Remembering 9/11/2001

Thank God my family and I were nowhere near New York and Washington DC on that fateful day, September 11, 2001.

I remember that night vividly. I was sitting around in my dorm when George, my landlord said in a rather casual tone “World War III na” (World War III is happening now). I was alarmed and we immediately switched the TV to news.

And there it was, the scariest thing I ever saw: the first of the twin towers on fire, smoke and fire everywhere. Commentators were narrating that an airplane had crashed into the twin towers and that it was a terrorist attack.

Moments later, we were horrified to see a second plane crash into the second tower.

My dorm mates and I were staring at the TV stupidly. We were all kinds of scared. We watched in horror as we saw the first tower crumble down, shortly followed by the second tower.

I remember praying for the lives lost and for the people who were determined to rescue lives. I remember panicking inside and thinking about what I had read in the bible and wondered if this was really the start of WWIII. After all, everyone knew that the great country of America would not take this attack sitting down.

Indeed they did not.

Almost 3,000 lives lost. Families broken. Dreams shattered. Parents, grandparents, brothers, sisters, fiances and fiancees, sons and daughters, friends and loved ones lost.

Luckily, more than 3,000 heroes emerged. Yes, these are the men and women who saved other lives in the midst of danger. Yes, these are also the men and women who stood up to against terrorism. And these are also the people who helped the bereaved and grief-stricken survive.

September 11, 2001 was the worst day and the best day of mankind --- so far. It was the worst as we have seen effects of extremism and the suffering and violence and evil that comes with it. It was the best day because on that day, we showed what we as members of the human race, are capable of. We are capable of great acts of love and courage and kindness and bravery and heroism.

#Wewillneverforget