Disaster movie Quote by Noah Galloway
““ Once I got into college I didn’t think about joining up again. But on September 11, 2001, everything changed. Now my country was under attack. We might go to war and I needed to be a part of that. My country needed me. I just kept running until finally I stopped and realized I had run quite far from the house. And I was thirsty. I saw a gas station and headed that way. There were cars lined up all the way down the street to get gas. It looked like something out of a disaster movie. Everyone was freaking out. All of the people in the cars had the same terrified look on their faces. I walked into the gas station convenience store, grabbed a Gatorade, and got in line. And then when I got to the counter I said the stupidest thing I could have said. The cashier was a Middle Eastern man and I said to him, “Business is good today, isn’t it?” He glared at me like I was the rudest, nastiest person on the planet. He didn’t have to reply. His face said it all. Inside my head I was screaming, Why did you say that? I was so distraught over what I’d seen on the TV, about what was happening to my country, I think I had pulled up my imaginary shield and gone into emotional protection mode. It’s what I do when I am upset or uncomfortable. ””
About This Quote
Source Interview: Personal narrative, 2023
The speaker recounts a moment of emotional shock after 9/11, realizing how fear and stress can cause insensitive remarks toward others.
In simple terms: Stress can make us say hurtful things unintentionally.
Pause, reflect before speaking in tense moments.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- gas station line
- post‑9/11 panic
- interpersonal encounter
- self‑reflection
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How might you check your assumptions before speaking?
- What strategies help you stay calm in crisis?
The anecdote may not represent broader societal attitudes, and individual bias can color perception.