watching the towers grow from a barren area to the sprawling edifices they became. By the time I left the store (and was unsuccessful purchasing the gift), the radio news came on with the announcement of the 2nd tower being hit. Like others, I then took notice that this was not just an accident. I immediately pick-up my son from daycare and we went to my friends' parents house to watch the entire morning unfold. I can only give thanks that my son was too young to understand what was happening in front of our eyes. I was always an advocate of the towers and spent a great deal of time down there while I grew up. I have hundreds of pictures from the top of Tower 2 and recently, when I took my wife to NYC, I brought her to the top of the WTC and not the ESB. In short, it was as if I lost a member of my family. Being from NY, and with all the relationships I still have with family & friends there, it's a miracle that nobody I knew was hurt in the attacks. My families hearts still reach out for those who lost a friend, family member or even an acquaintance that horrifying day. God Bless America! NMAH Story: Life Changed Has your life changed because of September 11, 2001? If so, tell us how. Yes. Like the great amount of others, I was unemployed at the time due to the Telecom carnage. That day made matters even worse when it came to looking for employment, but also gave me a different persepctive on life - emphasizing how family is more important then the small things (such as employment). NMAH Story: Remembered What do you think should be remembered about September 11th? All Americans! NMAH Story: Flag Did you fly an American flag after the events of September 11th? Have your feelings about the American flag changed as a result of September 11th? We flew our flag proudly for 3 months after the attacks. We never had any bad feelings about the flag, so no feelings really changed. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource nmah237.xml 911DA Item Elements describing a September 11 Digital Archive item. Status The process status of this item. approved Consent Whether September 11 Digital Archive has permission to possess this item. full Posting Whether the contributor gave permission to post this item. yes Copyright Whether the contributor holds copyright to this item. yes Source The source of this item. born-digital Media Type The media type of this item. story Created by Author Whether the author created this item. yes Described by Author Whether the description of this item was submitted by the author. no Date Entered The date this item was entered into the archive. 2002-08-19 IP Address The IP address of the device used to submit the item. 12.237.44.103 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource "September 11: Bearing Witness to History" Stories Submitted Online Description An account of the resource Visitors to the Smithsonian National Museum of American History's, "Bearing Witness to History" online exhibition submitted these reflections beginning in 2002. NMAH Story NMAH Story: Story How did you witness history on September 11th? Share your experience. I was working in the St. Louis area when my husband called me at 8:10 a.m. CT to say that a plane had hit the WTC and he kept reporting the events that he was hearing on the radio at work. As a Mom of a U.S. Marine stationed at Camp Pendleton California I became worried that military bases may also be under attack. My son had just returned to Camp Pendleton after two weeks leave and I knew he was to report on 9/11 for duty. The thoughts that go through your mind not knowing what is really happening in NYC and possible at the military bases if just unbelievable. My other two children started calling in from the colleges they go to, also, worried about their brother and if everything is going to be alright. Even that the age of 18 and 20 they just needed to talk to me and they also called their dad for reassurance. It's times like this that everyone you care about you must get in contact with to see if they are okay. My huband and I thought we would not hear from our oldest son because we knew the base would be on high alert. But at 11 PM CT he called to say he was okay, it was such a relieve to hear his voice. Also, he enthusiasm that he was proud to serve his country and fight for our freedon and liberties. NMAH Story: Life Changed Has your life changed because of September 11, 2001? If so, tell us how. I think I am more tolerant and patient with people. Also, I make it a point of speaking to everyone I pass with a "hi" just to show that we are all one as a country. I hadn't worn my mother's pin my son gave me on his gradution day from boot camp for several years. I now wear it everyday and will continue to do so for some time. NMAH Story: Remembered What do you think should be remembered about September 11th? The people who died and the heroes. We must never forget that this horrible event united us as a nation and we should continue to strive to be better people. Be proud that we have the freedoms and liberties that other countries may not have. NMAH Story: Flag Did you fly an American flag after the events of September 11th? Have your feelings about the American flag changed as a result of September 11th? We have flown an American flag and a Marine Corp flag since the day our son left on October 19, 1997. My feelings have always been of pride and remembrance of those who died defending our rights. My dad was a WWII vetran and my husband a Vietnam vetran. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource nmah3671.xml 911DA Item Elements describing a September 11 Digital Archive item. Status The process status of this item. approved Consent Whether September 11 Digital Archive has permission to possess this item. full Posting Whether the contributor gave permission to post this item. yes Copyright Whether the contributor holds copyright to this item. yes Source The source of this item. born-digital Media Type The media type of this item. story Created by Author Whether the author created this item. yes Described by Author Whether the description of this item was submitted by the author. no Date Entered The date this item was entered into the archive. 2002-09-11 IP Address The IP address of the device used to submit the item. 209.16.208.225 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource "September 11: Bearing Witness to History" Stories Submitted Online Description An account of the resource Visitors to the Smithsonian National Museum of American History's, "Bearing Witness to History" online exhibition submitted these reflections beginning in 2002. NMAH Story NMAH Story: Story How did you witness history on September 11th? Share your experience. I was in school when i heard that the Twin Towers were hit.I had to wait until i got home to watch the horrible event.A friend of mine lives in NYC and had her mom call the school to tell us what had happened.I felt sad and worried most of the day. NMAH Story: Life Changed Has your life changed because of September 11, 2001? If so, tell us how. Yes,my life has changed.I feel a little afraid of flying in planes now,even though we have a much stronger security.I feel the world has come together moreso.The world has definately become stronger.Now i feel like i should put an effort into helping more people around the world. NMAH Story: Remembered What do you think should be remembered about September 11th? I think the hero's and the people that have died should be remembered.The hero's for all the hard work they put into saving people or even risking their own lives.The people that died in the planes and when the buildings collapsed.We should all rememeber them and pray for everyday for them and their families.Also,we should always remember the W.T.C. NMAH Story: Flag Did you fly an American flag after the events of September 11th? Have your feelings about the American flag changed as a result of September 11th? Yes.We put a flag on our car.Yes,my feelings of our American flag has changed.Everytime i look at the flag I remember September 11th and all that had happened. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource nmah3911.xml 911DA Item Elements describing a September 11 Digital Archive item. Status The process status of this item. approved Consent Whether September 11 Digital Archive has permission to possess this item. full Posting Whether the contributor gave permission to post this item. yes Copyright Whether the contributor holds copyright to this item. yes Source The source of this item. born-digital Media Type The media type of this item. story Created by Author Whether the author created this item. yes Described by Author Whether the description of this item was submitted by the author. no Date Entered The date this item was entered into the archive. 2002-09-11 IP Address The IP address of the device used to submit the item. 207.99.16.132 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource "September 11: Bearing Witness to History" Stories Submitted Online Description An account of the resource Visitors to the Smithsonian National Museum of American History's, "Bearing Witness to History" online exhibition submitted these reflections beginning in 2002. NMAH Story NMAH Story: Story How did you witness history on September 11th? Share your experience. I witnessed the attacks by listening in on the radio as the first planes hit the buildings in New York City. I was in my English class in 10th grade at Jenks High School in oklahoma.. and we heard about the attacks from another teacher, and turned on the radio.. b/c we did not have a tv in our room at that time. i heard about the second plane hitting the south tower, and then i heard about the collapses.. and sat in awe at what had happened. As this was going on i was taking notes on a sheet of paper, about where i was and what i was doing. It is very helpfull now NMAH Story: Life Changed Has your life changed because of September 11, 2001? If so, tell us how. i think the events have changed my life because they make me vaule my loved ones even more, and to become less trusting, and realize how fragile life is. Nobody I know was directly affected by the terroist attacks, so this has not changed my life drastically. But I do know "of" friends that have been afffected, or has known someone who was affected by the horrific attacks of 9/11. This was a horrible event and as everybody says, this will always be remember. No matter if you know someone who was lost, or just heard about the event. NMAH Story: Remembered What do you think should be remembered about September 11th? I think that we should always remember, what we stand for as americans. We should value everything we are, and that we live in peace and our country is one of Greatness.. and has over come the tragic attacks of 9/11. Eventually i believe that the consequenses of this attack will become a peace of life everyday, learning to be more cautious and working together to make a safer community not only for us, but for our children and the others around us. NMAH Story: Flag Did you fly an American flag after the events of September 11th? Have your feelings about the American flag changed as a result of September 11th? Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource nmah5061.xml 911DA Item Elements describing a September 11 Digital Archive item. Status The process status of this item. approved Consent Whether September 11 Digital Archive has permission to possess this item. full Posting Whether the contributor gave permission to post this item. yes Copyright Whether the contributor holds copyright to this item. yes Source The source of this item. born-digital Media Type The media type of this item. story Created by Author Whether the author created this item. yes Described by Author Whether the description of this item was submitted by the author. no Date Entered The date this item was entered into the archive. 