Eleven years ago today I was at Purdue. When the first tower was hit, I was asleep but the alarm had gone off and the radio station was reporting the events. I was very confused in my half-awake state. I walked out and turned the TV on just in time to see the second plane hit the second tower. I couldn’t believe what I was watching. It was so surreal I tried to make myself believe that I was watching an excerpt from a movie. I remember wishing that it wasn’t real.
The tone on campus all day was somber. I had four classes back-to-back that day and in 3 of them I had professors nearly in tears. Only one class actually went the full length, the rest the professor finished early.
Several years later I visited New York City and Ground Zero. I remember feeling choked up thinking about all of those that lost their lives when they were simply going about their work day. I remember looking around at the other faces of the people visiting the site and, as corny as this might sound, I felt inclined to hug them all.
Its unfortunate that tragedy has to strike to unite the country. Here we are, less then 60 days until the 2012 Presidential Election and still both parties are spending more time trying to tear the other guy down. Instead they should be telling the American people what they are going to do to continue to make our country great and how to keep us all safe so this kind of thing doesn’t happen again. The American people should choose based on what the candidate stands for, not how much they insulted their opponent.
Despite the political differences I may have between my friends, I consider myself extremely fortunate to still call you all my friends and to still have you here to debate our beliefs. I may not always agree with you but I will never let our disagreements break us apart. My blessings to you and your families on this somber anniversary.
I will never forget that day, where I was, what I was feeling. I leave you with the words of Alan Jackson, “Where were you when the world stopped turning?”