Sep 12, 2001 07:53 AM
3199 Views
I woke up this morning, like any other day, shuffled my kids off to school and sat down for my well deserved morning cup of coffee. The phone rang. My sister called and told me to turn on CNN immediately. What I saw on my television screen was the live footage of a terrorist attack in New York City. I silently watched as a plane, the second one, flew directly into the second World Trade Center tower. This is true reality television. CNN does not shield our eyes from the gripping and gruesome events that take place in our world. Their correspondents are there to bring the live events right into the living rooms of the average person. If seeing is believing, I am now convinced that I was able to witness one of the most horrific unexpected terrorist attacks on my country, because of the coverage that CNN and other such networks provide.
CNN allows us to witness world events live. Many times these events are replayed throughout the day, to the extent that every captivated watcher can give a pretty coherent and intelligent explaination of what they watched happen. Experts and civilians alike were televised on CNN today, giving their opinion or testimony of what happened. The scenes themselves will stay in my mind for years to come. I could not get that from reading a newspaper or history book. CNN lets me SEE everything to create a mental memory. The sight of that plane flying into the World Trade Center without a single sway or doubt, will always linger in my mind. The sight of the victims will remain in my heart.
CNN covers the serious and tragic, like today's events, with a certain respect that keeps me tuning into their network over others. The live updates are continual and nearly always accurate. The reporters for CNN are professional and dedicated. I know that today several have been broadcasting for at least 12 hours now.
I chose to write about CNN today because I believe that they serve an important role in today's society. Seeing the mass destruction of todays's terrorism attack, I am affected in ways that I might not have been without being informed of all the current facts and events. I allowed my son to watch some of the coverage so that he could witness the tragedy occurring. It opened the door to a very in depth discussion of topics that I felt, as his mother, were my responsibility to explain. I haven't been able to answer his question of, ''Why?'' however.
CNN is geared towards adult viewing, that should be clearly understood. Older children benefit the most when an adult is present to discuss any questions that they may have about the reality that CNN brings.
CNN covers live events regularly, yet I admit that it often takes a massive emergency or earth shattering event to make me tune in. Avoidance? Maybe. CNN does, however, cover daily news in the same professional manner as they do with the shocking news stories.
Today's terrorism in New York City will be heard around the world. The sounds of mourning will echo, as well as the shouts of disbelief and disgust. I will be echoing both for all those affected by terrorism. Terrorism and loss is not, however, any more disturbing just because it happened on American soil. As an American, I am shocked and saddened for my county's losses. As a world citizen, I am shocked and saddened by every act of terrorism and destruction, in any country. I wish for an end to the vicious and evil attacks that are orchestrated by those governed by hate.
I thank you for reading and hope that one day we can all rest with the promise of a peaceful world.
