Just after the first plan had crashed into one of the WTC buildings, my sister called me and woke me up to tell me of the horrible event. She attends the University of Miami (Florida) and was already awake and ready to head over to classes. I didn’t have class until 4pm and was sound asleep in West Palm Beach (Florida) were I am a student at Florida Atlantic University.

Anyway, I barely answer the phone as I was practically in a coma sleeping and almost hung up on her when she said that a plan had crashed into the WTC. My first sleepy, rational thought was that a small plane crashed by accident. Just before I almost hung up on her, she screamed very loud and said that another plane had hit. It was then, that I knew that it wasn’t a joke and that we were under attack.

Like most of the world, I was in shock for the rest of the day as I was, for the first time in my life, literally glued to my couch in front of the TV. Later, classes were cancelled, as if I was going to go anyway.

Since then I have taken a course in Modern Middle East History and purchased a .40 cal. Kel Tec gun and taken a course for my conceiled weapons permit, which is on the way in the mail. I was going to get it anyway as I truly believe in our first amendment rights, but this tragic event gave me the kick in the ass to finally go get it.

I took the Modern Middle East class as one of my non-Western classes as I am a history major. Some things make sense, but more importantly I know that I shouldn’t generalize about Muslims and succumb to any sort of racism or association with Muslims and the fucked up radicals of the Middle East.

I now know what the price of freedom is. I am only 23, but have lived a pampered and secured life up until September 11. Freedom costs lives, the lives of those who want to prevent life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness to all men, women, and children.

I have been interested in joining the FBI for years and can’t wait to graduate and apply. If that doesn’t work out, then I def. will apply for other federal law enforcement jobs or even join the armed forces (since I’ll be an officer!!).

Thank you for reading my story and I hope you also realize that the way we have lived and will continue to try and live has a big price, but is worth it. History proves that opinion (i.e. the Revolutionary War, WWI, WWII, etc..) even though other wars were purely economical (i.e. Vietnam and Korea). Communism would have never worked anyhow.

Chucky F.