to non americans-what was your reaction like when you heard about the september 11 terrorist attack on the US?

Question

what was that day like? how did people around you act? how did your country respond?

Answer 1

I was watching CNN after the first plane hit and saw the second hit in the background. My response was much like your, amazement. I wanted to call the school and have our boys sent home. Here in eastern Canada we had thousands of stranded Americans staying with us for days afterwards, unable to get home. My family put together a care package of toothpaste, soap, shampoo, coffee and went to a local arena and tried to help in our own small way. Canada responded by having hundreds of emergency personnel going to NYC to help in the cleanup and recovery effort, as we have always done when our neighbour needs help.9- 11 changed things almost everywhere, not just in the U.S.. Our troops joined with yours in Afghanistan in the search for Bin Laden. Security has been beefed up in our airports and ports of entry as well. We took alot of heat from some of you all because some of the hijackers entered the US through Canada, so much so that we need passports now to travel to the U.S. Now there is talk of a fence between us. Whatever... We still were there for you after Katrina, Buffalo's snow storm . We will continue to be there for you. That is what neighbours do.

Answer 2

I live in Jamaica in the Caribbean. I turned the tv on that morning just in time to hear about the second plane hitting. I stunned to say the least.
But to tell you the truth i wasn't really surprised something like that happened. I'm not anti-american or anything, we in Jamaica are HUGELY influenced by American culture but we get a little less american spin down here than you guys and it always felt like something like this would happen after a while.

I am very sorry for the deaths of innocent people but you can only push people so long before people push back. On 911 they did.

We in Jamaica on the days following 911 were mainly worried about the Jamaicans that worked in the buildings.

Answer 3

When the first plane hit, I thought it was some freak accident. Then I watched as the second plane hit, and knew it was no accident. I know someone who worked in Tower One. By dumb luck he happened to take that day off.

Answer 4

I was at work
at first I was in shock and didnt beleive it..
then I thought "HORRAH for the terrorists" and fully beleived they were justified in their actions as a way to try to free themselves from their oppressors (the USA).. interestingly there were shows that aired here and in other parts of the world showing the "terrorist" point of view that were not allowed to be aired in the USA

my husband introduced me to the "conspriacy" theories that the Bush / Blair governments were behind the whole thing in an effort to get support for Bush to invade other lands and secure oil.. I now beleive this to be the real reason behind the attacks...

Answer 5

shock, horror, My family didn't go to work that day, we just sat in front of the TV and cried.

EDIT: I have a friend who took his dog and tried to cross theborder to help look for survivors, but because he didn't have the right papres for her, he wasn't allowed, even though they did rescue work here in Canada.

Answer 6

well...... i was about 12 years old and bunking school at home watching tv. and i, at the time, was really exited, and didnt really think about all the people that were killed. it was like "wow, finally some action in my lifetime!" but as i get older it gets more sad.

i was in south africa back then, now i live in the uk