2002-09-16 IP Address The IP address of the device used to submit the item. 68.14.165.178 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource "September 11: Bearing Witness to History" Stories Submitted Online Description An account of the resource Visitors to the Smithsonian National Museum of American History's, "Bearing Witness to History" online exhibition submitted these reflections beginning in 2002. NMAH Story NMAH Story: Story How did you witness history on September 11th? Share your experience. I was in school at the time the planes crashed into the World Trade Centers. People were going around saying that a plane crashed into the World Trade Center, but we just thought they were kidding. Not everyone knew what had happened yet, plus it seemed like such an impossible thing to happen. Everyone realized what was going on when the teachers started turning the tvs on and our principal announced to us over the pa system that a plane had hit one of the World Trade Centers. The worry of tests and homework went away as we all watched the televisions and prayed for the people in the buildings. NMAH Story: Life Changed Has your life changed because of September 11, 2001? If so, tell us how. Since i'm a student pilot right now, it is a longer process to get clearence for flight lessons. After they found out that the terrorists were taking flight lessons before September 11th, they put more restrictions on student pilots. After September 11th, where we could fly was also limited. There were certain no fly-zones that we were not allowed to enter. Inadvertently or directly, we all have been affected by September 11th. NMAH Story: Remembered What do you think should be remembered about September 11th? Everyone has to remember that it was a horrible day. We need to remember what happened so we can prevent something like this from ever happening again. For the people who lost loved ones on that day, it is probably hard to think about it, but we need to honor the people that risked their lives to help the men and women in those buildings. NMAH Story: Flag Did you fly an American flag after the events of September 11th? Have your feelings about the American flag changed as a result of September 11th? Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource nmah3890.xml 911DA Item Elements describing a September 11 Digital Archive item. Status The process status of this item. approved Consent Whether September 11 Digital Archive has permission to possess this item. full Posting Whether the contributor gave permission to post this item. yes Copyright Whether the contributor holds copyright to this item. yes Source The source of this item. born-digital Media Type The media type of this item. story Created by Author Whether the author created this item. yes Described by Author Whether the description of this item was submitted by the author. no Date Entered The date this item was entered into the archive. 2002-09-11 IP Address The IP address of the device used to submit the item. 204.108.200.1 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource "September 11: Bearing Witness to History" Stories Submitted Online Description An account of the resource Visitors to the Smithsonian National Museum of American History's, "Bearing Witness to History" online exhibition submitted these reflections beginning in 2002. NMAH Story NMAH Story: Story How did you witness history on September 11th? Share your experience. I, like many Americans, was at work that morning. We always had the radio on everyday and so that is how we found out about the attacks. Most of us after hearing about the first plane thought it was a terrible accident except for one of my co-workers. He emmediately said we were being attacked. Then we heard of the second, then third and finally the fourth plane then there was no doubt we were under attack. As a child, I remember our school having a sign above the door that showed that the school was a fall out shelter.From time to time when we would have a fire or tornado drill we would also have a fall out drill. That was just in case we were ever under attack. I use to worry about that, but once I got older I didn't think about it much. My father was an Air Force veteran. I can remember him saying that the United States was too lax in some things and it would come back to bite us someday. That someday was Sept. 11th.I'm glad he wasn't alive to see this. After going home that day and seeing all the news coverage I was like most Americans, I wondered if this was the begining of the end. There are alot of images that I will always remember, but none as vivid as when I saw a man and women hand in hand jump from the WTC. This, just like when JFK was assassinated, is one of those things you can think about and remember where you were and what you were doing. NMAH Story: Life Changed Has your life changed because of September 11, 2001? If so, tell us how. It has changed some things in my life. I have always loved to watch planes take off and land, but now it unnerves me. It has also changed the way I look at people. As a christian, I know we are not to judge, but unfortunately I find myself looking a little differently at people from the middle east and other countries. I wonder sometimes if this is going to be the time they decide to do a suicide bombing. I never had to feel that way and now I'm forced to. I don't like it. All I can do is pray and trust in God. He certainly sees the big picture.But it makes me mad to have been forced to feel this way in my own country. NMAH Story: Remembered What do you think should be remembered about September 11th? First, I think it should be a national holiday. Maybe in some small way that would give the families and the rest of America a feeling that those people did not die in vain. I think we should never forget the sacrifice all those firemen, policemen, EMTs, pilots, flight attendants and the passengers gave that day. NMAH Story: Flag Did you fly an American flag after the events of September 11th? Have your feelings about the American flag changed as a result of September 11th? My family has always flown the flag.My father was very proud of being an Air Force veteran and a citizen of this great country, as a I. Our parents passed that on to us. We were also taught to thank people in the military for their service. Since the attacks last year, I have been surprised by the reactions I have received from military personsel when I have thanked them. Each one has been speechless. I think that in it's self is sad because they should be highly respected for what they do for each of us in this country. As do the men and women of the emergency services. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource nmah4317.xml 911DA Item Elements describing a September 11 Digital Archive item. Status The process status of this item. approved Consent Whether September 11 Digital Archive has permission to possess this item. full Posting Whether the contributor gave permission to post this item. yes Copyright Whether the contributor holds copyright to this item. yes Source The source of this item. born-digital Media Type The media type of this item. story Created by Author Whether the author created this item. yes Described by Author Whether the description of this item was submitted by the author. no Date Entered The date this item was entered into the archive. 2002-09-11 IP Address The IP address of the device used to submit the item. 209.240.198.61 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource "September 11: Bearing Witness to History" Stories Submitted Online Description An account of the resource Visitors to the Smithsonian National Museum of American History's, "Bearing Witness to History" online exhibition submitted these reflections beginning in 2002. NMAH Story NMAH Story: Story How did you witness history on September 11th? Share your experience. I will always remember orange walls and the ringing of the phone when I think back to innocence lost. I was in the very outdated orange shower of my newly purchased home getting ready to head to work at Eastern Washington University in an hour. I first knew something was wrong when my phone kept ringing and ringing. After the tenth ring I ran from the shower dripping to grab the phone. When I picked it up all my mom could say was, "Turn on the TV." The television came on with the Twin Towers burning on the screen. I still did not understand what was happening when my second line beeped. I answered it and my husband, who had been at work for two hours, kept saying over and over, "Can you believe what the terrorists have done?" Slowly I got off the phone with both my mom and husband to watch the news as it unfolded. This had occurred three thousand miles away but as I drove my sixteen mile commute that morning, I had never felt so vulenrable or so alone. The rest of the day truly was a blur. We all had radios on at our desks. We listened to them in silence and in shock but we could not turn them off. They were our link to that still unbelievable series of events that I still could not fully comprehend. NMAH Story: Life Changed Has your life changed because of September 11, 2001? If so, tell us how. I think my life has been affected despite my physical distance from the attacks in New York and Washington DC. I will always remember the evening of September 10th. I spent a late summer evening in my back yard playing fetch with our new puppy while catching up with my best friend who was starting her second year of law school in Chicago. That evening was so innocent and carefree. A few times planes flew overhead as they prepared for landing at Spokane International Airport. I never could have imagined the next time I saw a passenger plane fly overhead I would cringe and think of a fuel laden missle. The next morning and every morning there after have been seen through a different set of eyes... eyes that are a little more wary, emotions that are a little more raw and commitment to freedom and a nation that I have an unbelievable appreciation for. NMAH Story: Remembered What do you think should be remembered about September 11th? I think the spirit of the people who directly experienced the attacks and the fashion in which our country united in the midst of such turbulent events. NMAH Story: Flag Did you fly an American flag after the events of September 11th? Have your feelings about the American flag changed as a result of September 11th? My very patriotic husband insisted we fly a flag the first day we moved into our newly purchased home in August. I admittedly rolled my eyes at his insistence but smiled when he put the flag up. On the morning of September 12th as I walked out my front door, I saw that flag as if for the first time. Suddenly I truly understood the meaning behind the flag. Freedom and the values our nation was founded upon were under attack. Freedom and values I had taken for granted all my life became tangible and deeply appreciated. For the first time since childhood I swelled with pride at the thought of being an American. The flag represents all the opportunities I have been given as a citizen and it does hold a new meaning for me since the events of September 11th. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource nmah77.xml 911DA Item Elements describing a September 11 Digital Archive item. Status The process status of this item. approved Consent Whether September 11 Digital Archive has permission to possess this item. full Posting Whether the contributor gave permission to post this item. yes Copyright Whether the contributor holds copyright to this item. yes Source The source of this item. born-digital Media Type The media type of this item. story Created by Author Whether the author created this item. yes Described by Author Whether the description of this item was submitted by the author. no Date Entered The date this item was entered into the archive. 