How are you different now than you were before September 11, 2001?

Joanne's favorite answer:
Well, let's see.... Since then, I moved to Iowa, switched careers, got married, bought a house, and had a child. Not much has changed really.

Joanne's answer:
Well, in the spirit of my favorite answer...since then, I have taught college classes, gotten a Ph.D., fallen in and out of love, visited Hawaii, became an aunt, moved to Northern California, and watched the Red Sox win the world series. But of course, the question really seems to be asking how 9/11 has affected me...and I'm sort of sad to say that it hasn't really changed me a whole heck of a lot. At first, I feel like people were brought closer together - there was a lot more patriotism, people were friendlier to each other...but that sort of thing wore off after a while. I may be slightly more aware/distrustful of people from the middle east, although not really even much. I do get a little more nervous when I see a low-flying plane post-9/11 (whereas before I never would have thought much of it), and I suppose I'm a little less naive about the realities of war and the possibilities of violence...but really, that's about it.

And the other answers!

1. I don't know that I am very different - just angry. I Don't know how to stop the insanity but sure wish someone could figure out how.

2. I'm different in the way of think of life - the safe life - here in the United States. Terrorism was something that other countries lived with, day in and day out, but we were always safe from that sort of thing here. Now we know we too can be blown up without notice. Outside forces caught us sleeping - literally - at Pearl Harbor and history, if not learned from will repeat itself and, sure enough, "they" caught us sleeping again. And if we don't stay alert and fall asleep it will happen again. I pray a lot more for the safety and well being of loved ones than I did before.

3. i'm even more aware how messed up people are in this world. regardless of their "motives"',it ultimatley resulted in many deaths and thats just fucked. and i've learned to live life now,because i may not be able to in the future.i moved out to Cali and i'm loving it out here. i'm allowing myself to be happy in the decisions i make,and very appreciative of God for allowing me to have what i do have. i don't take as many things for granted anymore, it's made me more aware of how lucky i am in life.

4. I am WAY more suspicious of our govenment and WAY more distrustful of the current administration. My feelings towards them have changed much more than my feelings towards terrorism.

5. Before 9/11: I was an international student from Japan. After 9/11: I am a non-resident alien who has an equal chance of being a terrorist or stealing someone else's job in the U.S.

6. I now have a distrust for most if not all Muslims, even though I know that is irrational. Then again, many Muslims are hell bent on destroying western civilization, and hate all Christians and Jews. I never thought about that before 9/11. I also hate the way many of our freedoms have eroded with the Patriot Act, although without it, there would have been many more attacks on our country. The recent capture of potential plane bombers from London was a direct result of the (potentially illegal)wiretaps by our government.

7. i'm a few years older

8. I am more disgusted with our government than ever before.