Doomsday America: 10 years

I don't think I will ever witness such a day ever again.  At least, I certainly hope not.  Tuesday the 11th of September was not this generation's JFK or similar era defining moment, it was the apocalypse.  It was a day that has defined the world, at least in part, every single day since.  The biggest and most devastating attack on freedom for an unthinkable amount of time.  The day I remember vividly.  As vividly as a twelve year old could ever remember anything.

To be fair, I can't recollect whether there was an appreciation of what was beginning to happen whilst I was at school, but from the moment I sat down in the 'blue room' (I think it was the dining room, that happened to have some blue Ikea unit in) of our old house, I can remember the staggering images that were all over the television, as I attempted to do my maths homework.

Things like that shouldn't happen.  It took cold blooded murder to a new level.  I dread to think how those last few inevitable minutes must have felt for the passengers on those poor planes.  I remember being completely hypnotised by the events, literally not moving until being ordered to bed.  As the day wore on, and little to no homework was completed, the horror of what was happening truly become only to visible.

I remember my parents not letting my younger sisters watch the coverage.  How does an adult begin to understand what had just happened, let alone a 8 and 10 year old.  I had no idea.  Who would do this? Why? What on earth would possess anyone to commit such an act?

As the towers came down with the terrifying ease of a house of cards,  the terror and realisation of what had happened only became more real.  I can shut my eyes and see myself sat on my mum's bed, watching the wall-to-wall coverage on TV, as firemen, policemen, anyone who was physically able pored over the unthinkable tonnes of rubble.

I think the day afterwards was one of the most surreal experiences of my life.  Everyone was on edge.  Would they attack again? Would they attack us? There had been blind panic that the UK would be hit next, so much so that I can remember asking my mum "has it happened again?" after school.  To this day, I have a chilling newspaper from that day.

The last ten years have flown by.  From a personal perspective, from being in what, year 7 or 8, to finishing my postgraduate degree is an incredible stretch of time. I've been lucky and had a wonderful group of friends, I've witnessed incredible highs with Liverpool, traveled the world and doing my best to make something of my life.  The mere fact that 2,977 people weren't given that chance, never mind the thousands and thousands who were directly affected is one of the biggest injustices I think the world has ever bared witness to.

For what it's worth, I think America have done brilliantly in recovering (as much as is ever possible from such an event) over the last ten years.  George Bush, whilst not very popular with many, should be remembered with massive respect for how he stood up for his country, and the free world in the aftermath.  No peace time leader has ever had to deal with such an atrocity, and I hope history looks kindly on him.

It is impossible not to catch at least some of the programs in remembrance that have been on the television this and every anniversary, which images still haunt and hypnotise me as much as they did a decade ago.  The incredible courage and bravery of the fireman that day has always stuck in my mind.  How on earth do you charge in to a burning tower, knowing the chances of survival are stacked against you? How do you manage to do your job when your colleagues are being killed instantly by falling debris.  By falling people.

It is something that I have never been able to comprehend - amongst many, many other factors during that day, and something I don't think I could ever accurately reflect my respect and appreciation of the men and women who showed such insane amounts of bravery and fearless pride in what they do, as they charged in to the very heart of evil.

Incredible.

I feel particularly lucky on days like today.  Especially today. 

I am certain I will never ever forget the events of that day, nor the thousands of people who have had their lives so cruelly dictated by the forces of evil, and hope to never see something remotely like this ever again.

Good night and god bless. 

You'll never walk alone.