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| FIVE BASIC QUESTIONS TO ANSWER
In looking back at the tragic events of this past week, I am left wondering exactly how one would construct an article using those key components. Countless articles grasping the various angles of last week’s tragedy have been graphically documented by numerous authors, explaining the devastation through voices of angst, grief, terror, doubt, and refuge. My mind, however, cannot help but look at the enormity of the events that transpired, and how you would attempt to answer the questions of who, what, where, when and why. The first question to answer is possibly the largest. Who? The first thought that came to mind was who could have possibly done such horrible deeds? Who would have willingly hijacked a plane of innocent passengers, and driven that vessel into a building occupied by many more innocent victims? Who would have aided in this task? Who would have planned out actions of such devastation? Who would have masterminded and financially supplied or supported these actions? And who would be so troubled in their own mind to knowingly, willingly and purposefully construct the thoughts and actions that blossomed into such horrific results? Many of these questions may be answered shortly, others will not. Current governmental agencies are working feverishly to answer these questions, resulting in strong confidence by many that these agencies will in fact find those answers. Some of the simpler questions have already been determined, such as: Who were these hijackers? Others questions are being investigated as we speak, such as: Who aided these men in carrying out their actions? The most important of these questions, however, are the most difficult to answer. Many have pointed to Osama bin Laden, a known terrorist accused of other deadly actions against the United States in various overseas locations. He may indeed be involved in one way or another, but the question has to be asked, who else? There is considerable doubt that one human being can be responsible for successfully performing such a devastating task in a solitary manner. Perhaps knowing that there are multiple minds capable of encompassing a desire to perform such terror on a unified nation is what instills the most fear. One terrorist is scary; independent and collective groups of terrorists are frightening. So I must ask, who aided Osama bin Laden in the planning and implementation of these dastardly deeds. It is important to find the answers to this question so that any other terrorist organization involved in this or other incidents can be dealt with appropriately. If for no other reason, than to curb those thoughts of hatred and feed our desires for revenge. But the question still remains, how many more terrorists are there? Who else is capable of these same evil thoughts and contains the incomprehensible desire to carry out similar attacks? Sadly, the innocent victims of these catastrophic events leave us wondering about those whose lives came to an end. Who were the innocent passengers on the planes, flying off for business meetings or flying home to visit loved ones? Who were the innocent people in the World Trade Center Buildings, in the Pentagon, and in the areas around the attacks who were injured or killed? Who are the heroes: those who raced to help all of these innocent victims with no regards to their own personal safety? Normal, ordinary, everyday people, doing what many of us have done on countless occasions without giving it a second thought: getting on a plane, going to work, walking down the street. The victims and those who know and love them, have suddenly had their lives changed forever. All of America has in fact seen lives changed forever. The question of who these victims were will be answered in due time. Some we know already, and others we will strive to discover in the days and weeks ahead. As we find out who these innocent victims are, and the stories their lives have written, we will be saddened even more. There are
also the countless heroes. The brave men and women, many of whom are firefighters
and policemen, civilian protectors claiming they were simply doing their
duty. Those who rushed into harms way, bursted into the fire and danger,
knowingly putting their own lives on the line to help save the innocent
victims. Policemen, who many of us see on a daily basis and never give
a second thought, other than to make sure our speedometer is below the
speed limit. Firefighters, who we see as a delay in our daily driving
as we pull over to the side of the road. True heroes we all now look at
in a much different light. We now see how heroic these people are, and
view them no longer as a nuisance to our daily proceedings, but instead
as someone we can look up to as brave heroes we have leaned on to give
us hope in the search for survivors. Sadly, those same heroes became victims
themselves and even still, remaining heroes continue searching through
dangerous conditions to find their fallen comrades, our fellow coworkers,
our friends, our family, and the hope of our nation. Hindsight has once again brought clarity to a moment in United States history where debris and soot clouded our understanding and knowledge of what happened to our unconquerable country. As the day of horror unfolded, it was impossible to know exactly what events were transpiring. Confusion rained, rumors flew, but the images spoke an unrequited truth. Many of us were glued to television sets, watching a landmark with a smoking hole formed by a plane that hit the World Trade Center’s north tower. As we all wondered exactly what happened, we were suddenly given an instant replay of what did happen. A second airliner suddenly appeared on the television screen and crashed into the south tower of the World Trade Center. Then America knew, yet we still asked: What happened? A short time later, word spread that another plane had crashed into the Pentagon, and we saw the pictures of our nations center for defense sliced apart and crushed, and we asked again: What happened? It is strange how we saw for ourselves exactly what took place, yet we still asked, what happened? Perhaps it was disbelief. Perhaps it was shock. Perhaps it was shear terror that the unthinkable had come true. As the hours
