Although my experiences from the events that happened on September 11th, 2001 were not as heartbreaking as others, it has effected my life greatly. The day we call, 9/11, has left me with a memory of that day which is probably similar to many young teens because it was “just another day at school” but this time, a scary reality check was witnessed. Besides fear, hate is a contagious emotion that ever so shortly replaced it. The strongest emotion that helped me through this time was knowing I was not alone and that there was a whole country feeling the way I did. The events that occurred on 9/11 helped me for the first time in my life truly comprehend the definition of fear, hate, and patriotism, which all lead to a change in my life pertaining to my understanding of global terrorism and the appreciation of our nation. I remember it like it was yesterday, just like any day at school, when suddenly we were hit with what seemed to be an impossible news statement.
It was a typical morning at school and I, being an unlucky freshman, had gym first period. All I heard was the crack of the gym speakers as someone in the main office began to talk. I knew instantly it was our principal Mr. Pugh and we all assumed someone had called in a bomb threat again, so we continued talking. Over four bomb threats had been called in this school year by the same senior culprit. It wasn’t until I made out the word attack, that I started paying attention. Never before had Mr. Pugh used such a strong word as attack when informing us of a bomb threat. Everyone was still talking and not paying attention so, I told the people around me to be quiet. It seemed like other students heard that key word too, because many people had abruptly stopped to listen.
Soon the gym fell silent due to everyones concern of the magnitude of this “attack” our principle had so devastatingly spoke of. Mr. Pugh spoke in a slow and steady voice as if to brace us for something. He paused and said that, “I’m sure your all aware of the these attacks in New York, so there’s no reason for me to go over them. What you may not now is after these attacks, at 8:58pm another plane hit the Pentagon.” Hearing the last word caused my heart to sink. My dad had just retired from the military where he worked in the Pentagon. Since his retirement he has been making trips up to his old offices to tie up all the loose ends before he leaves permanently. I preyed to myself that he wasn’t there today.
After the principals announcement, everyone started talking about what was going on. It was all a surreal conversation to me, because I couldn’t believe what I just heard. That announcement was the first I had heard about any planes crashing. The class was soon over and I remember dressing as fast as possible so I had time in between classes to use a phone. I ran to my alpha secretary’s office and saw about five people in line. Apparently, I wasn’t the only person who was unaware about any of the crashes. After calling my mom, the first thing she said was, “dad is fine.” I thought that statement would alleviate some of my anxiety, but it only helped calm me down a little.
This alleviated stress was brief, and soon my mind was scared for everyone else I knew, and for all the other possible attacks. As a request by my principal, each teacher gave 15 minutes at the beginning of every class for students to talk about what was going on, and watch TV to find out the latest news. Every one of my classes had this grace period, but made it last the entire class period. That entire day, from the moment Mr. Pugh got on the loud speaker, till I went to bed, was a blur filled with fear and news reports.
I think fear went away within a couple days. My mom and I went to our local blood bank and Red Cross and donated blood. We contacted all the military families we knew who had lost someone in the Pentagon crash and gave our condolences. After that all I felt was hate; hate that would only go away with the death of those who caused act of terrorism. I watch hours of TV a day that showed chaotic pictures of people running as the Twin Towers collapsed, of families crying hysterically for their lost love ones, and of rescue workers trying as hard as possible to save anyone left alive. I don’t think I have ever felt this angry before, because during this time I wanted to inflict pain on someone else. This extreme hate soon blended with patriotism.
I felt that if you cut my veins I would bleed red, white and blue. I took a couple pairs of my favorite jeans and attached dress uniform pins that said US or United States that my dad had given me. This was the first time I felt part of something larger then myself. I was part of a country united under a flag, that wasn't afraid to stand up and seek out the source of the threats made upon it. I joined in with my friends applauding those who immediately signed up for the military. They were doing what many of us wanted, but couldn't do. Many of my sisters close friends and students in our school joined the military. To help them directly, and the United States indirectly, my sister and I put together care packages that immediately were sent over seas to the US troops fighting in Afghanistan.