2002-07-14 IP Address The IP address of the device used to submit the item. 216.64.132.22 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource "September 11: Bearing Witness to History" Stories Submitted Online Description An account of the resource Visitors to the Smithsonian National Museum of American History's, "Bearing Witness to History" online exhibition submitted these reflections beginning in 2002. NMAH Story NMAH Story: Story How did you witness history on September 11th? Share your experience. I wistnessed the hisory on September 11th when I was in Geography class. I saw my teacher run out the door and then came back in and turned the T.V on and said,"What's going on?" One of the teaches came in and said,"There were terriorst attacts on the World Trade Centers in New York.Two United States Air Crafts were hijacked and flown into the Trade Centers. Also one crashed in Pennsylvania.All day that's what everyone was talking about. NMAH Story: Life Changed Has your life changed because of September 11, 2001? If so, tell us how. My life has changed since the attacks on America because I thought we were a good Country and did nothing to make people from Afaganistan or from any other country make terriorsts attacts on our country. Also I had family in New York that were affected with the terriosts attacks. NMAH Story: Remembered What do you think should be remembered about September 11th? I personaly think people should remember that horrifing day on September 11th,2001 because of the people who risked their lives in order to save the lives and in order to save someone else in danger,such as the fire fighters and the people on the flights 77 and the other two. NMAH Story: Flag Did you fly an American flag after the events of September 11th? Have your feelings about the American flag changed as a result of September 11th? Yes, I did have a flag out side my house. No my feelings about the American flag didn't not change. It's not their fault that someone bombed the World Trade Centers. It was other people not us. I still beleve that our coutry is FREE! And that WE ARE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER!!!! Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource nmah3301.xml 911DA Item Elements describing a September 11 Digital Archive item. Status The process status of this item. approved Consent Whether September 11 Digital Archive has permission to possess this item. full Posting Whether the contributor gave permission to post this item. yes Copyright Whether the contributor holds copyright to this item. yes Source The source of this item. born-digital Media Type The media type of this item. story Created by Author Whether the author created this item. yes Described by Author Whether the description of this item was submitted by the author. no Date Entered The date this item was entered into the archive. 2002-09-11 IP Address The IP address of the device used to submit the item. 209.3.137.130 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource "September 11: Bearing Witness to History" Stories Submitted Online Description An account of the resource Visitors to the Smithsonian National Museum of American History's, "Bearing Witness to History" online exhibition submitted these reflections beginning in 2002. NMAH Story NMAH Story: Story How did you witness history on September 11th? Share your experience. NMAH Story: Life Changed Has your life changed because of September 11, 2001? If so, tell us how. I don't think my life itself has changed because of September 11, but I think my mind has. I now have deeper thoughts about religion and war and just how much they're connected. I have experienced many things in my life that have led me to dislike organized religion and people's will to give away their independent thought and opinion for the ruthless indoctrination's and fears bestowed upon us by most religions without question. I find it horribly sad that people can so easily kill innocent people and take their own lives in the name of God. Beliefs are the bullets of the wicked, and we have forgotten that human life is much more precious than any church, temple, or mosque. The word itself, "religion" comes from the Latin word "religare" which means "to bind together"; all we've done is grow apart. NMAH Story: Remembered What do you think should be remembered about September 11th? I think what should be remembered about September 11 is just how important personal and emotional freedom is and just how insane we can become over things that should never take precedence over people's right to live. All the firefighters and policemen that died trying to save people from a building that was collapsing on them, all the innocent people doing their jobs who lost their lives, all the people on the planes that were on their way to a vacation or to visit friends or relatives are all lives wasted over hatred and belligerence. We must remember to keep open minds and remember that life is the most precious gift we have been given in this world. We must never take it for granted and treasure it for the beautiful and priceless thing it is. NMAH Story: Flag Did you fly an American flag after the events of September 11th? Have your feelings about the American flag changed as a result of September 11th? Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource nmah4187.xml 911DA Item Elements describing a September 11 Digital Archive item. Status The process status of this item. approved Consent Whether September 11 Digital Archive has permission to possess this item. full Posting Whether the contributor gave permission to post this item. yes Copyright Whether the contributor holds copyright to this item. yes Source The source of this item. born-digital Media Type The media type of this item. story Created by Author Whether the author created this item. yes Described by Author Whether the description of this item was submitted by the author. no Date Entered The date this item was entered into the archive. 2002-09-11 IP Address The IP address of the device used to submit the item. 152.163.188.163 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource "September 11: Bearing Witness to History" Stories Submitted Online Description An account of the resource Visitors to the Smithsonian National Museum of American History's, "Bearing Witness to History" online exhibition submitted these reflections beginning in 2002. NMAH Story NMAH Story: Story How did you witness history on September 11th? Share your experience. My 11 September 2001 experience occurred within the Pentagon. I was on the fifth floor, "E" ring directly above the point of Flight 77 impact. I had no idea what caused the explosion, but knew the event was catastrophic based on the immediate structural damage in my area. For several minutes, I navigated through the damage and smoke in "E" ring to Corridor 4, which was completly filled with thick black smoke from the fire of the crash. In the area of "C" ring, the smoke cleared and I was able to reach "A" ring without further obstacles. I was unharmed physically and safely exited the Pentagon. I spent the next 2 - 3 hours walking to my hotel through the streets of a relativly quiet Washington. All traffic was at a stand still and everyone stood in disbelief. NMAH Story: Life Changed Has your life changed because of September 11, 2001? If so, tell us how. I realize that our country is vulnerable to domestic disturbances. I have therefore become more cautious in urban environments and at large public events. NMAH Story: Remembered What do you think should be remembered about September 11th? Regardless of our domestic strength, we should constantly be vidual to our weaknesses and alert to threats from rogue nations or groups. NMAH Story: Flag Did you fly an American flag after the events of September 11th? Have your feelings about the American flag changed as a result of September 11th? Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource nmah2617.xml 911DA Item Elements describing a September 11 Digital Archive item. Status The process status of this item. approved Consent Whether September 11 Digital Archive has permission to possess this item. full Posting Whether the contributor gave permission to post this item. yes Copyright Whether the contributor holds copyright to this item. yes Source The source of this item. born-digital Media Type The media type of this item. story Created by Author Whether the author created this item. yes Described by Author Whether the description of this item was submitted by the author. no Date Entered The date this item was entered into the archive. 2002-09-10 IP Address The IP address of the device used to submit the item. 164.227.88.102 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource "September 11: Bearing Witness to History" Stories Submitted Online Description An account of the resource Visitors to the Smithsonian National Museum of American History's, "Bearing Witness to History" online exhibition submitted these reflections beginning in 2002. NMAH Story NMAH Story: Story How did you witness history on September 11th? Share your experience. I had been laid off from my job as an e-commerce project manager in the downtown area earlier that year. I was at home that morning deciding what to wear to my new position as a Sr. Project Manager with WorldCom. I was to start my new job the next morning. As I was looking through my closet the news was on in the background. To my horror the story began unfolding. I live in Long Beach, NY and many hundreds of NYC Firemen live in town. Many of my close friends were firemen. My biggest fear was Larry. Larry is a NYC fireman and a very close friend. We were in the beginnings of a romantic relationship and I had no idea what had become of him. All I knew was that the towers had collapsed and thousands of people were dead. September 11, 2001 was a bad enough day for me but it was the next day that was hell on earth. I still had to report to my new job with all the enthusiasm that is expected. The office that I was to work for was out on Long Island and far enough from the tragedy that very few people had been personally effected. It is never a good idea to bring your personal life to work and would be completely unacceptable on your first day. So to work I reported. I stood and shook hands with my new colleagues with a smile mask on my face. Took up residence in my new office and fought off tears every minute. It was all I could do to not run from the building crying. I was not only still missing Larry but many other firemen friends as well. The news went on and on about how many firemen were feared dead. So, for me the 12th to 14th were the worst days while I forced myself to go about my business while I waited for word on Larry and friends. Larry finally called me on Friday. It was the first chance that he got. They were all down at ground zero 24/7 and he was unable to call until then. So now on Sept 11, 2002 I'm sitting in my office as I remember those days and await another layoff. This has been an interesting couple of years for me. I have survived many history making events from the dot.com collapse to the trade center collapse to the WorldCom collapse. But I am still here and still looking forward with enthusiasm and hope. NMAH Story: Life Changed Has your life changed because of September 11, 2001? If so, tell us how. I take the people in my life less for granted. NMAH Story: Remembered What do you think should be remembered about September 11th? That children lost fathers and mothers. Wives and husbands lost spouses. Friends lost friends. Everybody lost something if not just a bit of innocence. We must remember those people that involuntarily gave their lives because of the American way of life. NMAH Story: Flag Did you fly an American flag after the events of September 11th? Have your feelings about the American flag changed as a result of September 11th? yes, I flew it on my car until it disintegrated. And no, my feeling remain the same. