a day of terrorism

It is a day no one will soon forget. An American tragedy such as has not been experienced on our soil ever. A date that will be vividly remembered for centuries. A day of terrorism.

This morning a passenger flight scheduled to fly to California crashed into one of the towers of the World Trade Center. 24 minutes later, another jet smashed into the second tower. Within an hour, both towers had imploded. Another passenger flight had meanwhile crashed into the Pentagon, which partially burst into flames. A fourth plane, supposedly also hijacked and headed for Camp David, crashed just west of Pittsburgh. All aircraft nationwide were grounded.

Manhattan looks like a war zone. Thousands upon thousands are dead, and others injured. Many things are shutting down, and everyone is shocked. No one speaks of anything else.

Even among friends at school, we talked about the events, what could happen, our fears. It is our generation that is used to invincibility. We have never been afraid like this. We have not seen the horrific wars, or seen our leaders brought down. We have never feared a war or attack coming here. It has always been over there… overseas… never here. Our country was never vulnerable. Ours was the super-power. Our safety unquestioned. Our information at our fingertips.

Now it is our generation in the midst of the greatest tragedy America can remember on her shores. It is this generation that would go to war. We are the people that would be called to defend and protect. And we’re scared.

We are the generation numbed to violence by the media. The people used to seeing deaths, explosions, crashes on TV – in the movies. We have seen the Independence Day’s, The Matrix’s. To see reality on TV doesn’t affect us how it should. We, in our safe suburban homes, still cannot conceive of the chaos and tragedy that has claimed New York. Washington. The country.

And still we walk the halls of our schools, going through motions of the day. Practices attended as planned, conversations carried on as usual.

But for every normal conversation, there are five revolving around today. Whenever a radio is turned on, a serious voice is heard, announcing the latest update. And in every home the TV is turned into the news. Every family gathered around to watch stern faces. To see shocking footage of this morning. Gaping at the impact of the second plane flying at full speed into the tower. People running through the streets screaming as the buildings collapsed. The parents cry at the television. We stare on in disbelieving interest. The children fidget uneasily, waiting to understand, wanting to go about their lives. No one can concentrate. No one wants to.

Pray. Pray for the dead, the injured. Pray for their families and those that knew them. Pray for our country, her leaders, her rescuers. Pray for those behind these events. Pray for the future.