This only seemed to alleviate my sorrows, and mixed emotions for other nations. I did not blame those who had Afghanistani backgrounds, but only those associated with the acts of terrorism. This incident affected the airline industry more so than anyone person was. It created many rules and regulations that needed strict adherence. Now every time I go into an airport, I remember the 9/11, because it effected every level of daily life. I feel that my life from that point was changed and forever on until the day I die, along with many other teenagers of my generation, will be effected by the tragic incidents that occurred that day, September 11th, 2005.
[1] Plunkett,Suzanne. Time Photo Essay. [People run for cover as the first of the two World Trade Center Towers collapses]. In Terror Hits Home photo essay page 7, in WTC photo essays from Photos link. [Online]< http://www.time.com/time/photoessays/wtc/7.html>. [December 14, 2005].
Photo Location: [1]
Recent Posts
- Post #12 The who, what, where, and how of me on 9/11
- Group Post #11 Top Ten Movies of the 1970s
- #9 Comment Post
- State of Montana vs. Rehberg and societies impact on the outcome
- Post #7 Civil War in Florida
- #6 Comment Post
- #5 Utopia
- Individual Post #4 "George Catlin's Indians"
- Individual Post, Comment Post, Post # 3
- Blog #2. Colonial Women Through the Eyes of the English
State of Montana vs. Rehberg and societies impact on the outcome
In the 1885 case of the State of Montana vs. Edward Rehberg, the eleven-year-old daughter, Clara, sustained sever physical injuries that led to her death on August 5, 1885. Her father, Edward Rehberg, is on trial as the aggressor who inflicted these injuries upon his daughter, resulting in her death. We as a group feel that if the state of Montana vs. Rehberg was held in the 20th century instead of the 19th; society’s current views on gender and social status would be different enough to change the verdict in the case.
Unfortunately, during the 19th century, there were no tests that could be performed to determine exactly what means of brutality caused the wounds on a body. This being the unfortunate situation, the items could not have been found and tested for the child’s and fathers DNA. So, the only evidence that could be used to defend Mr. Rehberg were the testimonies by his family. The only family member who was, and gave an eyewitness testimony, was Clara right before she died. Since she was a young girl who seemed to be angry at the fact that she was dying, her death bed testimonies did not hold any weight in court, deeming her testimony inadmissible. Joe Tieblow, the hired farm hand, and all the other children who testified, confirm the fact that Rehberg was not near Clara Rehberg, nor did he leave Tieblow's side all day. Emma Rehberg, in her testimony, stated that Clara was inside with their stepmother almost the entire day. Despite these testimonies, this knowledge led the jury to convict the father because of societies opinion on men and poor families.[3]
During the 19th century, society’s views of men and women were skewed to the roles they undertook within a family. Women are thought to always be nurturing and loving to their children. While men are thought to already be aggressive in nature, as well as the parent to discipline the children more so then the mother. So, the accusations that it was Rehberg’s wife was the one who harmed the child were considered preposterous. Beside the stereotypes set inside the juries head, the accusations that Rehberg’s wife was the guilty party were stricken from the record due to an objection on the grounds of improper cross-examination. Plus, society’s view of the poor and their families are not ones filled with love. Poor families are stereotyped as trashy and uncivilized; as
seen in the second picture which displays a farm family eating dinner. This would give reason to Rehberg abusing his daughter if this type of behavior “always” occurs within this social class. This is why our group believes that due to the social norms of this time period, the original verdict in this case was guilty.