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource nmah3893.xml 911DA Item Elements describing a September 11 Digital Archive item. Status The process status of this item. approved Consent Whether September 11 Digital Archive has permission to possess this item. full Posting Whether the contributor gave permission to post this item. yes Copyright Whether the contributor holds copyright to this item. yes Source The source of this item. born-digital Media Type The media type of this item. story Created by Author Whether the author created this item. yes Described by Author Whether the description of this item was submitted by the author. no Date Entered The date this item was entered into the archive. 2002-09-11 IP Address The IP address of the device used to submit the item. 166.36.36.178 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource "September 11: Bearing Witness to History" Stories Submitted Online Description An account of the resource Visitors to the Smithsonian National Museum of American History's, "Bearing Witness to History" online exhibition submitted these reflections beginning in 2002. NMAH Story NMAH Story: Story How did you witness history on September 11th? Share your experience. I was in 6th grade. 1st period Science Class at Pine View Midle School in Land O Lakes, Florida. I had just turned 12 years old a couple of days before (September 8th). We were all quietly working when Principal Estabrook came over the P.A. system saying, "I am shure you all may know of the plane crashes into the World Trade Centers and Pentagon, you may turn your TV's to watch coverage." So Ms.Dean changed the TV to CNN Headline News. When the cahnnel came in, we saw the 2nd jet crash into the other tower. I could swear no one was breathing at that moment. And for 30 min we sat in silence and watched boath towers fall. I felt that I needed to do somthing to help. But I could not do much at the moment because I was at school. After a couple of min that the WTC fell, my teacher turned off the TV and told us to continue or work. That really made me mad. How were we suposted to continue our work when we knew that others of our country were dying? I could not do one bit of my work. And when we changed to 2nd period which was my Art class, I still could not focus. My Art teacher still had the TV on CNN News. So I just sat and watched. And other kids around me were being called up to the front office to be taken home by there parents. And at one point of time during 2nd period (Art), I was called to the office to go home. My mother was up there and we boath quietly got into the Jeep. She had to get back to work, so she droped me off at our house because dad worked out of his office. And dad was talking on the phone with a friend of his when we realized that the date looked like 911. After he hung up the phone, we wnt to K mart to see if they had an American Flag, because ours wes old and had a possibal hole. And K mart was out of flags, so we wnt to Wallmart and got the very last flag on the shelf. Me and my dad were so proud when we hung that flag up. And today it is faded from being out too much. NMAH Story: Life Changed Has your life changed because of September 11, 2001? If so, tell us how. Today I say the plege with sllot more respect. All my teachers yell at any student that does not at least stand during the pledge. I have do not take my freedome for granted anymore. I want to learn more about our history as a country. And I support President George W. Bush, because no President has been throught all the trouble he has in just one term. The World Trade Centers, Columbia Space Shuttle. And everyone was presuring him to do somthing to get rid of terrorisim. And no one wants to be terrorized. And of corse he cares for this country. And now people are being hippocritical about war. At first they wanted war agenst the terorist. And now they want to war what so ever. That are just some of the ways 9/11 has changed my life. And I support George Walker Bush. NMAH Story: Remembered What do you think should be remembered about September 11th? The Victoms. And the Hero's. The victoms liver were taken because of someones jellosuly. And the hero's did there best to try to save people. And some of them even gave there lives to save others. It is a sad story of tragity and courage. Even people that were not police men or firefighters tried to save others. These people did not fear for them selves, but for others. And that is a true blue story of hero's. NMAH Story: Flag Did you fly an American flag after the events of September 11th? Have your feelings about the American flag changed as a result of September 11th? Me and my dad flew our new american flag as soon as possibal. I have more respect for our flag. And I understand what those before me have faght for. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource nmah6348.xml 911DA Item Elements describing a September 11 Digital Archive item. Status The process status of this item. approved Consent Whether September 11 Digital Archive has permission to possess this item. full Posting Whether the contributor gave permission to post this item. yes Copyright Whether the contributor holds copyright to this item. yes Source The source of this item. born-digital Media Type The media type of this item. story Created by Author Whether the author created this item. yes Described by Author Whether the description of this item was submitted by the author. no Date Entered The date this item was entered into the archive. 2003-11-05 IP Address The IP address of the device used to submit the item. 4.35.16.86 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource "September 11: Bearing Witness to History" Stories Submitted Online Description An account of the resource Visitors to the Smithsonian National Museum of American History's, "Bearing Witness to History" online exhibition submitted these reflections beginning in 2002. NMAH Story NMAH Story: Story How did you witness history on September 11th? Share your experience. I was sleeping. NMAH Story: Life Changed Has your life changed because of September 11, 2001? If so, tell us how. no. NMAH Story: Remembered What do you think should be remembered about September 11th? war never brings peace. NMAH Story: Flag Did you fly an American flag after the events of September 11th? Have your feelings about the American flag changed as a result of September 11th? no and no. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource nmah5149.xml 911DA Item Elements describing a September 11 Digital Archive item. Status The process status of this item. approved Consent Whether September 11 Digital Archive has permission to possess this item. full Posting Whether the contributor gave permission to post this item. yes Copyright Whether the contributor holds copyright to this item. yes Source The source of this item. born-digital Media Type The media type of this item. story Created by Author Whether the author created this item. yes Described by Author Whether the description of this item was submitted by the author. no Date Entered The date this item was entered into the archive. 2002-09-23 IP Address The IP address of the device used to submit the item. 66.11.166.42 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource "September 11: Bearing Witness to History" Stories Submitted Online Description An account of the resource Visitors to the Smithsonian National Museum of American History's, "Bearing Witness to History" online exhibition submitted these reflections beginning in 2002. NMAH Story NMAH Story: Story How did you witness history on September 11th? Share your experience. On Sept.11th everyone in school was talking about the twin towers, but no one knew if it was true. When i first herd about it I though some sick kid made it up for a joke. By 9:00 when the teachers started getting upset and turning on the news I knew that the story was true. Alot of people were cring and everyone was sad. There was alot of mixed emotions that day in school. Most of my friends were scared about what might happen next. I didn't get to see anything about it until 6th period in my Geography class. My teacher had told us what happened and turned on the news. When I saw the planes hit the towers I was in shock, I didn't think that anyone would do something so bad. That day went from a normal school day to the most depresing day of my life and I will never forget it. NMAH Story: Life Changed Has your life changed because of September 11, 2001? If so, tell us how. Yes my life has changed. Now I watch the news more often and when I see all the different people on TV sharing there emotions about 9/11 I feel like we have something in common. It made me remember that not everyone in the world is happy with the US. I thought everyone got along because we don't turn anybody down. Now I relize that not everyone is happy about that. NMAH Story: Remembered What do you think should be remembered about September 11th? I think everyone should remember the people who died because of the attack, and all the people who are watching out for us everyday. Without people like that we might not be here right now. NMAH Story: Flag Did you fly an American flag after the events of September 11th? Have your feelings about the American flag changed as a result of September 11th? Yes me and my mom went out and got a American flag and hung it up that day. My Grandmother and I made candles and lighted them that night. Everyone on my block had put out candles and kept them lit until 10:30 that night. That went on for 3 days. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource nmah3854.xml 911DA Item Elements describing a September 11 Digital Archive item. Status The process status of this item. approved Consent Whether September 11 Digital Archive has permission to possess this item. full Posting Whether the contributor gave permission to post this item. yes Copyright Whether the contributor holds copyright to this item. yes Source The source of this item. born-digital Media Type The media type of this item. story Created by Author Whether the author created this item. yes Described by Author Whether the description of this item was submitted by the author. no Date Entered The date this item was entered into the archive. 