COMMENTARY: ''After September 11th'', by Guy Atchley, KGUN-TV (originally written 2001) · 2:11pm Sep 11th, 2016
On September 21, 2001, Guy Atchley, the news anchor for ABC affiliate KGUN-TV9 in Tucson, wrote an article about how September 11, 2001 showed us how scared we were and how brave we can be as citizens of the United States of America. In commemoration of the 15th anniversary of the tragic attacks that took place on that fateful day, September 11, 2001, we hereby copy and paste the article here as proof of its continued relevance. Please note that Mr. Atchley didn't write this in all-caps even though it looks like it; KGUN simply used all-caps as its default typography back then. - Ed.
WHAT'S HAPPENED TO AMERICA SINCE THE TERRORIST ATTACKS?
WE'VE CHANGED. AS A NATION, AS A PEOPLE, WE'VE CHANGED. AND WE'VE DISCOVERED A FEW THINGS ABOUT OURSELVES: HOW DEEPLY WE CAN FEEL FOR EACH OTHER, OUR CAPACITY TO COME BACK FROM CATASTROPHE, HOW FORTUNATE WE ARE TO LIVE IN THIS PLACE CALLED THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
WE NOTICE THINGS THAT PERHAPS WE DIDN'T NOTICE BEFORE: THE OCCASIONAL PLANE OVERHEAD, THE FLAG, AND CHILDREN DRESSED IN RED, WHITE AND BLUE.
PEOPLE HAVE CALLED ASKING WHAT THEY CAN DO TO HELP. I THINK OF A QUOTE FROM BO LOZOFF WHO SAID:
FIND THE FORM OF SUFFERING THAT TOUCHES YOU THE MOST. FIND WHERE SOMEBODY ELSE CRIES, AND YOU TASTE THE SALT, AND THEN GO THERE.
WE SEE WOMEN MAKING TEDDY BEARS FOR THE CHILDREN WHO LOST THEIR PARENTS. WE SEE HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE LINED UP TO DONATE THEIR BLOOD. AND WE REMEMBER THE FIREFIGHTERS IN NEW YORK WHO-- WHEN EVERYBODY ELSE WAS RUNNING OUT OF THE BUILDINGS--THEY WERE RUNNING IN.
THE IMAGES FROM NEW YORK, WASHINGTON, AND PENNSYLVANIA HAVE PROMPTED NORMALLY UNRUFFLED NETWORK ANCHORS TO BREAK DOWN AND WEEP. MANY OF US HAVE CRIED MANY TIMES IN THE PAST WEEK, BUT WE DO SO WITH THE GROWING REALIZATION THAT WE CAN BE GREATER THAN ANYTHING THAT CAN HAPPEN TO US.
THORNTON WILDER WROTE:
WITHOUT YOUR WOUNDS, WHERE WOULD YOUR POWER BE? THE VERY ANGELS THEMSELVES CANNOT PERSUADE THE WRETCHED AND BLUNDERING CHILDREN OF EARTH AS CAN ONE HUMAN BRING BROKEN IN THE WHEEL'S OF LIVING. IN LOVE'S SERVICE, ONLY THE WOUNDED SOLDIERS CAN SERVE.
WE REMEMBER THOSE FLEETING CELLPHONE CALLS FROM A DOOMED AIRLINER WHERE HEROES KNEW THEY HAD TO DO SOMETHING. BUT BEFORE ACTING, THEY TOOK TIME TO TELL THOSE WHO MATTERED MOST TO THEM-- I LOVE YOU.
ONE OF THE GREAT LESSONS I'VE LEARNED ABOUT OUR NATION CAME IN-- OF ALL PLACES--A WILDLIFE SANCTUARY IN GREEN VALLEY. SUE SIMPSON, WHO RUNS THE SANCTUARY, POINTED OUT THAT SHE HAS NO PROBLEMS HELPING VERY YOUNG EAGLES THAT HAVE BEEN INJURED. THEY REMAIN RELATIVELY CALM IN THEIR CAGES AS THEY HEAL AND REGAIN THEIR STRENGTH. BUT, SHE SAYS, AN ADULT EAGLE, WHEN PLACED IN A CAGE, WILL LITERALLY FLAP HIMSELF TO DEATH TRYING TO GET OUT. AND THE REASON IS SIMPLE: THE ADULT EAGLE HAS TASTED FREEDOM, AND FOR HIM ANYTHING LESS IS NOT GOOD ENOUGH.
AS OUR NATION PREPARES FOR ACTION, WE DO SO NOT BECAUSE WE WANT TO GAIN ANYTHING. WE SIMPLY WANT TO PROTECT WHAT WE HAVE--OUR FREEDOM.
THE FREEDOM TO GO TO WORK WITHOUT FEAR.
THE FREEDOM TO SPEAK OUR MINDS.
THE FREEDOM TO HELP OTHERS.
THE FREEDOM TO SEE OUR CHILDREN LIVE IN A WORLD UNFETTERED BY HATE.
AFTER SEPTEMBER 11TH, WE ALL HAVE A MUCH GREATER UNDERSTANDING OF JUST HOW PRECIOUS THAT FREEDOM REALLY IS.
ABOUT GUY ATCHLEY: Guy Atchley has been a news broadcaster for over 45 years. He has anchored the news in Oklahoma City, Tulsa, Miami, Milwaukee, and since 1984 – he has been in Tucson at KGUN 9 News.
His job has taken him not only across the United States, but also around the world—to places such as China, Japan, and Israel. His news program has been named BEST NEWSCAST IN ARIZONA six times—four times by the Associated Press and twice by United Press International.
He has won more than 20 first place awards for Individual Excellence in Reporting. The Special Olympics Committee has named him Arizona’s Outstanding Broadcaster. The Jewish Community Relations Council honored him with its Human Relations Award for his work to expose intolerance and bigotry in the United States.
When Guy isn’t on the news, you will usually find him in front of an audience. As a public speaker, he is in demand not only in his home of Tucson, but also around the nation. The Rotary, Lions, Kiwanis and Civitan clubs also have honored Guy for his community service.