and days have unfolded, the facts appeared, informing everyone of exactly
what did happen, yet making it no less tolerable to accept. The immediate
questions were then focused on what went wrong. What allowed these perpetrators
to carry out these acts of terrorism? Many have questioned who is to blame
and what was done wrong that allowed these acts to happen. These questions
and arguments could go on forever, but lead to another more important
question. What can we do now? Another simple, yet complex question is: Where? The obvious answer to this question is the World Trade Center buildings in New York City, the Pentagon in Washington D.C., and a small field in southwestern Pennsylvania. That is where the destruction occurred. But has this destruction not occurred in a much more vast realm? Airports across the United States were closed for three days, causing not only travel inconveniences, but economic repercussions that may not yet have been felt completely. Security is on a high alert in many areas, including airports, where one can no longer conveniently check bags at the curb, no longer be sent off or greeted by loved ones in conjunction with the stroll down the gateway to the plane. Fans attending sporting events can no longer bring coolers or backpacks, and must wait through endless lines of security checks before entering the stadiums and arenas. Our countries lifestyle of convenience envied by so many other countries has been forced to succumb to terrorism and remain under a blanket of suspicion. The areas that must confront these issues are not only in New York City, Washington D.C., or southwestern Pennsylvania, these issues have instantly spread all across our country. It is safe to say that all eyes and ears are now open like never before, and will stay open for some time. Eyes and ears that with the events of one ghastly day, have turned from a casual glance and distant sound to an intent stare and keen listening. These characteristics are likely to stick around longer than some expected, in an effort to prevent another question of where. Where will the next terrorist act occur? The other where question that comes to mind is the location of those behind these acts. Where are they? Where are these faceless cowards who mastermind such acts of evil? Where can we find them so they may be brought to justice? These questions are being asked now and will soon be answered. Knowing where these people hide is paramount to bring them to justice, punish them, and prevent them from repeating these actions as well as knowing where others like them may dwell. These people must be found. They will be found. Another seemingly obvious question is when: When did this happen? It happened as many of us were going about our daily lives. Beginning another day with a routine we had done countless times before yet will never be able to do the same again. It happened when people in New York City and Washington D.C. had just begun their workday, not knowing that for some, that day would not be completed. Others of us had just awaken, only to find horrific acts being described on the radio, followed by gruesome scenes on the television. It happened when we least expected it: During an otherwise ordinary, average day for many Americans. Perhaps that is what frightens us most, that because of that fact, no day can be thought of as ordinary again. The next,
immediate question many seek to be answered is when will we get revenge.
Such acts bring up thoughts of rage, anger, and hatred. A sense of fighting
back. An eye for an eye. When will we strike back at the homelands of
those involved? The question of when this will happen we may not know.
Before striking back, time must be taken to find out exactly who was involved,
where those people are, and how best to bring them to justice. This is
a situation our country has never faced before. In December 1941, when
the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor, there was a real and credible enemy
with which our country could lash out towards and seek an avenue to drive
home our rage. Today, that avenue has no map, no country to direct our
anger. Instead, we are left searching for individuals, bound not by their
nationality, citizenship, or borders, but by a similar cause which has
suddenly struck our great nation. Perhaps the most horrifying question is when will it happen again? And unfortunately, it will. Terrorist attacks have occurred many times before, in many different places, and it will likely happen again in the future. From attacks on oil ministers in Vienna, to Olympic athletes in Germany, to airline passengers over Scotland, to United States Navy officers in the Persian Gulf, and now to United States citizens on our home land: our cities, our streets, and our backyards. It has happened, it is happening, and regrettably, it will happen again. One of the unknown questions however, is when will it happen: next week, next month, next year. The answer is, it happens everyday. When we look overhead at a passing plane and wonder. Perhaps the most confusing question of all, however, is why. Why did someone do this? Unfortunately, this question has the least explanation. Why would someone knowingly plan out such acts of devastation, knowing that thousands of innocent people would be hurt and killed? Why would someone deliberately cause such catastrophic acts of pain and suffering? Why would someone want to cause such devastation, hurt, and fear among us? It is a question we may never know, and one we may not want to know. Knowing why someone would have thoughts of such acts and carry them out are frightening. When I contemplate the events of this past week, I reflect back on those five key components of writing a story: Who, What, Where, When, and Why, and how those elements relate to events that have changed our nation on what was once just an ordinary day. Some questions we have answered. Some questions we will answer. Some questions we may never answer. Others yet, we may not want to answer.
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