This year marks the 10th anniversary of the tragedy of September 11th. I know not everyone that reads this blog lives in the United States, but the gravity of the event still should at least impact your life in the most minute way. Personally, I didn't know anyone, or even talk to anyone that lost someone in the senseless violence that occurred on this date, but I still remember the moment as if it happened yesterday. Literally, as I write these words, I have chills going down my spine, which really touches my heart. I was in 5th grade when the Twin Towers were attacked. I remember waking up to my mother doing her usual routine of getting ready and watching The Today Show, but this day was different. Even at the young age of 10, I could sense that something was wrong. When I woke that morning, the first tower had been run into by a plane, which at the time seemed like a freak accident. While getting ready, my mother exclaimed in horror that another plane hit the other tower, and from that moment on, everything in this nation changed. While at school that day, as a 5th grade student, nothing seemed very important to the kids. It all seemed as if it wasn't really affecting us, since it was happening so far away. Around lunch, our teachers came and sat us down, and were very emotional. They talked to us in a way teachers should never have to address their students. They informed us that the towers had collapsed. The rest of that day was very unscheduled. Some children were picked up, while the rest of us just did our best to behave and mourn.
10 years later, I look back on that moment in history, and it hits me with a much different feeling. I truly feel complete and utter sympathy for those that lost anyone to any of the events that have occurred since the events of 9/11. I'm very grateful that my loved ones were spared, and that the attacks were answered with justice. I understand now what true terror and cruelty really means. In a perfect society, the human race would be able to trust one another, and have complete acceptance for every individual's beliefs. Unfortunately, this will never realistically happen, so we must do what must be done at times. I support the troops, and hopefully someone out there, perhaps a friend or follower of my blog, gets a warm feeling about something I've written here.
To keep this somewhat related to video games, though, here's a few games that anyone who considers themselves an American Gamer should play tomorrow.
1st Choice: Medal of Honor
2nd Choice: Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare
3rd Choice: Battlefield Bad Company 2
Personally, since I'm not a huge fan of the Call of Duty series, I'll be killing some terrorists in Medal of Honor. There's not much I can do to mourn the deaths of those I never personally knew, so this is my way of paying respects to those who have fought for us. The time I spend playing the game, I will be remembering those lost in Iraq, Afghanistan, and during the attacks on September 11th. In no way is this meant to offend anyone, and hopefully it doesn't.
I'd love for you to share any stories that you have as well in the comments section. I feel that everyone's reaction to such a tragic event is unique, and that we can all have a sense of community by sharing our feelings on the situation. If there's no type of ceremony going or you're working (like me), just take a minute out of your day to stop what you're doing completely, and remember those that were lost. A day of remembrance for something that should never have happened seems unreal, but never forget those who have been lost.
AMERICA!
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