2002-09-11 IP Address The IP address of the device used to submit the item. 209.3.137.130 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource "September 11: Bearing Witness to History" Stories Submitted Online Description An account of the resource Visitors to the Smithsonian National Museum of American History's, "Bearing Witness to History" online exhibition submitted these reflections beginning in 2002. NMAH Story NMAH Story: Story How did you witness history on September 11th? Share your experience. NMAH Story: Life Changed Has your life changed because of September 11, 2001? If so, tell us how. I decided to add yet some more. I'm "on a roll." ;) I woke up this morning and wanted to write more about my guru, Amma, with whom I have a strained relation right now. I was not raised with a guru tradition--I was raised agnostic, even athiest, and I come from a Judeo-Christiam background. So believing in any God, much less a living one, as Amma is considered, is hard for me. It never sat well with me to worship her, as people do in her community. This whole thing is confusing, as a film from 1995 shows her dressed in Devi Bhava, as the Divine Mother, and the voiceover is apparently a translation of what she once said--that she doesn't want people to worship her, but she allows this, so that they worship the divine within themselves. And that, ultimately, they have to find their own way of doing that. Words to that effect. I feel like, when my mother got breast cancer in the fall of 2002, I was put on that path of "self-realization," and I'm not even sure what it is, exactly. I do remember a strong feeling of willingness developing over that time to self-actualize, though. I wanted to merge with the divine in Nature, for one. Even at Plum Village, where I thought I'd be fit in and be "safe," I found myself wanting that--to move beyond the modern religions of the world, which are quite "young," compared to the Universe itself. I can't say this feeling came upon me all at once, but gradually, yes, in increments, depending on events in my life after that. I do consider that to be a sort of "turning point," though, for me. I believe that it is natural for people to try to return to their spiritual roots when cancer strikes. It wasn't even me that had it, but my mother was "close enough," I guess, for this to have happened to me. I do love her dearly, though relations between us are "strained," too. The Vedic astrologer, Prasannan, has said that she and my father aren't "there" for me, emotionally, and this will be the hardest thing I will ever have to deal with. It is true--it is. I don't know how Amma feels about all this. I do suspect that she doesn't want to "lose" me to another teacher, as she is considered my satguru--my ultimate guru. How she got there, I don't know, because I sometimes feel like I didn't "choose" her, so much as she "chose" me, I'm sorry to say. My first year, I'd say, devoted to her weren't exactly filled with bliss, as her name, Mata Amritanandamayi, which means "Mother of Immortal Bliss," implies, but I found there to be little conflict within the community I'd experience then, myself, which was nice. We all got along well, it seemed, though we came from different countries and religions. I was also "drawn in" by the wonders of being in her community, such as the miracles we experience, sometimes in groups; the devotional singing and chanting, which I found so uplifting, then; and also selfless service in her name for the needy, which is a hallmark of hers. I think it was mainly the "miracles," which she considers "illusory," that drew me in and continue to, even though I experience a kind of "burn out." Amma has also said that she welcomes people from all religions and spiritual traditions, but my experience has been that, in more recent years, she has wanted to be my only teacher. I'm not sure. I base this notion on feelings rather than what she actually tells me, since she has millions of devotees, worldwide, and she has little time for each one, personally. She is often misinterpreted by her closest disciples--she speaks mainly Malayalam, which is her native language, in satsang, so that too is an issue. I do not know Malayalam, and I do not intend to learn much. I will be "brave" and tell you--though you are only a digital archive and something of my federal government--that I "shut her out of my heart," at some point, a little over a year ago. I am quite sure she and her satsang sense this, as I get the "cold shoulder" all the time, there. Sometimes I talk about it, too. It is part of the PTSD I have to feel alienated, at times, so this is "natural" in this sense, even though it's part of my illness. I have come to question Amma's ways in this world, whereas before, I didn't look so deeply. I just "sat with" the fact, for instance, I didn't really, at heart, worship her. I have a hard time with the notion of worship at all, actually, given the tradition I was raised with. Oh, we celebrated Christmas and Easter, since they are very popular and "commercial" holidays in this country, where I've lived most of my life. But we didn't celebrate them in any particularly religious ways, except for the occasional Handel's "Messiah," for instance, at The Kennedy Center, in DC. Among the "disagreements" I have with Amma is the fact she is awake most of the time--literally. She is often awake several times a week, when she is in the mood of the Divine Mother, in Devi Bhava, giving darshan all night to the thousands of devotees who come from all over for that. She spends most of her time traveling the world to be with "her children," as she calls everyone, no matter who they are. When she is not giving Devi Bhava, she routinely stays up into the wee hours of the morning, every night, giving darshan in her simple white dress. I find this not to be conducive to the healing she is so famous for, worldwide, actually, but she will not listen to reason. I refused to get up at 4AM for darshan one night on retreat, last time she was here, because it is not a very sustainable way of life. There are other "discrepancies" I have with her--such as I didn't want to be a "rock" in her famous "tumbler," which she refers to us "children" as being, when my mother had breast cancer. It was too traumatic a time for me to be stressed out that way. It still is, actually. I felt like she was being hard on me, then, too, not expressing any sympathy for me, really, during Q&A last summer, when I brought up the whole issue of people "not being there" for me in satsang at that time. She wanted to know if Dayamrita was one, as she'd "smack" him, then. She did not, though, say she'd do a "sankalpa" for me, as I suffered suicidal depression, or my mother, though Dayamrita told me, in March or something, that Amma was "praying" for her. I'd also wanted her to adopt some sort of methods of reconciliation within her community, as they have in Thay's, where they "begin anew"--though that does not always help that much, actually, but at least it's a try. Amma did not address this at all, however, in Q&A, and I feel it is vital for people to at least try to reconcile. It is why I wrote old "friends" I used to get high with in the 70s and 80s, and I "rekindled" a friendship with someone who is now ultra-conservative, much to my dismay, but I get ahead of myself. I really only write her and her new family at Christmas, now, but that is beside the point. But addressing a previously made point, I have been led to wonder, if Amma is an incarnation of the Divine Mother, whom the gods worship in Hindu tradition, then Whom does she pray to? I cannot say I'm "tough" like a rock, either. The other day, a "revelation" came to me in my Uncle Felix's voice--that I was more like the glass pieces tumbled smooth by the ocean, I saw in a seaside shop in Massachusetts, than a rock. I am more fragile than a rock, and Amma doesn't "know" this, yet, I think. But actually, we are all human and neither rock nor glass. We are all individual, too. And I was scared I'd lose my actual self with her--literally--because I got so depressed. I began to scorn the notion of being "selfless" in a world where the rich run things, and in this country, in such a corrupt manner. I understand that Bush has been sued for waging war on Iraq without a legitimate reason or permission, and that person lost the battle and wrote a book about it, which I could have told you would be the case--the losing, anyway. This system is too corrupt for such a person to win. I forget his name, now, but I saw the book on a shelf in a local shop. More people protested that war than any other in history--worldwide, they turned out in the millions, I think, and here, the police were so brutal that peaceful demonstrators in Oakland got fired upon and shot. In San Francisco, just after the war started, thousands of protesters took the the streets in an "emergency" demonstration, and while some were "tough," the police were "tougher," still, and many ended up wounded and put in jail for God knows how long. I have heard of political detainees since 9/11 in the thousands, in this country, where such a thing isn't supposed to happen. And of human rights violations with prisoners of war in Iraq and Afghanistan. People being smothered to death and tortured, and it appalls me. I was never for any of these wars, nor is anyone I know, with rare exception. No one I care to know a great deal, anyway, anymore. And that is probably the tip of the iceberg, as far as violations of our human rights and civil liberties go. Why, the devastation of pristine Muir Beach has much to do with the deregulation of environmental laws since Bush's "reign." He seized power, and Civil Rights organizations are suing Jeb Bush, the state of Florida, and Katharine Harris because of the violations of voting rights there--what with thousands of mainly African-Americans being stricken from the rosters, because of illegal policies, in trying to eliminate felons, using a data system designed to keep innocent people from the polls. Bush and his cronies are wrong, but they probably won't be seen as such in the criminal justice system, since this isn't a democracy, but an oligarchy. It rather reminds me of a dictatorship, since he did not win the general election. I know no one who voted for him, except one childhood "friend," I made contact with after many years, and had I known she felt this way, I would most likely not have made contact. And it is frightening to "reveal" myself this way, on-line, for an agency that will surely report its findings to the government, which is more like a perpetrator than my friend. If it truly cared, it wouldn't bomb Iraq, which contains billions of dollars of oil per year--the Bush family business--and instead, it would use the billions of dollars it spends on "the war on terrorism"--which is not protecting me one iota--to help the poor, as Amma and her devotees do. This has been my problem with "selfless service," in the face of such tyranny. Why should I, who have suffered so much already, be "selfless," in one of the richest countries in the world, if not the richest--when it doesn't help its own people with their basic needs, such as food, clothing, and shelter? And one fear I have is that when I state feelings like this, so bravely as I do here, then I will be seen as a "terrorist," which Bush and his administration want to peg people like me as, even though the people didn't elect him. I remember him saying, after the terrorist attacks of 9/11, on the TV, standing on top of the rubble of the WTC, that if you weren't "with us," you're "against us," which is horse hockey. He lost the popular vote. I wish I could sue--and win--because my vote didn't count, because isn't that what voting means? I think so. Now, here in California, we passed, almost unanimously, a bill that says our votes count, by law, as if that is not a "given." Forgive me if I repeat myself, as I may have written some of this, before. I cannot help but think that the Constitution says this is supposed to be a government "by the people, of the people, for the people," no? Then, why is it so tyranncial that citizens born here, such as myself, don't feel safe living here, anymore? You know, I'm in recovery for substance abuse--I had 10 years' clean and sober on November 15th, which is, by chance, the Founder's Day at the Stift Klosterneuburg, the monastery dedicated to the Virgin Mary, outside Vienna, near where I used to live. I had my first drunk there, too, when I was 12. I found out this "coincidence," "by chance," when I was stuck abroad there, after the terrorist attacks of 9/11, actually. I decided to re-visit after many years away, and this is what I found out. "No coincidence," to my mind, and I told the tour guide who led us