Under Attack.
Sep. 11th, 2001 12:27 pmI woke up to a nightmare this morning. This is not something that's going to surprise anyone: I live in Queens, NY. Far enough away to be safe, but nowhere, it seems, is far enough away to be unaffected. I am not going to spend a great deal of time recapping, it seems that everyone already knows, and it will take time to sift fact from rumour, yet. As things stand now, the World Trade Center is no more, the heart and mind of America are threatened, bleeding, or decimated, the lives lost are yet untallied, and the country is obviously under a well-organized, particularly well-executed terrorist attack.
I am experiencing a curious double vision right now. I have noted a couple of times in the last year that this has been a watershed time for me. I have spent more than half my life in the United States; it has become my home, and I love it, even though I know that it is not perfect. Today, both halves of me are stunned, fearful, and immeasurably sad. I was hysterical earlier, as many were. Now, I am unbelievably calm. There will be, there can be, no adequate response to what has occurred today. As an immigrant, I can foresee tough times ahead for all like myself, where we are regarded with suspicion and perhaps outright fear and hostility. As a resident of NY, someone who walked streets that are now covered in rubble, and admired a landscape that will never be the same... I am waiting, as we are all waiting, for a meaningful response from our commander-in-chief.
Where is our nation's leadership? As undeclared war is brought to America's doorstep, where is the display of strength and unity that this country will need, if it is to survive? We watched Pearl Harbour, and some of us wept... well, this is worse than Pearl Harbour, and it needs to be treated more severely. That will happen as it may, of course; I say now that I have no confidence in our current leadership, and that I believe it will take, regardless of the leadership, tremendous support and responsibility from the general populace, to meet this threat. I'm speaking now mostly to those in affected areas, but some of this might well apply across the board.
What can you do? You and I, as general populace, can donate blood. That's a critical need, and probably the one we can meet with least inconvenience. I realize that travel is difficult, but if you can get to your local hospital, please do. Beyond that, we need to be good citizens in general. Our police, our firemen... they have better things to do right now than deal with minor, preventable inanities. We need them, and they need us to allow them, to see to our general defense. Look after your own safety. Use some common sense. We are all, now, under a much greater threat than any of us could have imagined. If you have no urgent need to be on the streets, please, stay home. Leave the streets as clear as they can be, so our law enforcement can be as mobile as possible. On the other hand... if you are able, and your loved ones are secure, volunteer. We will need all the help we can get.
My hopes, and my prayers, will be with America throughout the unfolding of this, and through all the days to come. Take care of yourselves, and also of each other.
I am experiencing a curious double vision right now. I have noted a couple of times in the last year that this has been a watershed time for me. I have spent more than half my life in the United States; it has become my home, and I love it, even though I know that it is not perfect. Today, both halves of me are stunned, fearful, and immeasurably sad. I was hysterical earlier, as many were. Now, I am unbelievably calm. There will be, there can be, no adequate response to what has occurred today. As an immigrant, I can foresee tough times ahead for all like myself, where we are regarded with suspicion and perhaps outright fear and hostility. As a resident of NY, someone who walked streets that are now covered in rubble, and admired a landscape that will never be the same... I am waiting, as we are all waiting, for a meaningful response from our commander-in-chief.
Where is our nation's leadership? As undeclared war is brought to America's doorstep, where is the display of strength and unity that this country will need, if it is to survive? We watched Pearl Harbour, and some of us wept... well, this is worse than Pearl Harbour, and it needs to be treated more severely. That will happen as it may, of course; I say now that I have no confidence in our current leadership, and that I believe it will take, regardless of the leadership, tremendous support and responsibility from the general populace, to meet this threat. I'm speaking now mostly to those in affected areas, but some of this might well apply across the board.
What can you do? You and I, as general populace, can donate blood. That's a critical need, and probably the one we can meet with least inconvenience. I realize that travel is difficult, but if you can get to your local hospital, please do. Beyond that, we need to be good citizens in general. Our police, our firemen... they have better things to do right now than deal with minor, preventable inanities. We need them, and they need us to allow them, to see to our general defense. Look after your own safety. Use some common sense. We are all, now, under a much greater threat than any of us could have imagined. If you have no urgent need to be on the streets, please, stay home. Leave the streets as clear as they can be, so our law enforcement can be as mobile as possible. On the other hand... if you are able, and your loved ones are secure, volunteer. We will need all the help we can get.
My hopes, and my prayers, will be with America throughout the unfolding of this, and through all the days to come. Take care of yourselves, and also of each other.
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