Saturday, October 07, 2006

Remembering 9/11

9/11 happened 5 years ago and I was then 13, probably old enough to realize that it actually happened, but too tender an age to fully understand the scenes behind the entire event. For half a decade, 9/11 to me, was just a terrorist attack, and to add on to that basic piece of knowledge was more information from the media and school with the themes "terror" and "evil". Such was the impression placed upon me, that 9/11 was just a horribly plotted attack against the Americans, and with constant reminders, that the world was threatened by the terrorists.

I took a little time off my studies today (I always insist that I do) and paid the ridiculous amount of SGD9.50 to watch "World Trade Center". For some particular reason, the fact that it was a true story kind of encouraged me greatly to catch the film. Definitely emotion-evoking and thought-provoking, the cinema was filled with constant gasps of horrors and crying tears of devastation.

At 18 years of age, I have realized that 9/11 wasn't just about the evil and destruction. The aftermath of the catastrophe led to a realization that through the 105 minutes in which the two towers took to collapse (50 minutes for the first tower) after the impact of the planes, hundreds of men risked their lives, with no hesitation, conquering the 110 floors of hell, with only one thought on their minds. Save lives.

Total Victims: 2996

Victims who tried to save others:

  • 319 Firefighters
  • 50 Policemen
  • 1 Civilian

Total Victims Rescued: 20

Out of the 2996 victims, there were 370 courageous and brave souls (1.2 in every 10 victims) who fought against the fires and dangers but died in glory and honor. These were the people who were presented upon a choice and a chance to turn around and live the life they would have lived as of before. In that tragic moment of disastrous chaos however, they chose not to. Today, their names will be forever etched in the history of mankind.

Very often when terrorism, or particularly 9/11 is dealt with, whether at educational levels or even at international levels, images of violence and horror are often greatly brought up. In particular, the event of 9/11, I believe that the goodness, the bravery, the courage and the kindness should be remembered as a side of the story. Where mankind came together to conquer the fear that lingered within each and every individual of the affected.

It is worth remembering, rather than the constant nag of terrorism and destruction of the event. People who had sacrificed their lives, for others whom they had never met or never heard of. People who had rushed into saving others, without a second thought of harm being brought unto them. People who are worth remembering, people who lost their lives in the process of helping another. This defined kindness & bravery.

Watch the movie, "World Trade Center", and through it, a true story of two brave souls, the last two men who were saved from the hell of rubble, will you get the full picture of the good that selflessly fought against the terror of 9/11.

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