The Times They are a Changing Winner of Essay Competition organised by the Parents Council by Aislinn Deenihan “A man’s feet must be planted in his country, but his eyes should survey the world” - George Santayana Computerised special effects became reality, imprinted, engraved on our minds forever. Attitudes, perceptions, beliefs, economics and politics all altered. The Twin Towers had dominated the New York skyline, epitomising success and excess. The firemen and police officers symbolised courage, humanity and honour. The great American Dream reduced to a billowing cloud of dust. Along with it, security, trust, rationality and logical thought were lost. Not only were such feelings experienced in America, but throughout the whole world. Just as older people remember the assassination of John F. Kennedy along with their situation at that time, so we will recall our circumstances on learning of the tragic events of September 11th. Here, in Ireland, we identified strongly with the feelings experienced in America. It was the day a nation cried. Not only because of the many Irish and Irish-Americans who were victims, but because of the sheer tragedy of this act of terrorism. The vulnerability and innocence of the victims, stockbrokers, fire fighters, policemen, increased our distress. Communication networks could not cope with the sheer scale of the worldwide panic, as telephone systems jammed, overloaded with frantic enquiries about loved ones. Eventually we would learn of the human stories of heroism, tragedy and loss, such as the bravery displayed by those passengers on the doomed Pittsburgh plane. The fact that these planes were all piloted by Arabs has made us more aware of the continuing Arab-Israeli conflict. We have grown used to hearing of atrocities inflicted by either side on the other, but never did we think that these issues would explode on such a magnitude in the United States. Even before the pentagon, America’s symbol of military might was attacked President Bush stated that “ Freedom itself was attacked this morning by a face-less coward”. We were all faced with the recognition that injustice in any part of the world cannot be let continue, as eventually it will rise up and destroy. The solution will not be found in dollars, it lies in the way of natural justice. Of course, while working in Listowel, I kept applying and a few hundred negative replies later, I was invited to come for interview to a London hospital to do nursing – the one thing I had always wanted. Of courese, I went, failed the interview and stayed. This justice has been denied in many locations, not just in the Middle East. Who knew about extreme Islamic Fundamentalism prior to the attacks on the United States? Did it take the deaths of so many innocents for us to realise the expanse of global inequality and how much of this is seen as having its roots in America? Globalisation and economic domination has been achieved by America at an extremely high human cost. Companies such as Nike control world markets in sportswear and our feet. We may both be wearing Nike running shoes, yours made in India by a six year old girl, mine made in North Korea by a woman who works eighteen hour days. Did he care? Do we now care? Our willingness to contribute towards the welfare of those living in Afghanistan shows a commitment and a responsibility to those caught up in this whirlwind. Like those who lost their lives in the September attacks, they are victims, victims of a staunch, religious regime based in Kabul – the Taliban. Executions, mutilations and torture were carried out, according to their particular interpretation of the Koran. We are all now familiar with their beliefs, and terms such as Jihad, Fatwah and the Burqua. In spite of this newly acquired knowledge, their devoted following of their religious leaders perplexes and intrigues us. Not only do they guide their own countrymen, there are many other cells of fanatical followers, based in the Western world, which has aroused even deeper fears of a more sinister nature within us. We would hope that our racial tolerance has not been affected by what has happened, but we have to acknowledge that the way we interpret the actions of those from the Middle East has changed. The changes brought about by the acts of terrorism on September 11th have been dramatic and far reaching. No discovery or invention ever before has changed us so quickly economically, philosophically and socially, by comparison technological advances have come slowly and gradually with preparation. The trust and security of before, is now replaced by suspicion and fear. No one has escaped its influence, be they an airline passenger or a young Asian trainee doctor. To eventually overcome all of this we must hope and pray that the same qualities displayed by the fire fighters and police officers will prevail : courage, humanity and honour.