The story I am about to tell, was told to me by my mom because I was too young at the time of the event to remember.
(2001) It it was my second birthday party, one month after the tragic event of 9/11. Family members from all over the US were coming to Virginia to celebrate it with my family and I. My uncle from New York was also coming. My parents were very excited for the party. They had been preparing for it for the past month and a half. All of my relative had taken the weekend off to come. My cousins, aunts, uncles, and grandparents started arriving on Saturday. Some were driving and some were coming by plane. Some were staying in our house and some were staying in the houses of relatives near by. Everyone was so happy to reunite with family they hadn't seen in a while. People were dancing, singing, and talking about the party the next day. Everything was going really well. That night, my uncle from New York called me and asked me what I wanted for my birthday. My mom said I was able to talk at the time. Apparently I asked him for a teddy bear and balloons. My unlock said he would bring me a HUGE teddy bear, chocolate, and a bunch of balloons. He told me he was coming on Sunday, just in time to make it to the party. My uncle was the youngest child of the family, so my family was really excited to see him. After a night of reuniting with family, everyone went to sleep ready for tomorrow (the party) . The next morning, my parents began doing last minute things for the party. I kept asking my parents when my uncle would reach Virginia with my teddy bear. After asking a million times, my mother finally decided to call my uncle and ask him what time to pick him up from the airport. He told my mom that his flight was arriving at 1:15. I got excited and went to tell my cousins. Everyone went back to getting their things ready for the party. People we laughing and having a great time. Around lunch time, the phone began ringing. My dad picked it up. It was from my uncle. My dad had a look of worry on his face. My mom and some of my uncles and aunts went to the phone. My dad kept asking into the phone "Are you okay?" "Are you safe?" "Be careful." After my dad got off the phone, he told everyone that my uncle might not be able to make it to the party. He was going through the typical airport procedure, when he was stopped at the security. They took him into a room and began questioning him, asking him if he had ties with ISIS and if he was a Muslim, just because he was wearing a turban. He told them that he was a Sikh and that he was just going to Virginia for a party. They kept him there and kept on interrogating him. Finally, after several hours, they let him go. Luckily there was another flight coming to Virginia, so he grabbed that flight and made it on time. When he arrived, all of my relatives asked him if he was okay and what happened. He told them he was fine, but he looked stressed. After a while, he seemed normal again. He gave my a huge HUGE teddy bear (which I still have) and he gave me lots of candy. I was so happy, which made my uncle happy. Around 6, everybody got ready for the party and we went to the hall. From the pictures, the party looked really fun! Even though I was too young to understand it at the time, I now understand how my uncle felt after being interrogated and even accused for being a part of ISIS. My uncle was stopped just because of his looks, or more specifically, his turban. Luckily my uncle was only stopped at the airport and not by some person on the streets. After 9/11, so many men with turbans were shot and killed. Children with Islamic last names were abused and tortured at schools. So many innocent people lost their lives just because of their looks or their last name. People had to change their appearance to appear "normal". I am very thankful that my uncle was okay and safe, but this was definitely and eye opening experience for my family. Someone said this world is a strange place, sometimes happiness and sorrow are beyond our control, no matter how hard you try. There are days when you can't wait for the Sun to rise, however there are same day where you can't wait for Sun to set. I happen to experience a similar day. I was excited for months for this day to come, however after witnessing the events of that day, I could not wait for it to get over. On March 11, 2011, my first cousin was born on the west coast. I was thrilled since I heard the news I was going to have a cousin in this country and a sister who I could one day play with. I heard the new of her birth and screamed and jumped with joy, Just then my mom switched on the TV and I saw huge wave of water hitting the beaches of Japan. I saw people running for their lives and I failed to understand what was happening. This was supposed to be a happy day, and kids were drowning and people were dying as if they didn't matter. I sunk down in a chair, tears rolling down my cheeks. Tears of joy had dried and tears of sorrow has rolled over. I wish I could be there to help. I had completely forgotten about my new cousin and the dream of playing with her. I could only think of the people suffering. More than 160,000 japanese people were forced to evacuate and 15,891 people died that day. It was traumatic event for the whole world. For me it was more than traumatic, it was like a coin with two face. This day will stay in my memory forever.
-Ananya Dode News, BBC. "Japan Tsunami Remembered Five Years on." BBC News. BBC, 11 Mar. 2016. Web. 12 Sept. 2016. |
AuthorSimran, Ananya, and Paolo Archives
November 2016
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