Words are not enough.

Last night, I went to see the new film, World Trade Center. The words "too soon" didn't cross my mind. At the time of the attacks, I was on a public transportation bus in Ohio. I was on my way to an internship in a state government building. When I walked into the building that morning, my boss looked at me, and I immediately looked to the right into the library, where a group of my co-corkers watched the smoke coming out of the first tower after it had been hit. For several hours, we sort of stood there in disbelief, like many other Americans.

Ironically, all I can really remember is that I had recently moved in a new house with two roommates and we didn't have our cable for our TV set up yet. Therefore, we didn't see all those images duirng those first days and weeks after 9/11/ 2001. The images didn't engrave themselves in my mind and heart, however, it took several weeks to finally process what really happened to all of us. I specifically remember sitting at my desk at work when I started to cry; I got up slowly and went to the bathroom. I remember carefully sitting down and sobbing. The tears rolled down my cheek and I saw them hit the wood panel floor. I asked to leave work early this day, and walked to a small park near my second job. The grass needed cut, but I sat on a bench and prayed; I centered myself through this prayer,"Lord, Jesus Christ, Have mercy on me."

Five years later, I'm living on Long Island and all my friends and family from home wonder why I chose NY as a place to call home. After living here for three years, the explanation has little to do with graduate school, a job, a relationship, but instead, it has to do with this understanding, that I am more at peace here, than anywhere else. It is here, that I have come to understand my own beauty and strengths, which caltapult me forward, allowing me to experience everyday as a new mystery to be unraveled and/or revealed.

In Oliver Stone's film, I see passion, inspiration and love in the eyes of all the actors. This is not about another film made in hollywood; this is about a story of humanity at its best, expressed in a film that cannot replicate that day, but can authentically reveal the hearts of the american people, while also commemorating and honoring those who were lost on September 11, 2001.

Even though the words "too soon" are an anchor that makes us realize that we were once immobilized as a nation, I see a curtian of dust- very much like the one we say five years ago, which is also seen in the movie- I sense that it continuously stirs both painful and poignant memories. As the dust clears away, let us remember that we are still standing strong, as cords of compassion, courage and freedom strengthen us as one nation....