around the inside--a rare privilege, these days. My 10th anniversary date was also the night Jennifer Berezan chose to give her concert ritual at the Scottish Rite Temple in Oakland, and I told her, as well--after the show, which was great. She and Joan had been in Malta when the planes struck, and I think that was "no coincidence," either... What is "ironic" is that I've often been afraid of being seen as a "terrorist" suspect, just for expressing myself about this day and what it's meant to me. And I'm opposed to violence, at heart. I don't believe violence is ever the answer, no matter my personal problems with it, and there have been many. I realize, too, that Bush is supposedly, "in recovery" for alcoholism, and yet I find his behavior strange for someone who claims that. He and his administration have this vague "enemy," the "evil-doer." I saw a whole article written about what a "dry drunk" he must be, or worse yet, someone who still drinks, even though he's supposed to be in recovery. Frankly, when the Bush "selection" was taking place in the fall and winter of 2000 and 2001, I thought for sure he'd "lose," since it came out in the press he had a DUI. Who wants a drunk president? And the fact he's mixed church and state, as has his Attorney General, John Ashcroft, does not help, either. They are both hard-nosed Republicans, and it appalls me their "tough guy," body-builder turned actor turned politician, suddenly, Arnold Schwarzenegger, was elected by a landslide, apparently legitimately, in a state that is largely Democratic, though it reveres actors and he appears moderate, as Mumia-Abu-Jamal points out in one of his latest commentaries from death row, where he still is, despite his innocence. I'm getting tired of all this, to say the least. One reason I liked Deer Park Monastery is that I was there when Arnold was elected, and since the media is not welcome there, it was like a "guessing game" to figure out who won this election. I enjoyed that, and it beats the anxiety of "living outside," where we are subject to the media and its backlash all the time. The media cares only about selling things, and since war sells, it has been behind all this, even though in a "moderate" sense, since who really likes war, anyway? No one. I confess, I meant "merely" to write about Amma and my relationship with her, but I got on another tangent, since that is what you are about, no? Governmental power. I will try to "stick to the point." I confess, too, I do not pray much anymore, if at all--nor do I chant my mantra, which Amma gave me my first Devi Bhava. I feel like my life is ruined. My brother, who is much more accepted in the family, lives closer to "home," has a better career and more money and so on. I feel devastated by recent events and my money is running out, too. I recently went to a financial advisor at Kitcole, and I cried about how little I have left. My search for compensation has not beel fruitful, either. I have tried many agencies, most recently, the federal fund Kenneth Feinberg runs. I read in the newspaper that there was still a lot of money in it at that time--November, I believe--and that he was touring the country, trying to get people to apply for it. But when I called his office, long distance, I was told that if I didn't suffer injury or lose a loved one, then I didn't "qualify." And when I called Senator Feinsteins' office in San Francisco, an attendant there got irrational with me and harassed me for expecting compensation and hung up the phone on me. That was the worst reaction I ever had to that issue. So that is "it," in a nutshell, when it comes to "Amma-ville." Last time I was at her ashram was this past Saturday night, where I'd arranged for the short film to be shown--I gift from me, over the years, as I've made many on Dr. King's behalf. I didn't feel the M.A. Center board did his birthday justice, as many of us are still distraught after all these years, by his assassination, and that is to be expected. I still cannot believe that Ashcroft, who has Klan ties, is Attorney General, and yet Bush will go to Atlanta to lay a wreath, while the 2002 Gandhi-King Award winner's temple observes his birthday in such an "off-hand" way, well after satsang is over, which was about Pongal, a Hindu ceremony. Something else I learned at this time is that I'm not that Hindu, either, though I still like some of the traditions, such as yoga and Ayurveda, which I rarely use anymore, however. During Q&A in San Ramon last summer, Amma and I engaged in a rather "long" discussion, which was merely to be a question and answer session--but she began to ask me questions in return, to my surprise. That is when she apparently told me to go visit my mother, who did not want me to come, it turned out, for fear my father and I would argue, since he is a tyrant. Afterward, Amma called me up to her pedestal, and asked me if something has "shaken" me. I said that my mother's breast cancer shook my faith. And her answer was that spiritual masters get cancer, such as Ramakrishna, but that didn't make me feel much better, since I barely know who that is or was, and we were talking about my actual birth mother. I've had a hard time accepting Amma as a "second mother," since she did not give birth to me, and we have very little time together, actually. She knows little about me personally that others do not tell her, and I'm sure it is not always so good. For instance, I am sure she probably has heard, by now, from a devotee who lives at the M.A. Center that I put up a fuss when the screeing of the wonderful film, "I Have a Dream" was over, since we devotees who cared deeply about him and his work had no chance to expresss our feelings in a public way there, and that hurt. I will go now. I have ceased other kinds of worship, as well, though, such as offering flowers to Jemanja, the African ocean Goddess--my friend from Peru, Flor, showed me how to do this, and while I loved to, at one time, now, I don't anymore, since she is gone from my life. I do still have long talks with Jemanja, on occasion-when I am near an ocean that I feel safe with, which is not often, even though I live at Muir Beach, for one. I used to love to chant the 1000 names of the Devi, the Divine Mother, as well, but since my faith was shaken, over a year ago, I have stopped doing that, as well. It really is like I'm returning to my roots. I even listen to pop music, now, again, and have for some time, whereas before, in the car, where I play these things, mostly, I used to listen to the dozens of bhajans recordings I got from the ashram and other spiritual teachings on tape and CD. I can't help but think that I am falling victim to some sort of ultra-conservative coup--that knows I have this guru, who is not male, for one, and does not even particularly like men, for another. I think, too, I have "fallen victim" to patriarchy itself, which this society is so steeped in--the world, in general, is. So I am wondering what enlightenment is and how to seek it, still. I feel "despair" that everywhere I've turned for this has not "turned out" as I'd planned. Not well at all, actually. Lately, I've begun to listen to bhajans again, which I used to love--some soared for me and would take my spirit with them. The chanting was the same way for me, most of it. But now, no, not really. I have a sort of "mental block." Another issue I have with "Amma-ville," is that she never marries same-sex couples in ceremonies at the end of Devi Bhava, after giving darshan for many hours. These occur later and later these days, since so more and more people come to her for that. I identify as bisexual, and I know that Ashcroft has shown anti-gay behavior, so just admitting that on-line, here, is scary, too. But Amma devotees can be gay, lesbian, transgender, and bisexual--in fact a lesbian couple I know in her community expressed a desire to marry, if she'd like, but they won't ask. That would be a "first," as far as I know. I think Amma is still under the restrictions, somewhat, of her staid upbringing in South India, where such things are never heard of. I have felt, lately, that perhaps I would be "better off" with a more traditional path, such as going to graduate school in, say, a women's spirituality program, like the ones they have at the California Institute of Integral Studies, where Jennifer and Joan teach--the Malta trip could have been "for credit," but since I was not a formal student, I didn't take it for such--or New College, which I actually favor, since its policy is to accept people who aren't accepted elsewhere. I never dreamed my quest to seek enlightenment would be so hard or so painful. I had expected a simpler, easier path, and to be, most of all, happier than I've been. That isn't to say I haven't experienced some joy. After Devi Bhava in June, for instance, I was "blissed out," and regaled houseguests of Karla Andersdatter, the writer from whom I rent a room and a 3/4 bath at Muir Beach, with details about Amma. One last thing about Amma I have difficulty with--I find her "self-centered," in that in her community, everything revolves around her and her satsang, basically. Some of the songs are specifically about her as the Divine Mother of the Universe. And her 108 names, which people chant regularly there--and I always had trouble with, myself--regale her as such, too. In one of her books, I believe, which is offered at her "lotus feet," she is named as being "forever centered in the self," as if that's a good thing. I have found myself wanting more to be centered within my own self, and less to be like a moth to a flame, which I frequently see us all as, with her. I feel like this came over me as a result of my mother's breast cancer, too--like this is her "gift" to me, even if she doesn't know it, since spirituality means little to her, even at this late stage of her life. So even though she keeps me at long distance now--we have not seen each other since before her diagnosis, actually--I still feel there is some love there, for what it's worth. She did meet Amma, in the summer of 2002--she was merely going to drop me off at the Virginia Hilton, where programs were being held, but she came in, at my behest, at the last moment. We got darshan together, and Amma nearly jumped out of her chair, when I told her who this was, because she knew Mom had trouble coming. I'll go now. There is a celebration for Dr. King in Marin City soon, and I don't want to miss it, since this is the national holiday for his birthday. In closing, let me say that I am praying for peace, in my own way. In a way, my whole life is becoming a prayer, perhaps, since I still feel "called" to seek enlightenment, no matter what may come. Maybe I will write more later. Love, Vivian Taube NMAH Story: Remembered What do you think should be remembered about September 11th? NMAH Story: Flag Did you fly an American flag after the events of September 11th? Have your feelings about the American flag changed as a result of September 11th? Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource nmah6411.xml 911DA Item Elements describing a September 11 Digital Archive item. Status The process status of this item. approved Consent Whether September 11 Digital Archive has permission to possess this item. full Posting Whether the contributor gave permission to post this item. yes Copyright Whether the contributor holds copyright to this item. yes Source The source of this item. born-digital Media Type The media type of this item. story Created by Author Whether the author created this item. yes Described by Author Whether the description of this item was submitted by the author. no Date Entered The date this item was entered into the archive. 