Finding a Rhyme and a Reason

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“Terrorist attacks can shake the foundations of our biggest buildings, but they cannot touch the foundation of America.” President Bush

September10
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While many of our Hilsman students were too young or yet to be born on September 11, 2001, thirteen years ago, many of us know exactly where we were. I presented the following ideas to the staff: How can we as a community honor this day in a way that incorporates what is already being learned? How can we lead students to embrace the day through our varied content areas and our IB profiles? Could we examine how the different branches of government responded? Could we look at how the literary community and artist expressed our nation’s angst and agony? What role did science and energy play? What story do the numbers tell? How did man’s courage and humanity take action and create heroes when death and destruction were inevitable? What claims might our students make and support about our nation and our world? Why should our students examine these events? How might it complement our mission as well as our goals as an IB school?

Mr. Pavone invited me into his classroom. To begin the dialogue, he encouraged his students to imagine the horror and anguish of this event and how it continues to impact society. When he showed the video below, I found myself emotionally transported back to the moment. I was also captivated by the words that President Bush spoke around segment 1:05 in the video: “Terrorist attacks can shake the foundations of our biggest buildings, but they cannot touch the foundation of America.” Hence, I ask: What is “the foundation of America”? How is our nation able to be resilient? What threatens our national security today?

34 Comments to

““Terrorist attacks can shake the foundations of our biggest buildings, but they cannot touch the foundation of America.” President Bush”

  1. September 11th, 2014 at 9:05 AM      Reply Melchiah Adams Says:

    9/11 is a serious thing and it is possible it could happen again with ISIS causing problems.


  2. September 11th, 2014 at 9:43 AM      Reply Bridget Says:

    I think the “foundation” of America is the pride Amaricans have about our country.


  3. September 11th, 2014 at 9:47 AM      Reply Madelyne Says:

    The nation needed to hear those words because it gave them hope that we would recover from this devastation.


  4. September 11th, 2014 at 9:50 AM      Reply Xavier Says:

    I believe President Bush really came to our country’s aid when we really needed him and gave a really good speech.


  5. September 11th, 2014 at 9:50 AM      Reply kiliks Says:

    The attacks on 9/11 changed the presidents life after that. He didn’t expect two very large planes to crash into the twin towers, especially wile he was in Florida. The words that came out of his mouth that day made his president.(Paraphrasing),”They may shake the foundation of buildings, but they can’t shake the foundation of America”.


  6. September 11th, 2014 at 9:56 AM      Reply Reese Says:

    I think that our foundation is the government workers who put their lives on the line everyday to protect the people of the U.S.A.


  7. September 11th, 2014 at 9:59 AM      Reply Walter Says:

    The foundation of America is the motivation that keeps us moving. It is the persistence that never leaves. We will keep moving on no matter what. Even if the worst thing ever happened to our country, we won’t let it shake us. We’ll still stay strong. It could also be the pride that we have in this great country.


    • September 11th, 2014 at 10:12 AM      Reply Ms. Hayes Says:

      You speak with great power, Walter. I hope that your words prevail and that our nation’s resolve to fight terrorism remains strong regardless of what happens.


  8. September 11th, 2014 at 10:00 AM      Reply Elijah Says:

    He realized that if he did not do the inspirational speech, the nation would be in a state of terror, and then the nation would fall apart.


  9. September 11th, 2014 at 10:00 AM      Reply Athena Says:

    I think what President George W. Bush meant by “the foundation of America” was that the terrorist cannot take away our spirit and pride. They can destroy our nation physically but mentally they cannot destroy our spirit.


  10. September 11th, 2014 at 10:04 AM      Reply Mekayla R. Says:

    President Bush didn’t think that those planes were going to crash into the twin towers. He was just having a normal day & that happened. That day was a very sad day for every human being alive. The words president Bush spoke that day, confirmed that he was a true president.


  11. September 11th, 2014 at 10:06 AM      Reply isaw1234 Says:

    9/11 changed a lot of peoples life. The people of America needed to hear the presidents speech. The speech gave people of America hope. Lets hope that our nation is strong enough and full of hope that nothing like 9/11 ever happens again


  12. September 11th, 2014 at 10:07 AM      Reply Lindsey Says:

    I believe that the “foundation” is the freedom of speech and the faith that we have in our country. Nothing can put down America because our country is strong.


  13. September 11th, 2014 at 10:10 AM      Reply Tyler Says:

    The “foundation of America” is the heart of America,or the structure of America that we built hundreds of years ago.


