United 93

I remember where I was on September 11th, in fact I know most people do. It's kind of like when Kennedy was killed, or Lennon was shot and even when the space shuttle exploded. While I don't remember when Kennedy was killed, I am the type of person that remembers every detail of the moment that I personally experienced.

I remember hearing on the radio when Elvis Presley died, I was at my Grandmother's house I was seven years old (1977), I did not understand why she was sad. I remember when Lennon was shot, I was standing in my living room watching television I was ten years old (1980), I did not understand why my brother was sad. I remember when the Challenger exploded, I was in my fourth period Algebra class taking a test, I did not understand why my teacher called class out early, I was 16 years old (1986) and I remember having my roommate wake me up on September 11th 2001 to tell me that the World Trade Centers had been hit by planes, I was 31 years old and I was sad.

September was a day that I remember and I truly feel like I was part of. I am sure many people felt affected and outraged and we were all able to personalize these terrorist acts. I know I immediately said to myself - I was in the World Trade Centers the year before having breakfast at 9.00 am; WOW - that could have been me. I, like all people, was glued to the television watching newscast, after newscast, all of the CNN specials, the tributes, the memorials and I know I was emotionally upset each time I watched something. The sadness and tears became my "fix". It was almost as if I knew these people that had been killed. I wore the pain, I felt the pain and I really, honestly thought I had experienced this disaster first hand.

That was until I saw this movie.

There is a lot of controversy whether it is too soon to make a movie about this tragedy, I was even chastised by a co-worker for even going to see it. I have heard a lot of opinions from people who actually have not seen then movie yet are very secure in their judgements - which is fine, we all have that right.

BUT == I can tell you that on September 11th and the months following I NOW know that I in no way was a part of that experience. I actually had no idea what had happen, what people had went through or what these victims could have been going through. I can now think back and say my empathy was probably more about myself, my own mortality, and my own fear of not living a full life.

Sitting in the theater watching a movie I already knew the outcome had no bearing on the internal desire and adrenaline that was pumping. I almost believed these passengers of this flight were going to be successful. In most HOLLYWOOD action movies, we all cheer for the heroes, and we all secretly wish we were one of them, we all smile when the plot wraps up nicely and we go home BELIEVING, we could have done that. No problem.

I could not have done what those passengers did. I can not even fathom the notion of KNOWING I am going to die and just having to wait the 50 minutes to do so. This is not a prolonged illness where we are surrounded by loved ones and flowers, this is not a gun shot wound on a freeway that kills instantly = this is the idea of knowing you are going to die and doing something about it.

Who would I call, would I pass out from fear, would I just sit in my seat and cry - would my frickin credit card have enough money on it to call home and tell my family that I loved them and I was going to die, who would take care of my cat?

Unless you have a direct connection to this tragedy, of which I am so very sorry for your loss - You really have no idea. Go see this movie, if you think you experienced September 911 from your cushy sofa at home - you did not!