10 years later... 9/11

In social issue class we talked a lot about 9/11 right around the time of it. We also watched a documentary from the view of the firefighters. It followed them all throughout the tragedy, before, and after. I think the movie was very touching and gave me a whole new perspective on 9/11. I had never really understood what happened that day and the amount of confusion and the thoughts that went through every one's head. I didn't know that at first everyone thought it was a mistake that they ran into the towers and that the fire fighters really didn't know what was going on outside. I also didn't know the amount of people that thought there was no way out so they just jumped from the towers. The video really showed how terrible and unexpected everything was. It also showed the amount of people that really put their lives on the line for other people. It was inspiring that these people did everything and spent countless hours helping and searching for others. It also made me take a step back and re live what had really happened that day but from an older perspective. I really got to understand the event and how terrible and tragic it really was and how people really felt.
The article "The Years Since 9/11: A Lost Decade" from the Nation really put into perspective the amount of lives and money lost because of 9/11. I was really surprised to see that 4,442 soldiers had dies, 415 law enforcements and firefighters, and 2,977 people from the towers and planes were killed, and$1.25 trillion has been spent to try to rebuild the countries that we have been fighting for years all because of 9/11. this article really showed how enormous we have made this event and how big it really is. It also makes a good point, "To salvage something from this lost decade, we should at least try to draw the right lessons from it."(Editors) In order for the war and 9/11 to mean something and for those people not to die in vein we need to learn lessons from it instead of just hate to hate and cause more destruction, like we have.
Personally I have lost a lot of people from the War that was caused by 9/11 both physically and mentally. I have many friends that have gone the Afghanistan and fought for our country and for what they thought our freedom. However, from what they tell me they really don't know why they are there anymore. They are all sick and tired of being there trying to recreate a country that doesn't want to be recreated in the way we want them to be. Most of the people over there fighting believe we are causing more problems than helping them. I also have friends that have come and never beent the same because of what they have seen and done. I actually lost a friend because of it. I think 9/11 was a huge tragedy but we need to move on and try to recreate our country and make our country better because we need it. We need to stop trying to help people that don't want our help and bring our family and friends home.