The collapse destroyed thousands of lives directly and ruined numerous people’s lives indirectly. Five years ago, I didn’t fully understand this terrible disaster when I saw the pictures on TV. But five years later, when I really realize the aftermath of this catastrophe, I am dumb. It was an unimaginable attack affecting the whole world and the human history. It was 911.

I can still recall the exact moment when I saw the collapse of the World Trade Center on TV. The two huge skyscrapers were leveled down to the ground almost in a fleeting tremble. Then I learned the whole plot from the news. From that day on, the globe started to be girded with different riots and fights. I get used to these bloodsheds and killings in VOA news almost everyday. It seems that after 911, any terrorist attack is no longer unexpected. Because it may happen everywhere at any time.

Comparatively, we are living in a safer country due to the flexible diplomacy of our government. Those attacks or fighting are far away from our genuine lives. Some people may even argue that the terrorists are Western countries’ enemies, not ours. Although I am averse to the wars waged by America and other Western countries, I strongly object to the notion that our country is immune to the devastating attacks. It’s true that we keep fairly good relations with Islamic countries, but Islam is definitely not the essence of terrorism. Terrorists try to justify their brutal murders with Islam. However, they can never cover the fact that the real victims are always innocent people or even Muslims. So the genuine feature of them is to threaten others by their atrocious killings in order to achieve their evil missions. That’s why we also witnessed the kidnaps in Russia last year which had nothing to do with Islamic jihad. 911 was not merely an attack against America, most importantly, it’s an outrageous violence injuring the whole civilized society. On this large scale of viewpoint, I think all the conscious people should pay some attention to it at the 5^th anniversary of 911.

I am pretty glad to find that several Chinese media give special emphasis and reports on the aftermath of 911 when the anniversary is imminent. I watched a documentary film which is particularly contributed to 911 yesterday. There were some interviews with the relatives whose beloved ones sacrificed in 911. When the film turned to those heroes especially the firefighters, my calmed emotion was agitated again. With the loyalty to their career and the caring respect for human lives, they feared no death. No doubt NBC announced that firefighters are now the most venerated people in America. To be honest, they deserved even greater honor and respect than those heroes who fight gallantly in the battlefield. Because the fighting of the firefighters who were buried under the ruins of the twin towers was about pure saving of others with little possibilities of self-survival. I shall not agree that all their exploits can be fully attributed to the merits of Americans. Rather, it stands for the puissance and power of the humanity and all the human civilization. I do believe there are some authentic sincerity and sentiment shared by all the human beings despite of his language or nationality. That’s also the reason why today, at the 5^th anniversary of this unforgettable scar on the Ground Zero, I can truly feel the agony and memory of the American people.

I write this essay to the memory of the indelible injury which may last long in our delicate feelings. There will be many ceremonies today in America. But this is hardly one nation’s business. I pray for all the vanished lives in 911 tonight. May they rest in peace. The book of history may turn to a new page, but a new epoch can never shroud the scar left by the fight between love and hatred.

                                                                                                                               HenryGuo

                                                                                                                               Sep.11.2006