I must say I was never personally affected by the 9/11 attacks. I had never gotten the chance to set foot or even see the Twin Towers. I was in my third grade classroom at the time, struggling to pay attention in math class. I remember my classmates getting picked up by their parents. As the classroom grew emptier, I grew more impatient. I was terribly confused, but not at all scared. (I had no idea one of our country’s greatest landmarks was being destroyed by terrorists.) It wasn’t until I got home that I learned the Twin Towers had collapsed. I spent the rest of the evening sitting in front of the television with my family, watching the news in horror. I don’t really remember much else that had happened that day. Because I was so young at the time, and really hadn’t experienced the city at all, 9/11 did not change my perception of New York.
There were many others, however, that were directly affected by this incident. New York used to be seen as a city that was safe and lively. It was a symbolism of hope, a place where people could make their “dreams come true”. After the attacks though, people realized that no matter how prosperous and whimsical New York may seem, it could still be a target for catastrophic attacks. 9/11 destroyed the healthy image of New York City for many people. When the Twin Towers fell, a large part of New York’s majestic reputation was destroyed. Other than this, nothing much has changed in New York. Many people went about their business the very next day, and carried on with their daily routines. This incident epitomizes E.B White’s (author of “Here is New York” and Charlotte’s Web) words when he states that New York “is peculiarly constructed to absorb almost anything that comes along”. Even though our city suffered a traumatic event, it is still strong enough to continue functioning. Even ten years after the terrorist attacks, New York is still one of the most tourist-attracting cities in the country.
I don’t think 9/11 is any more meaningful to New Yorkers than it is for everyone else. If one of the states in America is attacked, the whole country is affected. Every American was affected in some way from this incident. Also, there were other sites in America that were under attack, such as the Pentagon in Washington D.C.
Artists can definitely portray 9/11 in a meaningful way. A perfect example would be the documentary Fahrenheit 9/11. Michael Moore was able to show the audience the significance of our loss of the Twin Towers. Though he chose a perspective that judged President Bush very harshly, Moore managed to express his message very clearly. Another piece of artwork that captures the importance of 9/11 is the 9/11 Peace Story Quilt at the MET. This quilt focuses on the 9/11 attacks but also stresses the importance of “communication across cultures and religions to achieve the goal of peace”. Artists can create works of art that help preserve our memories of the most significant historical events of our nation.
