‘The Day That Everything Changed’

It has only been one day, as I write, since the day that everything changed in our country. Our strong conviction that we are untouchable on American soil is now an illusion of the past. The haunting visuals have replaced our false sense of security: the historic skyline being eradicated by accelerating fury, the Pentagon billowing blackened smoke and the good people of New York, covered like ghosts in soot and pulverized concrete, running, screaming and falling hundreds of feet from World Trade Center windows.

We are used to seeing these tragedies in countries across the globe, but never in our backyard, killing our American people. In 60 years, students will learn about Tuesday the same way students this year learn about Pearl Harbor. They will read the text in their history books, watch dated clips of 9.11.01 on video and be lectured about the ramifications of the attack by a future teacher who has yet to be born.

This was not some apocalyptic movie, this was real. As real as my desperation as I spent the morning on the phone trying to locate a friend who was in New York’s financial district when the planes hit. She is alive but far from well. Kind of like our country.

Brian Loftus

Los Angeles

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After reflecting on the horrific carnage of Sept. 11 one thing is very clear: Perhaps in no other nation will you see people of all races, religions, colors and ethnic backgrounds so freely and voluntarily assemble to pray for and to help each other.

What a stark and tragic difference from the societies that perpetuate intolerance, that employ violence and terror from a segment of their population who willingly submit to the commands of a dictatorial theocracy. They are persuaded to “martyr” themselves and rob innocent victims of their lives. The leaders who push these “human buttons” remain safe and anonymous half a world away, while their citizens celebrate in the streets over the murder of perhaps thousands of people whose only crime was to show up for work.

If their cause is so great and so just, why isn’t anyone stepping forward to take credit for their “heroic” deed and bask in the glory of their God?

Robert Poletick

Newtown, Pa.

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There is no crime to humankind more cowardly and heinous than these most selfish acts of repeated suicide missions carried out by deranged and brainwashed terrorists. They have now invaded the American shores where for decades the world perceived an atmosphere of security and comfort that is longed for all over this Earth!

Eva Yelloz

Sherman Oaks