There has been much reflecting and revisiting tales of “where were you on 9/11″ and investigating how this infamous event impacted lives all across the nation. We’ve heard from those who lost people to this day, and while the airways have been justly saturated with stories, we at State of the Re:Union thought it might be interesting to hear how the “Aftermath Generation” of 9/11 has been formed by the day. Our SOTRU intern Brit McGinnis helps us with that insight.

Where were you when what it meant to be an American changed?

I was at school, in class. Elk Meadow Elementary School, Mrs. Krakow’s fifth grade class in Bend, Oregon. I remember all of us being told that a plane had crashed into the World Trade Center in New York City and that people could be hurt.

The news didn’t compute at first. I didn’t understand why everyone was so upset— my little-kid sense of distance between the East Coast and the West Coast made the Twin Towers feel so far away. I wanted to ask, “Why is everyone so sad?” Other children were tense, as if waiting for some boogeyman terrorist to suddenly appear in the hallway. I excused myself to the bathroom, noticing that the halls seemed much more quiet than before. My footsteps echoed more loudly.

I watched the news all the time that week. I wanted to understand what this meant for my country. Before that day, I had only seen the scrolling bars showing updated news once on CNN, but now they were everywhere. For the first time, I was afraid. Not of terrorists attacking our country, but of how the country as a whole was going to react to what was happening. I suddenly became afraid of all the grownups around me becoming impetuous and doing something stupid.

We need to think, I kept thinking. We can’t just react. For the first time, I understood what it meant to feel helpless as a citizen.

I started reading the newspaper more and more, a reaction prompted by this event. I was young and I couldn’t yet vote. But I wanted to know what was going on, and I felt that I had to know as soon as possible. I read about the different countries, what the “big people in charge” were doing. I had to know, because I couldn’t be ignorant anymore.

I’ve found that this was a common reaction among my cohort. No matter if it was a lot or a little, people my age were awakened to the events of the world. We wanted to know what Al-Qaeda was. Where were Iraq and Iran? What did the president want to do now, and why? Opinions were suddenly spouting from everyone about the actions of the country. We kids learned to listen.

As my peers and I grew older, we became infatuated with the media. We wanted to make YouTube videos and Facebook pages — proof that we were still here, that we were still alive and kicking after all the tragedy that had occurred in our short lives. Programs like The Daily Show with Jon Stewart exploded in popularity, due to the fact that we still desperately wanted to know what was going on in our world.

This awakening of a generation, though it was an effect of a horrendous tragedy, has made this coming generation likely one of the most intellectually formidable generations in America’s history. We wanted to know everything that happened due to the tragedy we barely understood at the time. We were too young to understand, but not too young to learn.

The tragic events of 9/11 made community-minded citizens out of an entire generation of young people, because it made us want to learn about the workings of our country and the world. Who can truly, effectively terrorize a nation of knowledge-seeking people?

There are pivotal moments in our lives, be they big, small, tragic or ordinary, affecting changes in the way that we do things. Are you a participant and voice in the Aftermath Generation? If so, do you think 9/11 has forged the way you operate? Are its effects truly defining your generation? If so, what is the one thing that changed in your/your cohorts actions or thinking? Did it make you more curious about religion or culture, suspicious of strangers? Perhaps it made you more impetuous, callous, thoughtful or forgiving? Think about it, write it down and send it to us. We would love to learn more about the future of the men and women in our communities.

Photo By: Brian Kusler

It’s dominated the news and probably a good deal of your conversations. I was shocked and had resigned myself to believing that Osama bin Laden would somehow always elude us and be one of those mysteries, a historic enigma that everyone had their own theory about. But that’s not the case, justice was served and that particular manhunt has real closure. I recognize there are those that don’t believe this is justice and that there is no death worth rejoicing over. Fair enough, but that’s not what this post is about.

The climate around the country since the news broke, has been somewhat reminiscent of the days after 9/11. People have gathered in patriotic and emotional displays throughout the country in what feels like a celebration of closure, on that chapter at least. Although some talking heads have already resorted to completely politicizing the event, if feels good to have a common rallying point. The times where we can breathe a collective sigh of relief are certainly few and far between. Realistically, it won’t last long, likely to disintegrate and make way for the partisanship that naturally surrounds an election.

There’s an AP article by Dan Balz discussing how bin Laden’s death has created a moment of national unity. I’ve noticed celebrations taking place in both blue and red states and across political, religious and class lines. Everyone knows that this doesn’t bring an end to terrorism and the threats of violence that exist in a geopolitically shaky globe, but it’s such a refreshing interval. Wouldn’t it be great if we could all enjoy this space, this emotional release for a little longer than normal?

We Want to Know:

• Can you recall an event that occurred during your lifetime that became a rallying point and brought your community together?
• Did you participate in a celebration upon hearing the news about Osama bin Laden?
• How long do you think the refrain from bitter partisanship will last or has it already come to a close?
• Do you feel more camaraderie and more patriotic when events like this happen?

When hearing about these types of victories, it’s easy to forget there are still soldiers putting their lives on the line. Please continue to remember them in your thoughts and prayers.

Start the discussion below!