I remember waking for work ten years ago. The radio alarm clock went off and the station’s DJs were talking about terrorism. I blearily thought, “You guys have nothing else to talk about?” Then they mentioned burning buildings, collapses. I shut off my radio. And turned on CNN for the first time since the First Gulf War.

As a New Yorker, seeing the smoking towers brought a mix of reactions. First was the image I remember seeing of the burning Kuwait Ministry of Electricity and Water building from the Iraqi invasion. The apartment complex my family resided in early 80’s Kuwait included that ministry. I woke up to the sight of those buildings for years; footage of them burning had a simultaneous disconnect and bring-it-home feel. So did the burning Twin Towers. Read more