When the twin towers were brought down I was in college. I got a call from my friend who, unlike students at Xavier’s (including me), was not a fan of capitalism and, therefore, also had issues with the US and what the country stood for.
He was happy and said that today the US had learnt its lesson. “Someone proved to the US it can be as vulnerable as any other nation. The Big Daddy needed this since ages, especially after Vietnam.” I disconnected the phone and switched on CNN and saw the second plane hitting the tower.
It was like a movie and the plot was ingenious. But suddenly it dawned on me that people are dying while I am appreciating the efficacy of the plan or, as my friend is busy criticising the bourgeoisie and waiting for the rise of proletariat. I immediately switched off the TV, couldn’t watch people dying.
After two minutes I again switched it on and saw the repeat telecast of the footage. My friend called again but this time I snubbed him and told him that these terrorists must also have some justification for their deed and he was sounding just like one of them trying to justify their action and slammed the phone. Then I saw another footage showing people in some West Asian nation celebrating the attack and they, just like my friend, were not terrorists, but were behaving like them.
I was deeply hurt — first, because of the people dying and second, at the mindset of people who can celebrate or be happy at such a heinous act. Ten years after 9/11, America has become a changed nation and my friend has become a changed man. They have both matured in the past decade. America today knows, whether it admits or not, another 9/11 can happen (god forbid) and that, perhaps, has made it stronger. And my friend, who now works in Manhattan with an MNC, told me he paid his respects at Ground Zero on 9/11 this time.
He was happy and said that today the US had learnt its lesson. “Someone proved to the US it can be as vulnerable as any other nation. The Big Daddy needed this since ages, especially after Vietnam.” I disconnected the phone and switched on CNN and saw the second plane hitting the tower.
It was like a movie and the plot was ingenious. But suddenly it dawned on me that people are dying while I am appreciating the efficacy of the plan or, as my friend is busy criticising the bourgeoisie and waiting for the rise of proletariat. I immediately switched off the TV, couldn’t watch people dying.
After two minutes I again switched it on and saw the repeat telecast of the footage. My friend called again but this time I snubbed him and told him that these terrorists must also have some justification for their deed and he was sounding just like one of them trying to justify their action and slammed the phone. Then I saw another footage showing people in some West Asian nation celebrating the attack and they, just like my friend, were not terrorists, but were behaving like them.
I was deeply hurt — first, because of the people dying and second, at the mindset of people who can celebrate or be happy at such a heinous act. Ten years after 9/11, America has become a changed nation and my friend has become a changed man. They have both matured in the past decade. America today knows, whether it admits or not, another 9/11 can happen (god forbid) and that, perhaps, has made it stronger. And my friend, who now works in Manhattan with an MNC, told me he paid his respects at Ground Zero on 9/11 this time.
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