I remember the day well. I was listening to the radio when I heard the DJ announce that a plane had crashed into one of the World Trade Centers; initially, they thought that it was a small airplane. I turned on the TV to watch the second passenger jet purposefully fly into the second World Trade Center. I said to myself, “al-Qaeda.” This wasn’t the first time that they attacked America.

The news media websites were straining from the requests. They had to ditch the graphics and display updates simply as text. I got more information from Slashdot: News for nerds, stuff that matters.

That night, I was moved by the unity of US Representatives and Senators united on the Capitol steps. It has been and long time since Democrats and Republicans were united.

  • February 26, 1993. Van bomb in World Trade Center parking garage, North Tower. Six people killed.
  • August 7, 1998. Twin US Embassy bombings in East Africa. 224 killed.
  • October 12, 2000. USS Cole attacked. 17 sailors killed1:. 37 injured.
  • September 11, 2001. 2,977 deaths1. Suicide bombers ijacked passenger jets; flew into the World Trade Centers and destroyed. Pentagon attacked. Passengers overcame the hijackers and prevented another major destruction.

  1. I ain’t counting the deaths of the al-Qaeda terrorists. ↩ ↩2