David Dunai - Senior Photographer

Members of University Christian Church and the community gathered in the sanctuary Wednesday night for a service of prayer for the nation.

Thursday, September 13, 2001

Filling the silence

I watched the news yesterday more than I have watched in my life most likely, and as I went to sleep last night thinking of other people who died and their families, it makes me want to cry. I couldn’t even imagine being those people in the planes watching, going towards one of the buildings of the World Trade Center, knowing you are going to die soon. Many of my friends had relatives or friends in New York City and my heart goes out to them and everyone else. An uncle of one of my friends had an appointment in the World Trade Center Tuesday morning and the last I heard, he was still unaccounted for. How nerve-wracking can that be? Last night at the candle vigil, I cried just thinking about how something like this could happen to the most powerful nation and all the innocent people who died. We also have to remember many people who die everyday in the Middle East due to attacks. Some say it isn’t our business and some say this was a wake-up call. Who knows what it was, maybe this was God’s way of bringing a nation to its knees. I don’t think I’ve ever seen so many people pray or so many Bible verses posted. In one way it’s great that we are praying together as a nation and in another it’s sad that something as tragic as this had to happen for our nation to get back on track.

— Shawna Dunkel, junior advertising/public
relations major

Articles in the TCU Daily Skiff cannot begin to express what we feel about the tragedy in New York City and Washington. It is important, however, to share our experiences as we try to cope with the recent events. As a religion student, I feel the need to remind my peers of the beautiful, unique mix of race, nationality and faiths that is America. No war or act of terror is capable of destroying the American spirit of acceptance. However, we Americans are very capable of destroying the freedom and cultural diversity we claim to love. Sadly, many of us are in a rush to place blame and have jumped to the conclusion that these crimes were committed under the order of Osama Bin Laden. Consequently, many Americans are feeling negative emotions toward Muslims, people from the Middle East and foreigners in general. These emotions have already been expressed in the form of violence. In committing acts of hatred on each other, we have attacked America. We have begun to question the freedoms Americans have fought and will continue to fight for, and it is sickening. The best thing we can do to support our country and our government is to embrace and live the values terrorist have attacked. If we want to show the world our strength, we must stand tall as a diverse, freedom-seeking country and not let ourselves become a racist, revenge-seeking people.

— Mandi McReynolds, junior religion major

When I first heard of the attacks, my thoughts were “My God, I thank you that this life is not all there is to look forward to.” I thought of hope in Christ that lasts even in the midst of terrible trouble and tragedy. These were my first thoughts. Then I began to understand the horror that the airplane passengers must have felt before crashing into the World Trade Center. For a few minutes, I was in limbo, unsure of what to do and where to go next after classes were canceled. I could see the sorrow and shock in people’s faces. I then sought out my closest friends, having called my wife at work. It wasn’t until after the noon prayer meeting that I began to relax and experience peace. Being able to gather together and pray with other TCU students was very encouraging and heartening. My fear is that the United States will retaliate in anger, harming the innocent people. I feel justice must be served, but with wisdom, not with force. I praise TCU and its efforts to encourage open dialogue between people of different races and religion. In the near future, I think we need more open dialogue about our honest feelings in response to the attacks. We must not hide our feelings, but should allow ourselves to mourn. We should not blame international students or treat them unfairly. I pray that conversations about differing faiths will continue and will be open without violence or anger. Truth will be found by those who seek it. I believe we will never see peace in our world through man’s efforts. I trust only in God to bring peace to those who know Him. Until that time, we must love one another and strive toward peace. All should know that inner peace comes from forgiveness, not revenge. All who trust in God will not be ashamed. I take comfort and peace in that.

— Thomas Spann, senior economics major

Even a day after this horrible event I am in shock. I can’t even begin to imagine the pain, anguish, fear and panic the people involved are feeling. Questions of who and why someone would do this continue to play through my mind. I realize that yesterday will be a day engraved in my mind forever. It is the day we began to lose control of the freedom we once had. I can only hope the leaders of this great nation can pull together like so many Americans have done and lead the country to better times. I pray to God every moment I get the chance to be with the world as we wait for answers.

— Natalie Cabla, freshman business finance major

I feel totally overwhelmed by the whole attack. It scares me that some people could be so terrible and destroy so many people’s lives. I am encouraged, however, at how the Americans are coming together to help the victims. I went to give blood today and found that there were so many people that there was an eight hour wait. God is using this tragedy in a way that I never imagined He would.

— Crystal Lippincott, sophomore elementary education major

Although this phrase has become rather cliché in just the last 24 hours, I do not think that anyone has words to describe what the nation is feeling. Some that come to mind are grief, anger, anxiety, confusion and fear. I am incredibly touched that we have been able to come together as a country in this tragedy in relief efforts and behind the words and sentiments of our president. My generation has never had anything to unify behind; no great war and no cause that we have been able to agree on. This is our cause; this is our generation’s wake-up call. If things do not change, we have a world like this to look forward to on a daily basis. Patriotism is what will keep the light of this country shining. This light is not only important to all those spirits that have been dimmed in this country, but those all over the world. We have an entire alliance behind us, ready to back up whatever decisions we make and watching to see how the nation reacts. If the light goes out here, so will freedom as well as many of the things that we have come to take for granted here in America. We must prevail. We must not fear or whoever was behind these attacks will have truly succeeded. Their mission of physical destruction may have been accomplished, but we cannot allow for the morale of this country to be destroyed by these individuals as well. Panic is not an option. We must stay strong. Our fate is in our hands. We will triumph.

— Jessi Buerkle, sophomore kinesiology major

I keep reminding myself that across the nation, peace and love still prevail. That in the larger context, no act of terrorism can be so great as to destroy the great love of this nation. A professor said to me that she felt it was odd that there should be such a beautiful day after a day of tragedy. But I felt it was only right that life should continue and the sun should rise as beautiful as ever. This may seem to be an extreme optimism. I still watch the news and worry. But the world I see is just as nice as that a week ago. It is only when I look at the television that my heart sinks.

— Adam Thompson, freshman sociology major