Thoughts on attack

Thoughts on attack

EDITOR'S NOTE -- Twin Valley High School students were asked to answer a survey following the attack on the United States, Sept. 11, for the school yearbook. Teacher Cindy Burton said one of the students was open and able to express the thoughts of other youths who were not yet able to express their feelings. Following are the thoughts of Isaac Weyeneth, 15.

How do you feel about the terrorist attack?

When I first heard reports about this on the 11th, I couldn't get myself to believe it. People were trying to get onto the Internet news sites to see the details, but I wasn't about to. I went a couple of hours hearing differing stories on what actually happened., Personally, I expected the worst. I heard that the World Trade Center, the White House, the Pentagon and the Sears Tower had all been hit by enemy aircraft. During the period that we were finally allowed to hear radio reports about the terrorist attacks, I learned that the Pentagon and the World Trade Center had both been hit.

I also learned that the World Trade Center had collapsed. For the rest of the school day, I sort of had the feeling I had when my grandfather died (but not quite so strong.) I kept telling myself it was not true, America wouldn't allow this to happen, it was all a bad dream and the buildings would be intact when we all woke up, but it was not true. I didn't do much schoolwork for the rest of that day. When I got home, I was convinced it was true and terrorists had attacked America.

Do you think it will change your life?

I think this will change the way of life in America for a while, not only around New York or Washington. Already, people have started preparing for a catastrophe. People filled their cars up with fuel for fear that refineries would be a target for future attacks. I think this will possibly open a door of opportunity for terrorists such as Timothy McVeigh to "attack" the government while it is still in some confusion. I think the American system will have to be altered so that by the time I am 30, business in the United States will be more refined and guarded. But, hopefully, we will be able to recover fully from this incident and lead normal lives.

Who do you think would have planned this attack?

I think this attack was meticulously planned by Arab terrorists: No. 1 on the list -- Osama bin Laden. He and his followers probably term this a victory, but jihad will never succeed against the United States. Even though it may take more attacks for the world to realize his threat, he eventually will be defeated. As for this attack, the blood he has spilled will eventually heal, and (like this ink) come back at him a thousand-fold. I have read the saying "pain is weakness leaving the body." After the pain caused by this incident, the body of the American democracy will have much, much less weakness. I think the terrorists have made the largest mistake of their lives.

Isaac Weyeneth

Sophomore

Twin Valley School