2004-01-19 IP Address The IP address of the device used to submit the item. 66.81.223.156 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource "September 11: Bearing Witness to History" Stories Submitted Online Description An account of the resource Visitors to the Smithsonian National Museum of American History's, "Bearing Witness to History" online exhibition submitted these reflections beginning in 2002. NMAH Story NMAH Story: Story How did you witness history on September 11th? Share your experience. I witnessed the history made on September 11, 2001 through the eyes of a naive child. I was fourteen years old, and still completely unaware of how cruel the world could be. I had learned about Pearl Harbor and other attacks on the United States, but it was one of those events that you never expect to witness in your lifetime. September 11 is a day that I'll never forget; I still remember what I was wearing, what I was doing and more importantly how I reacted. On September 11 I was at my high school, leisurely walking to my gym class between periods, and I took notice of how desolate the hall was. Then all of a sudden one of my friends came flying around the corner, nearly knocking me over. The next thing I knew he grabbed me by the arm with a look of despair on his face and said, "The World Trade Centers were attacked by a plane!" Of course,the reaction of an ignorant fourteen year old could be nothing but, "You're such a liar! Why would you say a thing like that? You know you're not being funny," and with that he gave me a look, one of those looks that you never forget, a look of extreme sorrow and lost hope. We both continued on our ways, but as I entered gym class and saw the teacher glued to the televistion, the nightmare became a reality. I couldn't fully grasp what was happening at that moment and I still have a hard time grasping it today. That day, I watched the towers fall and at the same time I watched America fall with them. Now, I look at the videos of September 11 and I see them through the eyes of a different person. The eyes of someone who will never forget what she was wearing, what she was doing, and most importantly how she reacted. NMAH Story: Life Changed Has your life changed because of September 11, 2001? If so, tell us how. My life since September 11, 2001 has changed. September 11 forced me to grow up, it made me realize that America wasn't as strong as I thought it was and that I'm not always safe. That scared me then and still scares me now, the thought of not being completely safe. But besides that, it has made me believe in people. It made me believe that there was good in people, just look at the brave souls on the plane that went down in Pennsylvania, and the firemen and policemen that went to work knowing they might not make it home. NMAH Story: Remembered What do you think should be remembered about September 11th? I think above everything the people should be remembered. They weren't from the army or the navy. They did sign up to die, they didn't even know they were targets. They are the reason as to why September 11 was a tradgedy. Buildings are replaceable, but people are one of a kind. So they should be remembered for their heroism and courage. Also I think we should remeber the bravery shown on that day by everyone from firefighters to the average American citizen. NMAH Story: Flag Did you fly an American flag after the events of September 11th? Have your feelings about the American flag changed as a result of September 11th? Yes, my family did fly an American flag after September 11. To me after September 11 the American flag changed. It became one of the defining symbols of patriotism. Not that is wasn't before, but the heroism shown on 9/11 made me proud to be an American and therefore I flew the flag to honor those who died on that tragic day. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource nmah4168.xml 911DA Item Elements describing a September 11 Digital Archive item. Status The process status of this item. approved Consent Whether September 11 Digital Archive has permission to possess this item. full Posting Whether the contributor gave permission to post this item. yes Copyright Whether the contributor holds copyright to this item. yes Source The source of this item. born-digital Media Type The media type of this item. story Created by Author Whether the author created this item. yes Described by Author Whether the description of this item was submitted by the author. no Date Entered The date this item was entered into the archive. 2002-09-11 IP Address The IP address of the device used to submit the item. 205.188.208.134 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource "September 11: Bearing Witness to History" Stories Submitted Online Description An account of the resource Visitors to the Smithsonian National Museum of American History's, "Bearing Witness to History" online exhibition submitted these reflections beginning in 2002. NMAH Story NMAH Story: Story How did you witness history on September 11th? Share your experience. I was still upset about creeping yet closer to 30:( I had my birthday on the 4th of September. I logged off the internet a 5 am and settled into bed and the TV got on my nerves and I turned it off. The next thing I hear is my phone ringing my ex-boyfirend Mike was on the phone he said "my mom just called she said there was a explosion at the World Trade Center". I told him, "this is a sick joke you always call me with bad news". He said "turn on CNN my mom said they blew up one of the World Trade Towers in New York" none of us knew just yet it was a attack. I groped around glassesless and in the semi dark for my remote control and found it and turned on CNN. I live in Washington DC I told him get off the phone your mom will need to call you again. I tried and got onto the internet and MSNBC kept sending back server has reached copacity messages so I checked my e-mail and had a revelation I went to a here-to-be-unamed web site to listen to NYC police calls, I turned on Arlington City 'county' when the site got really slow and wouldn't load. I turned on the wrong button and recorded the whole thing leading up to the attacks on the Pentagon. I turned on channel 4 WRC I had to see our local news we live by a lot of government shit here, bases, proving grounds, all sorts of mess. I wanted to be told we were all going to die by our familier chjannel 4 news team. The news we watched after the Skins games as a family the one shouting from the TV downstairs I could hear but not understand. Then it happened the Pentagon got hit. Now Mikes mom works there by the helocopter pad was she out? A message came on our local news to clear the phone lines and to please prepare for futher reports. We may have to move we may be under threat here. Our cable co ran a alert for military members in the county to report to there units. My ISP shut us off the internet either that or I timed out I still can't tell. I waited a few minutes and tried the phone it just went "beep beep beep beep" fast busy it is called. My brother and his friends were outside and we waited watching the jets fly around so low you could read words/letters on them and hear the engines they must have been 500 to 1000 ft I swear I bet they were higher though??? The President came on the TV and things started to blur. I tried to play with my 3 year old neice and watch Nickeloden with her. I saw the second plane then I saw the collapse and I am sad to say so did she she got really quiet and asked me, "is this a movie?" I said, "yes lets watch blue" and went to put on blues clues on her TV. The president came back on TV from someplace in the mid west and I watched him say he was going to be back in Washington. I never would have beleved some time later we would be hearing a plane. We all started to scan around the whole neighbourhood came out of there houses to see what in the hell is this plane doing is it going to attack the Mall? We looked silly as the sound got louder. We scanned the sky like anti aircraft gunners spinning around and around waiting to fix on something moveing and man made. We thought which way to run? Where is it comeing from? Then it appered fast flying 1 jet about 2 or 3 minutes a formation we were amazed to see a big 747 (I think) in Airforce 1 livery and 3 jets on it's left (from the ground looking up) and one on it's right and some others in line abreast way out on the left and right then 2 jets following behind one close and one way behind like the first one we saw. I hated president Bush up untill he came on the TV and said were going to find out who did this and get them. When I saw air force 1 fly over and he was comeing home here to DC I almost cried right there and at that moment for better or worse he became The President and is President Bush to me now. He did all he could to get "home" to his city that was attacked. He also said he would find out who did this and get them. Sept 11 sucks in a word it only compares to watching Belgrade/Yugoslavia get flattened. I lost friends in both Belgrade/Yugoslavia and New York and this is the first time I had the courage to say how Sept 11 unfolded for me. I only ask How many of my friends must die before everyone gets a clue??? NMAH Story: Life Changed Has your life changed because of September 11, 2001? If so, tell us how. My life has changed because when I pick up the phone to call one of my friends now confirmed dead I remember and get sad all over again. In my dreams Yugoslavia and the US attacks blur into one with police wearing KLA uniformes and calling "here kitty kitty kitty" in Serbian only to shoot you while laughing. I wake up in a cold sweat as my room materialises around me and I am safe. Sometimes when I wake the sun is up and I get up to start at it all again. I watch the news to see how much Americans are hated and how 10 year old taliban boys shout to the TV cameras that they want to eat Americans skin. G-d, him I don't know any more I think I am still Jewish? I hear every day how we all were tipped off about the attacks on the World trade center and the Pentagon and no Jews came to work let it be known that is a load of shit and don't forget it. I am now questioning? My brother says "I absolutly beleves in G-d and I absolutly hate the mutha fucker". I just want us to all get along. I share files around and found some of the Quran, the Bible, and the Torah and I found some audio files for the same of verse being chanted or sung or just read aloud. I beleve in all faiths now I beleve evey belief is sacred and all holy words are to be shared so I do share them and today September 17, 2002 I had a Jew, a Muslim and a Christian all downloading scriptures from me. That is my America all together, all friends, all useing what we have for the common good. Of my holy books none of them say anything about terror they don't condone it and there is more words against violence than for it. NMAH Story: Remembered What do you think should be remembered about September 11th? I think American leaders need to remember the old saw, "You reap what you sew" Don't give guns to those who might use them against you. Don't ignore your population and leave them to figure it out for themselves. We can't and shouldn't be expected too. The word Free must mean that that we are free. Freedom is not some silly PSA ad on the TV we know better than to beleve because the vary situation it demonstraits wouldn't happen you have seen happen before your eyes and it makes you worry. Everything I mean everything! little, stupid, backgroundish all of it needs to be saved, sound, vision all of it. The phone used to be a tool, now for some it is a last wish, a talsmin from days gone by, better times with someone they last spoke to on sept 11 evacuating never to be seen or heard from again. The phone should get a speacial place in