story7135.xml

story7135.xml

born-digital

story

yes

no

2002-09-13

I had just gotten up at about 8:45 am when my cousin called. She had asked if we were alright because she heard a plane had just struck one of the World Trade Center towers. I had no idea what she was talking about so I told her I would call her back. I ran outside to see what was going on. You see the Twin Towers are approximately one across the river from where I live and I can see them from my house. I couldn't believe my eyes. The towers were covered in heavy black smoke and one was burning. I ran back into my house, called my cousin back to say I was fine, and went back outside with my camera. I took several pictures of the World Trade Center's twin towers. I felt so bad for all those people that were in the building. I was watching the news reports when they showed the footage of a second plane striking the other tower. Again, I went outside to look at the towers burning. The first tower that was struck fell as I was running out the door. I couldn't believe what was happening. I just stood there watching. I was standing in front of my house when I saw the second tower fall. I just started to cry because 30 years ago I watched in awe as they erected the Twin Towers. I NEVER thought that I would ever see them fall. I knew that many people died in those towers and my heart cried for them. The fighter jets soon arrived and it felt like a war zone. My neighbors were gathering on the street and trying to decide what to do next. Stay or go. Then the phones were jammed. You couldn't get through to anyone. The Holland Tunnel was closed except for emergency workers. We had the FBI and the local police and fire departments going all day and night. Sirens were everywhere. Then the hatred started. The men who tried to blow-up the Twin Towers the first time came from my town. A large group of Middle Eastern men were arrested from Jersey City. I felt " How dare they come to my country and do this to us". I wanted to expel all Middle Eastern people from my town, put them in camps, and sort out the good from the bad. We had to get rid of the bad ones and their way of thinking. They are in the USA not the Middle East. We aren't perfect but we don't use their planes and their passengers to make a point. If they didn't like it here then why didn't they leave? They stayed because they had the FREEDOM to do whatever they wanted. That is the difference. WE ARE FREE.