Did 9/11 make you...?

Question

better in any way?

Did you take anything other than anger away from it?

Do you do anything differently?

******

I think I'm a better mother because of it. I was barely pregnant that day - didn't even know I was pregnant - but so many of the stories I saw revolved around loved ones - and as one writer wrote, no one called to say, "I never liked you." I carry that with me - No matter how annoyed I am or how "bad" my kids have been that day, every night is ended with "I love you so much"'s and prayers of thanksgiving for the day.

I've taken gratitude from it. I've also taken strength. Regardless of how the end of United 93 came about (whether it be being shot down by fighters or brought down by the terrorists), the passengers *wanted* and *tried* to do something. That's the definition of heroes, even if their attempts weren't what worked.

I forgive much easier - without someone asking, I try to forgive. Life's too short.

Answer 1

Actually for a short time I did want to be around my children more, but as anything, life goes on and we go back to the routine..my girls both went their seperate ways with their boyfriends and forget poor old mom..lol Anyway, I always was the type to tell my girls I love them and still do..And at night I say "Good night and God Bless you"..just something I always did, but now it's by phone...I guess one thing I really did get from it was the fact that the Police & fireman put their lives on the line much more than I realized..

Answer 2

It didn't do a thing for me other than make me angry that a bunch of losers who tried to bomb the World Trade Center in 1993 got to have their success on the second try.

I've always been very aware that life is short, but I've seen that as something that's a function of a relatively short life spans in general added to by accidents and illness. The idea that murderers would be factored into the "life is short" thing never occurred to me as applying to murder, because while "life is short" may be the natural state of affairs (even when an accident that couldn't have been avoided occurs), murder isn't.

While I have the deepest admiration, respect, empathy and heartbreak for the people who were placed in the position of having to be heroes or face horror or otherwise have their lives altered forever (all the passengers and flight crew of all the planes, the firefighters, the police, people who did heroic things to help others, etc.); and while I would never forget any of that, the fact is that because they were forced into having to do and be what they had because someone decided to commit evil. I don't take away from what people went through and did, but that's not what my answer to your question is about. You asked if people were in some way made into better people.

With apologies for seeming immodest when, really, I'm a pretty modest person, I was pretty much satisfied with the mature, thoughtful, person I was on September 10, 2001 and before. I always told my kids I loved them any number of times in any given week. I always believed that people should try to forgive transgressions that the other person may not even have meant to commit. I always knew life is short.

If someone else can find something good to get from September 11, that's nice I guess. For me, though, it was nothing but evil; and as far as I'm concerned no evil will ever have the power to make me a better person. I don't search for any good in evil, and when it comes to all the good and strong and unselfish and brave that was shown by so many people on that day, that was just evidence of how good, strong, unselfish and brave so many of those victims were in comparison to their murderers.

I have every respect for people who have been able to find something positive to gain from the event. After all, may as well try to find some shred of good in such a mountain of evil. Its nice if some people who took their lives or families a little for granted at one time now don't. For me, though, there's never been a time when I wasn't deeply aware of how precious my life and family are.

For me, there is more satisfaction in waking up each day and being exactly the same person I've always been and in knowing that no matter how big and awful that day event was it has not driven me to live my life as I may not get a tomorrow. There's a nice luxury in sometimes living life and just kind of assuming tomorrow is going to be here, and I still have that luxury even after what a bunch of murderers did in such a big way.

I gained nothing from that atrocity except, perhaps, the knowledge that in spite of such an event I was apparently strong enough to still stay me.

Answer 3

I got real angry at the terrorists and I've been wanting to kill all of them since the first plane hit the North Tower. But, 9/11/01 also showed me that we shouldn't take freedom and our loved ones for granted.

Answer 4

i totally agree with your views.
i have tried not to hold grudges against people, and to live life one day at a time and being happy with my family, as every moment is precious to me.
Bottom line, the events of 9/11 has taught me that life is too short and very unpredictable. so i do what i have to do and live my life as if there is no tomorrow.

Answer 5

it has shown me how cruel some people can be and angers me. i really hate the people who have done it. religion cannot justify killing and 9/11 is mere killing.

as forgiving even the worse treatment for them is less.
however if you are humane, yoyu will surely realise that no one an say about life.those people didnt sin that much to deserve an end that lie on religion

Answer 6

I was having my own personal nervous breakdown and suicide attempt that day so I didn't give it a second thought. NOW however it makes me want to remove Islam from the face of the earth.

Answer 7

No, I'd say anger just about covers it. I have learned a lot about a religion I otherwise wouldn't have cared about. But what good does it do to know that Islam is diabolical?

Answer 8

It made me think about how unsure life was.

Answer 9

I DISCOVERED THAT THE WORLD IS RULLED BY FOOLS LIKE OSAMA AND BUSH...

Answer 10

9/11 made me feel sick... :(