As most people may know, September 11th, 2001, is the date of one of the most tragic events in American history. The devastating events of 9/11 were in result of the US relaxed policies on immigration and political correctness. Most times, it would be known as “racist” to thoroughly check someone from such a place as the middle east, but at what stake will it hold if these searches were not put into action? The 9/11 hijackers arrived in the year 2000, they were able to get in without questioning because of their alibi, international students with student visas. Because of the relaxed policies, the hijackers got into the US, and caused the tragic 9/11 event 18 years ago that still lies heavy in every American heart. 

Barry Powers, a 9/11 survivor, claims he was in the World Trade Center South Tower for a training seminar on 61st floor on September 11th, 2001. He was on his coffee break when he watched the American Airlines flight 11 plunge into the North Tower. Barry’s seminar leader told the trainee’s that it was best to evacuate. On their way down, the intercom spoke and said to return to their desks, minutes later the second plane hit. Luckily, Barry and the other trainees continued to make their way down the stairs before the plane hit the South tower. “Almost immediately, the air in the stairway was becoming too thick, I could barely breathe.” says Barry. 

Susan Herr, another 9/11 survivor, was working in a bank on the 68th floor of the South Tower when she heard the first plane crash. When she realised what had happened, she took the elevator, that wasn’t supposed to be working, down to the lobby. She states, “there, I tried to get out onto the plaza, but they had blocked it off. I found out later it was because the people were jumping out of Tower 1.” She also claimed when she found a way out, a police officer not to look down, just run. Herr was able to make her way out, but unfortunately dealt with post-traumatic stress, asthma, and cancer after the event.

Lyle Owerko, a photographer staying in an apartment on September 11th, 2001, claims that he heard a blaring sound so loud, almost as if “King Kong slammed a city bus into a building”. TIME magazine states, “with his camera equipment sitting at his door, ready to go, he jolts out and immediately started taking photos. Lyle claims that even after the first hit, things were quite normal at his location, people were even chuckling and asking him where the fire was. Moments later, everyone was screaming and running, saying “people were jumping out of the building.”

A CNN news article shares a frightening, anonymous message stating, “The first plane flew by my window. I was sleeping late after a long weekend of work, when my girlfriend heard the roar of its engines approaching.” They waited for a loud impactive sound. They claim to have only heard a faint sound, following, was a large dark cloud of smoke. “My girlfriend turned on the news, considering the possibility that it was an accident, only to watch the second plane hit the South Tower.” The whole city was stunned. A few minutes later, the South Tower collapsed, 23 minutes later, the North Tower collapsed, together causing a 2.4 avalanche on the Richter scale. Much was taken from us that day, and so 9/11 stands one of the most important events in American history and shall never be forgotten.

This is an example post, originally published as part of Blogging University. Enroll in one of our ten programs, and start your blog right.

You’re going to publish a post today. Don’t worry about how your blog looks. Don’t worry if you haven’t given it a name yet, or you’re feeling overwhelmed. Just click the “New Post” button, and tell us why you’re here.

Why do this?

• Because it gives new readers context. What are you about? Why should they read your blog?
• Because it will help you focus you own ideas about your blog and what you’d like to do with it.

The post can be short or long, a personal intro to your life or a bloggy mission statement, a manifesto for the future or a simple outline of your the types of things you hope to publish.

To help you get started, here are a few questions:

• Why are you blogging publicly, rather than keeping a personal journal?
• What topics do you think you’ll write about?
• Who would you love to connect with via your blog?
• If you blog successfully throughout the next year, what would you hope to have accomplished?

You’re not locked into any of this; one of the wonderful things about blogs is how they constantly evolve as we learn, grow, and interact with one another — but it’s good to know where and why you started, and articulating your goals may just give you a few other post ideas.

Can’t think how to get started? Just write the first thing that pops into your head. Anne Lamott, author of a book on writing we love, says that you need to give yourself permission to write a “crappy first draft”. Anne makes a great point — just start writing, and worry about editing it later.

When you’re ready to publish, give your post three to five tags that describe your blog’s focus — writing, photography, fiction, parenting, food, cars, movies, sports, whatever. These tags will help others who care about your topics find you in the Reader. Make sure one of the tags is “zerotohero,” so other new bloggers can find you, too.