With live television coverage, the events of 9/11 affected young and old alike.
Much like when you ask the Baby Boomers where they were and what they were doing when JFK was assassinated, ask anyone that was alive and old enough to watch television that same question about 9/11/2001 and they can tell you exactly. Instead of watching a news report about what happened after it was over as in the JFK event, many people watched it happen live so it was as if they were actually there. That tends to leave a very lasting impression.
The events of that day left an entire world in shock. That the United States could be attacked, in that time, was unbelievable. Many pulled their kids out of school, cancelled events, closed businesses early, not out of respect for victims but due to fear of what might happen next. The feeling that everyone was vulnerable and the government was unable to stop what was happening, the very definition of terrorism. Short and simple, it was a feeling that most living Americans were unfamiliar with, fear. Boomers and Gen X had grown up learning to hide under their desks to protect from a nuclear strike <insert eye roll here> because our entire childhood existed on the brink of nuclear war. It was such a part of our world, we never gave it much thought, but 9/11 was different.
That comment is not an exaggeration, during the Cold War with the Soviet Union, bombers from both sides routinely flew nuclear weapons in the event the other twitched. The United States even accidentally dropped quite a few nuclear bombs on its own country in the 1950’s and 1960’s. The incident that was, in the military’s opinion, the closest we have come to an unintended nuclear explosion on US soil occurred in Goldsboro, North Carolina in 1961. The thermonuclear device is still buried in an area of a swamp, about 62 feet below ground, the distance it traveled before stopping. PBS has information on that incident here.
Watching the Twin Towers burn was almost surreal, but most in the fire service were familiar with the incident in which a B-25 bomber struck the Empire State building’s 79th floor in 1945, so many thought it could be extinguished. You can read about that incident here. In 2001 the planes were bigger but construction and fire protection had improved as well so some simply thought the fire wouldn’t be out until that night. Then, the first tower fell as an already shocked nation looked on, followed by the second tower. Immediately, firefighters across the country knew the death toll for firefighters would be high, because each and every one knew if they were in that situation, they would have been heading up to the fire floor for rescue and to extinguish the flames. No hesitation, it’s what you do.
The fears were confirmed when media made it to what is now called Ground Zero. It was eerily quiet with the exception of a sound all firefighters are extremely familiar with: PASS alarms. Personal Alert Safety Systems or PASS alarms, can either be activated by the firefighter or automatically sound after 30 seconds of non-movement. When you see a firefighter shaking their butt, it’s because their PASS has sent them a warning that they haven’t moved enough so the firefighter lets the device know they aren’t trapped or incapacitated or dead. On 9/11, there were more than 343 PASS alarms activating as there were many firefighters that survived but were trapped. Hearing a PASS alarm activate catches your attention but when that many activate, it sends chills down your spine. A cry for help from those that can’t call out themselves.
On 9/12/2001, the news had sunk in and although many were still stunned and in disbelief, a common thread began to emerge. People of all colors, all ways of life, came together. Those that weren’t in the New York area collected items to send there. Prayer groups were formed, US flags popped up everywhere. To this day, when you see a fire truck with a US flag on it, chances are it is a direct result from 9/11. Patriotism was popular, being friendly to your fellow Americans became the norm. Yes, there was a backlash against those of Middle Eastern descent from people that were acting out of fear but most were open to accepting everyone.
Therein lies the reason for this entry, we went from a unified nation that supported our military, accepted each other and were proud to be Americans to whatever THIS is today. People that hate America, get on social media and say they are “afraid” when they see US flags. People that hate for no other reason than skin color or heritage or sexual preference. People that seek to destroy the country that so many have shed their life giving blood to protect. What happened?
When the country was founded, without diving into the things that were done wrong, Americans had to fight for independence, for safety, had to grow and hunt their food. They didn’t have heat pumps and air conditioning or electricity. In the early 1900’s, other than electricity for those that could afford it and the expansion of the country, not much else had changed. Some inventions to make life easier, but still archaic by today’s standards, were usually expensive for the ones that needed it most. World War I raged from 1914-1918, making things even worse as the US sent many heads of households overseas.
In the 1930’s the country suffered through the dust bowl years of drought and failed crops, the Great Depression where you literally had to eat anything you could find because you had no money to go to the store. Men standing on sidewalks with signs asking for jobs because they refused charity, unlike today where the goal of the current generation is to get on the government dole.
The 1940’s saw World War II, the Greatest Generation they call them. If you have ever truly studied WWII you will see that the title is deserved. There is no other reason we won that war except for the ingenuity and tenacity of the US military. The 1950’s-1960’s saw the Korean War and was knee deep in the Cold War which started in 1947 and lasted until December 26, 1991. Baby Boomers, those that were born after the soldiers came home from World War II up until 1964, were raised by rough and tough parents that had experienced all of these other hardships. Gen X was raised by the Boomers that were just as rough and tough as their parents. Gen X has dealt with the aforementioned nuclear threat, the Vietnam war, gas shortages, inflation so out of control it caused many Gen X parents to resort to a lifestyle their parents and grandparents had taught them. Growing food and hunting became a necessity for many.
Then came the millennials. Not sure exactly what happened there but they were the generation that were exposed to “political correctness”, the Internet, cell phones and such. Parents had life so rough (but very enjoyable childhoods) that they wanted to make life better for their millennial children and the economy and wages were decent enough to do so. Millennials watched live the events of 9/11 and saw the cohesiveness of the country, many collected items to send to the troops, wrote letters to those overseas and were good with the US flag.
Now we have Generation Z. Millennials that had an easier life than their parents or grandparents thought that they would also make life easier for their children. Perhaps their children should want for nothing and have the latest technology. Spanking was so outdated and little children that have no understanding of consequences were allowed a voice in decisions. Parents decided they needed to be liked and be buddies, thus Generation Z.
While there have been wars during Gen Z’s lifetime, they didn’t create the same burden on the country’s resources as other wars and many were in progress when the Gen Z person was born so it was “normal” to them. Now words hurt and apparently can be fatal. Self indulgence and self comfort is the new way and since there are no true hardships compared to earlier generations, they have to be depressed over a social media post or because they didn’t get a $500 pair of tennis shoes. Could be they are depressed because a friend is or the television or one of their many screens told them to be. It’s now popular to hate the greatest nation on earth, the one that give you freedoms and lets you live in your parent’s basement and play video games. No other country will allow you to be who you want to be and shortly, unless things change, this on won’t either. Our own government continues to do everything it can to drive a wedge between ethnic groups as well as political affiliations.
Basically, the reason our country is not like it was on 9/12/2001 is simply because too many have had it too easy for too long. Unfortunately, when it all hits the fan, Gen X and a small segment of millennials along with the handful of boomers left are going to be the only ones that know how to survive.
So, today I will be mourning the events of 9/11, the lives lost and changed forever but tomorrow I will mourn the loss of the unified country we had on 9/12. God Bless the USA.
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