In contrast, having the same case occur in the 20th century, we as a group believe that Edward Rehberg’s innocence could easily have been proven. The United States courts have seen many cases since the State vs. Rehberg that show abuse on children, more importantly cases in which the abuse was performed by the child’s mother. Andrea Yates who killed her five children as well as the case where Lashaun Harris killed her three children, are some of the most publicized. Since society is now aware that mothers are capable of horrible acts of violence upon their children, the investigators and jury would not as easily dismiss the possibility of Rehberg’s wife being guilty. Although some stereotypes remain in current day society, the prevalence of finding the truth in all cases remains the main goal of the U.S. courts. Today, lawyers, prosecutors and defense lawyers have been better equipped with knowledge needed to debate a case in its truest form. We also believe that all the testimonies proving the father’s lack of contact with the girl and his crippling arthritis would have been solid evidence for his innocence. It is our belief that if the case were to be tried again in the 20th century, the jury would find Mr. Rehberg innocent.
It’s amazing that the verdict in a case with as serious of a charge like murder or manslaughter could be swayed depending on the time period in which it occurred. We as a group feel that this is exactly what could have happened. The view of a poor family was one lacking sophistication and basic human actions. During this time period it was thought impossible for women to harm an innocent child due to their maternal instincts and lack of physical strength. Women today are viewed equally to men in most aspects, and could easily be a suspect for murder as any man.
[1] Science & Society Picture Library. [Time-lapse photographs of a woman and child, 1872-1885]. In Photography of Motion, Muybridge in Cinematography & Film in ENTERTAINMENT & MEDIA from Science Museum Library. [Online]: http://www.scienceandsociety.co.uk/results.asp?image=10437727&wwwflag=2&imagepos=120. [November 11, 2005].
[2] Science & Society Picture Library. [Farmer Giles’ Establishment, Christmas Day, 1830]. In Families in People & Personal Life in SOCIETY & WARS from Science Museum Pictorial. [Online]. http://www.scienceandsociety.co.uk/results.asp?image=10422272&wwwflag=2&imagepos=22. [November 11, 2005].
[3] State vs. Rehberg, Reader, History 120, Fall 2005
Group Report:
This group blog was good, besides a few small kinks. Candi and Taylor wrote out the outline for the paper and Candi ended up writing up the main paper. Lauren and Estefanie added very useful research for the group; and Jamison revised the paper. After a rocky start, the group worked well together to admiss this product.
Location of the first picture: [1]
Location of the second picture: [2]
#5 Utopia
Robert Owen’s second community experiment in America, Socialville, was based totally on socialist ideals of science and reason; this community had the potential to rein enforce the weak economy during America’s everlasting quest for perfectionism. America’s economy was flourishing with technological advancements that would usually suffice for the happiness of its citizens only a number of failures in the system left it open for scrutiny. During an age of reform, American Romanticism produced a group called American Transcendentalists that were the first to condemn these new advancements Due to this, many activists sought to make utopian societies as the shadow of industrialism loomed and circled them around religion. Robert Owen’s second community experiment in America, Socialville, was based totally on socialist ideals of science and reason; this community had the potential to rein enforce the weak economy during America’s everlasting quest for perfectionism. No other groups attempted to solely embrace economic ideals in order to make a successful community expect for Robert Owen.
Industrialism was exploding in America. It caused the development of huge cities, built around the factories the kept the economy a-float. Technological 
advancements like the cotton gin, steamboats, railroads, and canals pushed the U.S. into being a self-sufficient urban machine (Davidson 259-269). These advancements were positive for America’s economy, but were easily broken down by political weakness or according to Josiah Warren, the American individualist anarchism brought on by free market and strong advocacy for private property (Wikipedia Foundation 4). Both left the possibly successful American economy always on the edge of disaster. Many economic problems pushed Americans into the unemployment and poverty that made the government 
vulnerable to criticism. One disaster that rattled the everyday life of many Americans was The National Bank Panic of 1819 that led to an economic depression. As stated in Nation of Nations this break down “made the 20s a time of soul-searching, during which many uneasy farmers and workers came to view the hard times as punishment for having lost sight of the old virtues of simplicity, frugality, and hard work. For these Americans, banks were a symbol of the commercialization of American society and the rapid passing of a simpler way of life” (Davidson 303). The economic downfalls would not end there, but grow larger as the next depression was much larger and hit a broader range of people. The Panic of 1837 during Martin Van Buren’s presidency left the economy in shambles as the international cotton market collapsed (Davidson 306).