  14. September 11th, 2014 at 10:15 AM      Reply Yasmene W. Says:

    President Bush let the world see how much he cares and how he feels about this nation. This was the day when he became president. People can destroy our country,but they cannot destroy our pride.


  15. September 11th, 2014 at 10:16 AM      Reply Darcy S Says:

    The attacks on 9/11 in New York, Pennsylvania, and Virginia sadden many Americans. On 9/11 many people died that were innocent and had families that they were hoping would be coming home.


  16. September 11th, 2014 at 10:17 AM      Reply Kathleyn Says:

    The events that happened on that day were davastating but our “foundation” is like our honor, it will not decrease but will increase. The events made America stronger than it was before the attacks on 9/11. Some stress is good and can make us understand more.


  17. September 11th, 2015 at 10:08 AM      Reply Desdemona Says:

    I think that it was Bush’s fault this happened anyway


  18. September 11th, 2015 at 10:09 AM      Reply lashyriun Says:

    you speak the right thing about america


  19. September 11th, 2015 at 10:13 AM      Reply Nuk Says:

    How can we lead students to embrace the day through our varied content areas and our IB profiles?


  20. September 11th, 2015 at 10:14 AM      Reply Se'Darius Says:

    The events that happened that day were devastating, but our honor is our foundation. The event that happened made America stronger, sense the 9/11 attack cause some stress it also made us understand even more.


  21. September 11th, 2015 at 10:14 AM      Reply perry Says:

    This event marked a terrible day that shocked the nation. Many families were devastated as some of their relatives died in the towers, and friends were too. Lots of innocent people were killed for no reason at all, just out of the evil in others. Now we know the effects of a disaster like this, so in the future we could possibly avoid it happening again.


  22. September 11th, 2015 at 10:16 AM      Reply Jackson Says:

    I think that 9/11 was a good and bad thing.It was bad because Lots of people died on that day.But there could be way more deaths if 9/11 never happened. Because we wouldn’t have good security so we can stop terrorist From booming other places.


  23. September 11th, 2015 at 10:16 AM      Reply Cederia Says:

    I think that George Bush did the right thing and amed a video about the twin towers. He also went into action to get help. He talked to firefighters and other who was in the 9/11.


  24. September 11th, 2015 at 10:17 AM      Reply Alexis Says:

    Im really glad that president bush said thoses words. If he didn’t in that time everything would’ve still been ciotic.


  25. September 11th, 2015 at 10:17 AM      Reply Dekovian Says:

    Today our nation is still out of place . From terrorism back to racism . Martin Luther King cleared that up . Our nation can never work together , people won’t take the time out to work things out . They won’t wake up to the reality . The 9/11 attack is the MOST important day to me , a day that in my world I wouldn’t let happen . America needs to really wake up and stop playing around , it’s too many of us children thinking our people will protect us from anything . Step it up America .


  26. September 11th, 2015 at 10:18 AM      Reply Leslie M. Says:

    I think it was a scary moment. I feel bad for the people that died and i think we can have a better future and think about our actions in daily life.


  27. September 11th, 2015 at 10:20 AM      Reply Tayewanda Says:

    George Bush was having a normal day. Mr.Bush didn’t know that planes was going to crash in the twin towers. But it did and that was very sad. Didn’t nobody know because everyone was just having a regular day going about they business. Then all of a sudden the people hear that planes crash into the twin towers.


  28. September 11th, 2015 at 10:22 AM      Reply Dorian Says:

    The event that happened on September 11, 2001 was a serious tragedy to our communities, and our country. this act of terrorism killed many families, and feared many citizens of America. By this happening it also put everything into perspective, and made people appreciative that they are alive today.


  29. September 11th, 2015 at 10:22 AM      Reply Yasmine Says:

    9/11 Is a bad thing that happened I really don’t think it was an good thing to do because a lot of people and kids was killed.


  30. September 11th, 2015 at 10:23 AM      Reply KeAsia Says:

    I think that the 9/11 attack was very bad and it killed a lot of innocent people. It also was a good thing because it made us stronger as people and as a community. I think all of this could have happened in a different way but if it didn’t happen this world wouldn’t be the same.


  31. September 11th, 2015 at 10:23 AM      Reply Chevy Says:

    Well our foundation is the people of the USA.Well I think that 1 way we can be resilient by depending on the gov.1 of the groups that is messing with the government is the Isis group.


  32. September 11th, 2015 at 10:26 AM      Reply Shaneia Says:

    I think that 9-11 change so many people life and some people might have been very scared because of this.


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Ms. Hayes, Academic Coach

Georgetown K-8


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