I grew up in New York and left home before the World Trade Center was built. It was not as much a part of my life and heritage as, say, the Empire State Building or the Chrysler Building, or Times Square.
But the thought that this could happen here was so bizarre, so surreal, I felt I was in a parallel universe when I saw that huge jetliner fly into the building.
My first thought was – Oh my God! How could a jet be flying so low? It never even occurred to me it was an act of terrorism. That’s how naïve I was about it.
And even after that, and the second one, the idea that the buildings could collapse? Never! How on Earth could that happen?
There are few moments as indelible in my memory as seeing the first tower implode.
I’m sure we will all be watching these images over and over again in the coming week.
I wanted to be there, helping. I would have gone if I could have. I couldn’t and I will probably always regret that. I am so grateful to those who volunteered at Ground Zero and did whatever they could to help. Quite a few of my friends were there as part of the Scientology Volunteer Ministers response team and I know they did what I would have done had I been able to.
It is hard to believe it has been 10 years. I wish I could say the world has learned from that lesson – but I think not.
Rather than seek for and implement solutions to resolve the issues that motivate acts of terror we have sought to use force. Force will never change get at the underlying cause.
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