My 9/11
Fifty-eight are dead, 500 and counting are injured. They were attending a country music festival Sunday night, October 1st at 10:08 pm in Las Vegas, Nevada, when gunfire began. “We heard what sounded like firecrackers going off. Then all of a sudden, we heard what sounded like a machine gun. People started screaming that they were hit,” witness Meghan Kearney told MSNBC.
High schoolers, mostly 16 or younger, have heard of 9/11 but never truly experienced it like their parents, teachers, or grandparents. For the kids who were born after 2000, they have never experienced a huge terrorist attack on American soil. The Las Vegas massacre is the biggest attack or mass killing they have ever experienced in their lives.
Junior Aaron Biggerstaff does not believe the Vegas shooting was his 9/11. “It’s a big tragedy, but I was not as affected as people were to 9/11. I don’t think I’ve had a ‘9/11’ because this did not come close to affecting me as a person.”
A student at Rocky who wanted to remain anonymous had family at the music festival. Her aunt and uncle were there when the shooting happened. Her family was very scared because they did did not hear back from for 24 hours after the incident, due to the fact her aunt and uncle were helping others and did not have time to call the rest of the family.
Senior at Rocky named Yarey Mercado-Perez did not think that he has had a “9/11” moment, but the hurricane in Puerto Rico was the closest to a “9/11” event because it was so close to home–he has relatives in Puerto Rico. Even though it had nothing to do with terrorism it was the first time “I have felt in the dark, just like many in 9/11.”
Personally, I don’t believe this is my “9/11” moment. Sure, the Vegas shooting was tragic and something that deserves attention and grieving, but for my generation, being a 17-year-old in America, we see tragedy every other week.
We saw it in January with the Dallas shooter; we saw it in Somalia just this weekend, and now Vegas. This would be a much bigger event if it was out of the ordinary. Sadly, it is not out of the ordinary to see a mass killing in today’s world. I don’t know if I really want a “9/11” moment to bring my generation and others together, but I know I’m tired of seeing tragedy every week.
![Photo of Max Hand](https://rmhshighlighter.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/unnamed-2-267x475.jpg)
Max is a senior at Rocky Mountain who plays varsity soccer. He is going to be attending Metro State to play soccer next year. He also has a twin sister...
Nick Mathis • Dec 14, 2017 at 10:15 am
I really like how “9/11” could be different for everyone based off of different events and experiences.
Mr. Ross • Oct 18, 2017 at 1:48 pm
Do students / people need to have a terrible event to affect them personally for it to be considered a “significant event”?
Let’s consider the importance / value of being empathetic in order to fully comprehend the significance of such historical events.
Highlighter Staff • Oct 19, 2017 at 9:43 am
This was written with an empathetic intent, and we apologize if it was perceived differently. The point being made is that despite the events that transpired are tragic, it’s not comparable on the mass scale to the 9/11 tragedies. We’ll always remember the exact day the towers fell, 9/11/01, which I’m afraid to say cannot be said about the Vegas shooting, seeing as personally, I cannot remember the dates of Pulse or San Bernadino, as I’m sure many of us can’t.
Nobody is doubting or humanizing the events that occurred October 1st, but unfortunately, shootings of kind have become all too common to be considered a “9/11” moment for those not personally affected.