Sep 11 2006 12:00AM
Interviewer: Heather Madden
Source: Rachel Strehlow
Like many others, Rachel Strehlow was attending class Sept. 11th 2001. For an 8th
grader the attacks had quite a different impact. For Rachel the attacks brought
confusion. She did not quite understand what was going on at the time.
The teachers and students at Rachel’s school waited in the cafeteria and watched the attacks, but several students, including Rachel, didn’t really know what the World Trade Center was. Nor did they know why it was such a big deal. They just understood that terrorism was involved. Rachel was let out of school early that day, and began to understand the situation better at home. But Rachel still did not understand how the attacks could have happened.
People, even 8th graders like Rachel, started wondering why the attacks were never prevented. “We didn’t stop terrorist attacks from happening,” says Rachel.
And with that safety-belt broken the country does not seem as safe as it was before. So
it is no wonder why an inquisitive 8th grader can go from being a simple teenager one
day to worrying about the country’s security levels the next.
Interviewer: Kelly Bream
Source: Krysten Mahowald
Krysten Mahowald, a PJC student working towards her general AA, explained, “I was in the 7th grade at middle school when I heard the news.”
“How has your life changed as a result of the attacks?” I asked.
“It hasn’t changed that much except my dad has to go on leave now since he’s in the airforce.”
I also asked, “Do you do anything differently now then you did before the attacks?”
“Yes, I don’t fly anymore because I’m scared it will happen again”
Interviewer: Richard Williams
Source: Sam Loiseloe 19, Music Major
When asked about the subject of the September 11 attacks, student Sam Loisloe, a 19-year-old Music Major, remembered the day quite vividly.
Loisloe, a high school freshman at the time, was sitting in his 1st period Guitar I class when the planes hit. Class was interrupted when the band’s director came into the room to inform the students about the attacks.
According to Loisloe, “…there was actually a section of my class that started laughing. They thought it was funny.”
When questioned on Hollywood’s capitalizing on such a tragedy, Loisloe stated, “I think it’s much too soon.”
I then asked how his personal life has changed due to the attacks, to which he responded, “I didn’t have any family or friends who were in the buildings or around the buildings, so it hasn’t affected me personally.”
Interviewer: Chris Sapp
Source: Jeremiah
Can you tell us what you remember about September 11th, and what you remember about that particular day?
Jeremiah: “I don’t really remember much about it. Well, seeing as how the government set it up… I don’t really play into the whole ‘majority’ thing. There’s a lot of crazy things going on that people should probably know about.”
How has your life changed as a result of the attacks, assuming it has?
J: “Everybody’s has, with the clampdown. Ever read 1984? Big Brother is watching, and listening. It’s very scary to look at what our government is doing, and what’s even scarier is all the people that are buying all this crap. Things are going to change, and its going to get very hairy.”
Have you changed your view on how the government works?
J: “It works best with an old quote; ‘If you want peace, then prepare for war.’ At all times, I’m prepared for war. I’m ready for whatever’s coming, because I know that there’s stuff coming. So much of society is just consumerism. And this is coming from an American’s perspective, and America is a capitalist society, and as a capitalist society, money controls everything. People in America have such a narrow view of life. I think there’s a whole lot more to it. All this crap with the government is just a waste of time, man.”
Did you fly before the attack? Did the attacks change your view on flying?
J: “No, no I’ve never flown, just because I never needed to. I’d rather drive anyway. You know, it’s all part of the same plan; if you scare people enough, they’ll do anything.