Human and Society

Author: Xie Yong Wang Yu
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2003-08-01
Features: Excerpt: On the 11th that night, from the office to home, the chaotic escape scene of the World Trade Center in New York kept flashing in my eyes, and I couldn’t help but worry about my friend studying for a Ph.D. at the Wharton School of Business in the U.S. So, I quickly emailed him, urging him to make sure to check in with his family. But it wasn’t until three days later that I received his email. He told me that he had been deeply affected by emotions and had barely stopped moving.
Shang Zheng: Thank you for your concern! My girlfriend and I are safe here. Don’t worry about us. Around me, from community organizations to the school board, they have organized at an unimaginable speed. The calmness, unity, and strong sense of citizenship they demonstrated in the event moved me and compelled me to keep moving—even without a moment to sit down and write a single sentence to you. In China, we often discuss the United States. Today, I’d like to share a few scenes that might give us a more genuine understanding of it.
Scene One: After the second impact, the stairs of the World Trade Center’s Building 1 were packed with people, moving slowly but in an orderly manner. By the 30th floor, they had almost come to a standstill, yet everyone spontaneously cleared a path for the injured.
Scene Two: After the second explosion, at the World Trade Center’s Building 2, firefighters, carrying heavy equipment, ran while asking the injured which floor was on fire. Sweat dripped from their brows, and people brought them water, even pouring it over them. At that moment, more and more injured were being carried downstairs.
Scene Three: A woman was trapped in the subway station for 45 minutes. After being rescued, instead of fleeing the scene immediately, she stayed to help an asthmatic woman. Thanks to a pair of clean socks, the asthmatic woman was saved.
Scene Four: Amid the dense crowd, the American flag fluttered, and the students in the center held candles in their hands. At that moment, the voice of a boy (whose stepfather worked in the World Trade Center and was still missing) drifted into the night sky, brushing past countless fluttering American flags and flickering candlelight. I heard mourning and prayers, and what I felt was sincerity, not pretense.
Scene Five: Outside the American Red Cross blood donation center, a long line formed, with people waiting for three or four hours. However, the queue was patient, with no one showing any complaints.