Reading Quindlen's essay, I realized that 9-11 has a different meaning to everyone. At first when I read this I did not completely understand what she meant by, the day being broken it two. Concentrating on the last paragraph, I grasp exactly what she is saying. I agree with that, 9-11 is not just a day anymore, it is an event. I also agree that the realists are correct when they say that we are both, "better people that we were before," and "living in a world of cruelty and savagery." That day made us open our eyes realize what was going on in other places. Many people do not pay attention to the war that some of our own are fighting everyday. The attack on the twin towers forced us to envisage exactly what some see all the time. She is right when she says that life goes on. We cannot put the country on hold because of this single, though extremely austere event. We have to push on and persevere through whatever is thrown at us. Giving up would be giving our attackers exactly what they want. 9-11 did not affect me as much as it did others. People who lost the lives of loved ones or those that were near the site when it happened are the ones who were affected most. But, that day has surely left a scar on our country.