Part One: Life Before
Jason Jenks
presentiment (n.): a feeling or impression that something is about to happen, especially something evil; foreboding.
Breaking News: Two U.S. Aid Workers in Afghanistan Stand Trial for Preaching the Christian Gospel
by Jason Jenks September 2, 2001
(CNN) — On August 3, 2001, while visiting a private home in Kabul, Heather Mercer and Dayna Curry were arrested. The Taliban forbids foreigners from visiting local homes and even went further to allege that the two women did more than help the needy, they had begun to preach the Christian gospel. This is a crime punishable under the Taliban law. It is doubtful that they were aware that they were doing anything salacious enough to merit an arrest, let alone a trial.
Curry's father has said, "I don't think she ever though she was doing anything inappropriate. She's not that kind of person. She loves the Afghan people. She was there to help them." However, whether her love for them extended beyond just helping the needy as the Taliban suggests is up for discussion
Two week after their arrest, the Taliban gave their parents permission to visit their daughters where they were being held in the Kabul prison. The circumstances of the prison they are being kept in is unknown at this time but assumed to be unpleasant. John Mercer has offered to take his daughter's place in prison but so far, the Taliban has not offered a response to his request.
The joint trial for the imprisoned aid workers began yesterday in Kabul and the hope is that their punishment will be minor as according to Taliban law — a short time in prison and then expulsion from the country.
This is a developing story and we will publish information as it becomes available to us.
My name is Jason Jenks. I was only twenty-nine when September 11th occurred and I had just started my job as a low level reporter for CNN. I was near the World Trade Center when everything happened. I watched it all — I was there for it all. I heard the screams of the observers, gasped as people threw themselves from the upper windows, and listened to the terrible cracks that came before the building collapsed. I've had the opportunity to interview more people with connections of the terrorism attack than anyone else. I have embraced crying widows, wiped ashes from the cheeks of people emerging from the wreckage, and tried to help as much as I could given the fact that I was only a reporter.
Because of September 11th, I have witnessed evil men and women rise to power, good men and women get crushed under their rule, and the helpless millions get dragged into a war that may never end. Because of September 11th, life would never be the same. Now, you may think that I am not the best person to give advice on life but there are some things you need to know before you read the stories of those who lived and died on September 11th.
First, life never goes quite as planned. This was perhaps best highlighted during September 11th but in a more bitter way than this phrase is typically used. From unplanned pregnancies to losing a job, humanity is never quite sure about where they stand in this vast universe. People spend years planning for a specific outcome and the world around them changes before they can even bat an eye. They waste time on plans of the future and forget the importance of living in the present. So many people came away from September 11th with regrets because they had spent so much time planning and not nearly enough time living.
Second, it is important to never forget to enjoy the simple things in life. When the worst moments in life come, people more often recall the simple things in life and it is those simple things that keep them going. The smile of a loved one, the laughter of a child, the warmth of the summer sun, the touch of a lover — those are the things that come to mind in times of trouble. The same is true for September 11th. The people who were in the buildings as the planes struck or as the buildings collapsed and survived can attest that these were the thoughts that came to their minds. Never lose sight of the simple things because those are these easiest ones to forget.
Third, in life, there are obstacles that seem insurmountable. Sometimes it may seem like a simple problem that eventually became overwhelming. Other times it may be a huge problem — one that seems impossible to survive — and it eventually becomes less and less daunting. On September 11th, I think everyone finally understood what an insurmountable obstacle looked like.
Fourth, there will always be the threat of something more — of something unknown — and it does haunt everyone until the day they die. It is the threat or even the expectation that makes you cynical, anxious, and depressed while also fueling excitement, happiness, and surprise. The potential of the unknown creates a drive to live life to its fullest. It urges people to move forward beyond fears and doubts. It helps people hope for a better future while also fearing for a worse one.
September 11th forced us to confront our worst fears and identify what it means to be stuck in very tragic circumstances. The losses that occurred on that day are still mourned by the people who survived. Co-workers, loved ones, heroes, and innocents died on that day and no motive could ever justify that. This day taught me the bitter truth about life — it is always hanging in the balance.
A/N:
September 11th has always been a very solemn day for me. I was in elementary school when it occurred. My mother ran into my bedroom crying and turned on my television to the news. In horror, we watched the video play over and over again as the planes struck the buildings — as they collapsed. My mom's friend lived in New York at the time and so the fear was evident. I don't think we could have ever been prepared for such an attack, especially on American soil. I think we were so used to the violence being far from us — the last attack on American soil being Pearl Harbor — and it hit home that we weren't untouchable. Violence could reach us even in our most sacred places, our most secure locations. Because of this, I have been fascinated with the facts and stories surrounding 9/11. Every piece is heartbreaking because the resounding question remains: why? In the end, I doubt we will ever have the answer to that question but I think it is important to honor the lives of those who lived and died because of it.
This story is broken into four parts — before September 11th, September 11th, the aftermath, and then a handful of future takes. Another important facet of the story is that it will be told from eight perspectives. I wanted to cover the wide scale of the day by attempting to tell it from as many sides as possible. We have the reporter, the firefighter, the doctor, the first responder (i.e. EMT), a passenger on Flight 11, and the employee of one of the companies housed in the WTC.
I should post the first chapter tomorrow and then I will post a new chapter once week on Monday, while my other story will be updated once a week on Saturday.