any remebering because it was so important on that day. people must know the American People can't be crushed. Lastly We must forget to hate that is what needs to be remembered on September 11 of every year from now untill forever we must forget to hate always forget to hate. Remember to love especially those that your government doesn't like. Help them to see your part of things and than help them as best you can to live as comfortable and safe as you do here in the USA. Remember also to hear there part, learn there language, watch or listen to there news, take a day to be just like them, do what they would do and go where they would go and if they normaly can't and you normaly can don't do what ever it is for one day. If every American tried to be a Palistinian or a Serb for one day they may think twice when the governemnt says, "Let us bomb them or give there government forces guns and bullets". The government and the media here must show the world we have problems the foreign news says, "there were floods in Mozambique and there are many displaced persons in the country" If that were in the USA it would read, "There were floods in Virginia today and homes had to be evacuated familes will be staying in the local high school untill the all clear is given to go back home" There is never a displaced person in the USA why? Is not a flood a flood where ever it is and are you not displaced by it no matter who and where you are in the world. American media and government needs to use the internationaly recognized disaster discriptions like the rest of the world it will be hard to but our current discriptions give the effect of There being no problems here in the USA and that as we all know cannot be. We must sound like the rest of the world to be understood by the rest of the world. NMAH Story: Flag Did you fly an American flag after the events of September 11th? Have your feelings about the American flag changed as a result of September 11th? We flew the flag and we waved it too and I who never knew the national anthem before but I can sing it well now:) The flag means home to me if I ever see it in a movie about a foreign place I think if I were there I would be so happy to see that flag to know there are Americans there and if I can get to where it is I would be safe as one could get. I used to hate it here and worry about how the world just loved to hate us. I would smile when I saw the flag get burned on the TV news now I turn it and get a lump and a tear. lets just say I think I know where home is and I think I know what freedom is now. President Bush was right when he said freedom was attacked. Now I would like the whole world to know all about the red, white and blue and what it means to be free. To live under the flag is to be able to look up and see that you are free incase you needed help in knowing that you are in the most unique place on earth the most amazing country there is nothing like the USA not even Rome we're better and our chariots are way faster and we stole all there best foods:) Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource nmah5072.xml 911DA Item Elements describing a September 11 Digital Archive item. Status The process status of this item. approved Consent Whether September 11 Digital Archive has permission to possess this item. full Posting Whether the contributor gave permission to post this item. yes Copyright Whether the contributor holds copyright to this item. yes Source The source of this item. born-digital Media Type The media type of this item. story Created by Author Whether the author created this item. yes Described by Author Whether the description of this item was submitted by the author. no Date Entered The date this item was entered into the archive. 2002-09-17 IP Address The IP address of the device used to submit the item. 63.215.155.87 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource "September 11: Bearing Witness to History" Stories Submitted Online Description An account of the resource Visitors to the Smithsonian National Museum of American History's, "Bearing Witness to History" online exhibition submitted these reflections beginning in 2002. NMAH Story NMAH Story: Story How did you witness history on September 11th? Share your experience. We were vacationing at Sun River, Oregon, staying in a rented condo. I was helping my sister, a novice sewer, construct fleece jackets for her family for Christmas. We had the TV on, watching the news, when suddenly the horror of the planes crashing into the World Trade Center appeared on the screen. We were deeply saddened, horrified, and our emotions flowed between anger to fear of what was to come. Then we learned of the Pentagon being crashed into, and my sister thanked God for delaying the transfer of her daughter and her MI group to that very section. This is one time that a delay in construction was welcomed. NMAH Story: Life Changed Has your life changed because of September 11, 2001? If so, tell us how. In some ways, yes. I am more thankful for the gifts that I have in family and loved ones, my church family and friends, and the blessing of living in the U.S. Life is so fragile and we don't know when we will make our final exit from this earth. I appreciate each day more, and don't put anything off, be it travel or trying something new. NMAH Story: Remembered What do you think should be remembered about September 11th? We should remember how the country came together, especially where the tragedies occured, how people helped their fellow man, how they sacrificed for others. I would love it if this country would capture and preserve the patriotism which slowly came to the surface and lasted for a few months. NMAH Story: Flag Did you fly an American flag after the events of September 11th? Have your feelings about the American flag changed as a result of September 11th? We've always flown the flag, proudly, but more often after 9-11. In a way my feelings have changed about the American flag. The freedoms which the flag represents should never be taken for granted. We are so blessed! Being of the WWII generation, patriotism was alive when I was growing up. I've always had deep respect for the flag. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource nmah460.xml 911DA Item Elements describing a September 11 Digital Archive item. Status The process status of this item. approved Consent Whether September 11 Digital Archive has permission to possess this item. full Posting Whether the contributor gave permission to post this item. yes Copyright Whether the contributor holds copyright to this item. yes Source The source of this item. born-digital Media Type The media type of this item. story Created by Author Whether the author created this item. yes Described by Author Whether the description of this item was submitted by the author. no Date Entered The date this item was entered into the archive. 2002-08-27 IP Address The IP address of the device used to submit the item. 68.113.0.25 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource "September 11: Bearing Witness to History" Stories Submitted Online Description An account of the resource Visitors to the Smithsonian National Museum of American History's, "Bearing Witness to History" online exhibition submitted these reflections beginning in 2002. NMAH Story NMAH Story: Story How did you witness history on September 11th? Share your experience. We had just come back from a wonderful vacation in the Mediterranean on September 9th. Our spirits were high and the morning was the beginning of another wonderful day in Boynton Beach, Fl. I had an incredible urge to turn the news on that morning. When I turned the TV on, the TV was already tuned to NBC. The Today show was on and I was ready to switch to either MSNBC or CNN when it was announced that there is was a fire at the one of the towers of the World Trade Center. Coupled with my urge to get news and now this unusual bulletin, I had a feeling that something real bad could be unfolding. The announcers seemed confused and unsettled and they immediately went to commercial, so I thought that was a way for them to get more info and come back. Came back they did a little more collected and soon after that with live pictures. I was now toggling between NBC, MSNBC and CNN for more info. The way the smoke was pouring out of the building, I told my wife this is no ordinary fire, something real bad is happening. We thought that some kind of bomb had gone off. When the second tower exploded, my wife and I now felt that a tragic event in our countries history was unfolding. My first thought of Pearl Harbor all over again now entered my mind. I strongly felt that we were under some kind of attack. My feelings were confirmed when we saw the video of the second plane crashing into the second tower. We were now in shock and horror. We had been to the top of WTC and we knew that there were a lot of people in this building. We first felt that the death toll would be catastrophic. When the towers collapsed our shock and horror increased to the point of numbness. The rest of the day just seemed like a blur and our thoughts were not truly collected until at least the next day. A few things we felt for certain and this was before the other two planes hit or tried to hit their objectives, that this was a terrorist attack and that this country was no longer immune to such attacks. September 11th will be another Day of Infamy for this country and us. NMAH Story: Life Changed Has your life changed because of September 11, 2001? If so, tell us how. I am more aware of who is around me and that I can never take for granted anything any more. The saying of "one day at a time" has taken on a stronger significance. Every time I think of 911, I at first become remorseful and then determined that such an act will never happen again. NMAH Story: Remembered What do you think should be remembered about September 11th? There are many of those who have given their lives for our country either voluntarily or involuntarily. Like Abraham Lincoln has said in his Gettysburg Address, we should make sure that these people will not have died in vain. We have all most let Pearl Harbor escape from our memories, we should do a better job with 911. 911 should be a day of a prayer and of conviction for ALL Americans. NMAH Story: Flag Did you fly an American flag after the events of September 11th? Have your feelings about the American flag changed as a result of September 11th? I wanted to show my patriotism so bad and when I saw some people flying flags from their cars and houses, I wanted to do the same. I will always fly a flag at my house and I have a flag and decals on my car. I realized that this flag is akin to a picture being worth a thousand words. There is so much behind this flag and there is too much we have taken for granted. We must be continually be reminded that business as usual is not the answer and that time to time we must remember who we are and where we came from. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource nmah5166.xml 911DA Item Elements describing a September 11 Digital Archive item. Status The process status of this item. approved Consent Whether September 11 Digital Archive has permission to possess this item. full Posting Whether the contributor gave permission to post this item. yes Copyright Whether the contributor holds copyright to this item. yes Source The source of this item. born-digital Media Type The media type of this item. story Created by Author Whether the author created this item. yes Described by Author Whether the description of this item was submitted by the author. no Date Entered The date this item was entered into the archive. 2002-09-28 IP Address The IP address of the device used to submit the item. 68.66.152.54