American Transcendentalists identified the problem with America’s market economy, no matter how successful, would ultimately destroy the nature of human beings and of the land our country was founded (Davidson 323). Transcendentalists could be called the first group of hippies because of their identification with perfectionism only through peace of mind within nature. Unlike hippies, the Transcendentalists in the early 1800s displayed most of their influence through the literature world having followers like Ralph Waldo Emerson, James Fenimore, and Bronson Alcott (Davidson 332-333). 
Due to the massive wave of Romanticism and Transcendentalism thinking, the individual quest for perfectionism sparked the idea to make utopian communities away from this economic monster.
The going back to the “good ole’ days” was taken to a whole new level by religious groups making utopian communities. Thanks to the Romanticism infiltration of living in close connection with nature; religious groups sought to totally isolate themselves from the outside world in order to achieve perfectionism (Davidson 324). The two main religions that made the most communities were Christianity and the Mormons (Davidson 326). These communities made up rules and regulations specific to their religion’s ideals along with a focus on agriculture being a pure means of community survival (Davidson 325-326). No other groups attempted to solely embrace economic ideals in order to make a successful community expect for Robert Owen.
Robert Owen was a Scottish industrialist that drew up the plans for Socialville. His belief was “that the character of individuals was shaped by their surroundings, and that by changing those surroundings, one could change human character” (Davidson 327). Also, the weakness in America’s economy was it’s frailty in authority, individual need for material goods, and cause for mass impoverished people (Wikipedia Foundation 2-3). His planned community Socialville was a socialist run community with a classless society. Owen recommended that Socialville contain about 1200 people, “all living in one large building in the form of a square, with public kitchen and mess-rooms. Each family has its own private apartments, and the entire care of the children till the age of three, after which they should be brought up by the community, their parents having access to them at meals and all other proper times… Work, and the enjoyment of its results, should be in common” (Wikipedia Foundation 3).
Ultimately, Socialville did not last due to a lack of individual sovereignty and property ownership in a time of expansion and freedom on a newly discovered land. The ideals of a perfect society were there, but the time, place, and greed would not handle such a task. This was not the first attempted society based on a utopia, but one of the many that failed. Utopian societies continually evolved into different ideologies such as Techno-Communism, which believes that digital development will advance society, and Nazi Germany had utopian-led ideals during their massacres in World War II.
The Socialist Utopian belief was one of many attempts to expand and create a society for a group of people, just as the original settlers had done. The involvement of major thinkers and writers helped its cause to be recognized by the American government, and attempted to be elected into office on multiple occasions. Although the Socialist movement was not successful in America, many countries have relished under a socialist rule for many years.
Davidson, James W., Gienapp, William E., Heyrman, Christine L., Lytle, Mark H., Stoff, Michael B. Nation of Nations. New York, NY: The McGraw-Hill Companies, 2006.
Mayer, Christopher. Ludwig von Mises Institute. "Panic of 1819--and 2002." 15 July 2002. 11 October 2005. http://www.mises.org/fullstory. asp?control=1000.
Rubin, Julia. Following the Path of Discovery. "Eli Whitney: The Invention of the Cotton Gin." October 2005. 11 October 2005.http://www.juliantrubin.com/ bigten/whitneycottongin.html.
Mortensen, Scott. "Piano Sonata No. 2: Concord Mass., 1840-1860." 4 May 2005. 11 October 2005. <http:// www.musicweb.uk.net/ Ives/WK_Piano_Sonata_2.htm>.
Wikimedia Foundation Inc. New Harmony. October 2005. 12 October 2005. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_individualist_anarchism.
Wikimedia Foundation Inc. Robert Owen. 4 October 2005. 12 October 2005. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Owen.
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