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Public Safety

San Diegans Reflect On September 11 Terrorist Attacks

San Diegans Reflect On September 11 Terrorist Attacks

Transcript

This is a rush transcript created by a contractor for KPBS to improve accessibility for the deaf and hard-of-hearing. Please refer to the media file as the formal record of this interview. Opinions expressed by guests during interviews reflect the guest’s individual views and do not necessarily represent those of KPBS staff, members or its sponsors.

TOMORROW IS THE NINTH ANNIVERSARY OF THE SEPTEMBER 11th TERRORIST ATTACKS. MEMORIALS ARE BEING HELD THROUGHOUT SAN DIEGO COUNTY AND ACROSS THE COUNTRY TO HONOR THOSE WHO DIED. WE SPOKE TO SAN DIEGANS THIS WEEK ABOUT HOW SEPTEMBER 11th CHANGED THEIR LIVES.

I REMEMBER THE DAY IT HAPPENED. I HAD JUST GRADUATED HIGH SCHOOL. MY FRIEND CALLED ME AND SAID HEY, TURN ON YOUR TV. IT WAS, LIKE, HEARTBREAKING.

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JUST A PROFOUND FEELING THAT IT'S BEEN SUCH A LONG TIME. YOU KNOW, WE'RE A MILITARY TOWN. EVERYTHING GOING ON NOW WITH REBUILDING AND NEW YORK AND, YOU KNOW, THE MONUMENT WHERE THE TOWERS USED TO BE, IT'S JUST A VIVID MEMORY.

I HEARD SOMEONE SAYING SOMETHING ABOUT TOWERS FALLING. I THOUGHT THAT'S IN SOME FOREIGN COUNTRY. THAT WAS THE FIRST THOUGHT TO RUN THROUGH MY MIND. I LITERALLY COULD NOT BELIEVE IT, I LITERALLY COULD NOT WHEN I HEARD WHAT IT WAS.

AS FAR AS THE MUSLIMS IT'S OPENED UP MY EYES TO BE MORE ACCEPTING AND FIND OUT MORE, YOU KNOW, FIND OUT WHAT THEY ARE ALL ABOUT AND WHAT THEY BELIEVE IN.

I NEVER THOUGHT TERRORISM WAS A TENET OF THE REAL MUSLIM FAITH. I DON'T THINK MUHAMMAD EVER ASKED PEOPLE TO GO OUT AND BOMB PEOPLE. I THINK IT'S THE FANATICS AND RELIGION. IT'S EXTREMES ARE ALWAYS DANGEROUS. WE SHOULD ALWAYS REMEMBER TO KEEP BALANCE IN OUR LIVES WHATEVER FAITH YOU ARE, MAINTAIN A PROPER BALANCE.

I PUT UP MY FLAG AND SUPPORTED THE TROOPS AT THAT TIME, YES.

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THERE WAS A SURGE OF PATRIOTISM. EVERY STREET YOU DROVE DOWN, THERE WAS AN AMERICAN FLAG OUT FOR MONTHS AND MONTHS. I HATED TO SEE THAT GO.

WE'RE NO LONGER AS SAFE AS WE THOUGHT AS A COUNTRY. WE HE COULD BE ATTACKED ON THE LIGHTER SIDE OF THE OCEAN. IT COULD BE A WORK WITHIN AND THAT'S WHAT LOOKS LIKE HAPPENED HERE. THE FOREIGN COUNTRIES THAT HATE AMERICA KNOW HOW TO GET INTO THE COUNTRY, YOU KNOW? THAT'S HOW THEY DID IT IN THE FIRST PLACE. THEY USE OUR OWN SYSTEM TO GET IT. BEING IN SAN DIEGO, IT'S CERTAINLY IN MY MIND THAT THAT COULD DEFINITELY HAPPEN HERE.

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