A Day of Firsts, Seconds, and Remembrance
by Sara on September 11th, 2008
Hi!
Class today was at the Minneapolis Central Library, which is AMAZING, let me tell you! The architecture of this building is unbelievable, and it was a great place to hold class. This was my first time visiting the library, and I enjoyed my time there immensely.
Being that today is the seventh anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, our readings today focused upon a writer’s inkling, and responsibility of sorts, to take the events that seem so abstract to all of us and attempt to make sense of it all. The readings that we read today, including poetry by Marvin Bell and Yusef Komunyakaa and essays by Kurt Vonnegut and Susan Sontag, all offered a unique perspective on the 9/11 attacks. I was very moved by the words of my classmates as we discussed the issues facing us in terms of military recruitment incentives, the media, and writing’s responsibility to illuminate the abstract, and often tragic, events of today’s world. My classmates continue to inspire me each day, and I am so grateful for their knowledge and experiences.
We spent the afternoon critiquing each other’s work, and I received some very helpful feedback on a story I penned. I am very excited to take the critiques that the class has suggested and apply them to my story. While this story has been through many, many drafts, I look forward to many, many more. This is the second workshop critique that my story has endured, and I am proud to say that my story was generally well-received by my classmates and teachers.
Immediately after class, I drove to the Humphrey Institute to take in a training session on the Oral History project, which I am working on in my interview. After a few guidelines were explained in terms of interview protocol, a member of the MN National Guard presented the 15 or so of us with a lesson in “Military 101″. This presentation was amazing, and taught me a ton about the relationship between members of the Army and other branches, for example. The presentation also cleared up the complicated ranking system, and offered us all a look at how the men and women of the military tend to break the stereotypes that common society has placed upon them.
How fitting to have this presentation on 9.11.08, a day of remembrance for all of us. My prayers continue to go out for the men and women serving our country, and for the veterans who have returned.