--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: September 11 We thought we'd outdistanced…" description: "\"September 11 We thought we'd outdistanced history Told our children it was nowhere near; Even when history struck Columbine, It didn't happen here. We ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/303/richard-peck-12655_children_september-11-we-thought-we-d-outdistance_2074837.jpg" --- # September 11 We thought we'd outdistanced history Told our… ![“September 11 We thought we'd outdistanced history Told our children it was nowhere near; Even when history struck Columbine, It didn't happen here. We took down the maps in the classroom, And when they were safely furled, We told the young what they wanted to hear, That they were immune from a…” quote by Richard Peck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/303/richard-peck-12655_children_september-11-we-thought-we-d-outdistance_2074837.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/303/richard-peck-12655_children_september-11-we-thought-we-d-outdistance_2074837.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/303/richard-peck-12655_children_september-11-we-thought-we-d-outdistance_2074837.jpg) > “September 11 We thought we'd outdistanced history Told our children it was nowhere near; Even when history struck Columbine, It didn't happen here. We took down the maps in the classroom, And when they were safely furled, We told the young what they wanted to hear, That they were immune from a menacing world. But history isn't a folded-up map, Or an unread textbook tome; Now we know history's a fireman's child Waiting at home alone.” [Richard Peck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-peck/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The poem critiques the false sense of security taught to children, comparing history to a fireman's child left alone at home, vulnerable and unprotected. **In simple terms:** Children are told they’re safe, but danger can strike unexpectedly. Key Takeaway Teach children realistic awareness of risk. Themes education history security parenting vulnerability Mood reflective somber Type poetic philosophical When to use this quote - classrooms - family discussions - public safety campaigns Key Concepts socialization risk perception protective narratives Questions to Reflect On - How can we balance honest history teaching with protecting childhood innocence? - What role should parents play in preparing kids for real threats? A Different Perspective Overprotective narratives may create complacency. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Classroom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/classroom/) [Columbine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/columbine/) [Columbine Didn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/columbine-didn-4023417/) [Fireman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fireman/) [History](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/history/) [History Isn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/history-isn-316660/) [Home](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/home/) [Home alone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/home-alone/) [Israel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/israel/) [Know History](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/know-history-284369/) [Maps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/maps/) [Our children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/our-children/) [Outdistanced History](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/outdistanced-history-4023416/) [September](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/september/) [September 11](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/september-11/) [Textbooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/textbooks/) [Thought Outdistanced](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thought-outdistanced-4023418/) [Waiting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/waiting/) [Wanted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wanted/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) [Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/young/) ## Related quotes > [History ... isn't simply what has happened. It's a judgment on what has happened.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cynthia-ozick/history-isn-t-simply-what-has-happened-it-s-a-judgment-on-what-has/) [Cynthia Ozick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cynthia-ozick/) > [“History isn’t a tale told once, it’s a series of revisions.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-lavalle/history-isn-t-a-tale-told-once-it-s-a-series-of-revisions/) [Victor LaValle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-lavalle/) > [I'm actually writing history. It isn't what you'd call big history. I don't write about presidents and generals... I write about the man who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-l-amour/i-m-actually-writing-history-it-isn-t-what-you-d-call-big-history-i/) [Louis L'Amour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-l-amour/) > [Staying in a relationship JUST BECAUSE you have history isn't a good enough excuse, sometimes you are in love with nothing more than a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/staying-in-a-relationship-just-because-you-have-history-isn-t-a-good/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [History isn't a seesaw. If you have a really bad regime on one side, the actions on the other side don't automatically become good.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholson-baker/history-isn-t-a-seesaw-if-you-have-a-really-bad-regime-on-one-side/) [Nicholson Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholson-baker/) > [“We were something, but history isn’t enough to keep something alive forever.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-silvera/we-were-something-but-history-isn-t-enough-to-keep-something-alive/) [Adam Silvera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-silvera/) > [“A lot of what we know to be history isn’t…it serves a purpose. Events are exaggerated, heroes fabricated, goals are rewritten to appear more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-penny/a-lot-of-what-we-know-to-be-history-isn-t-it-serves-a-purpose-events/) [Louise Penny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-penny/) > [I feel very strongly that history is about everything. It isn't just about politics or the military or social issues. If art, music, engineering,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mccullough/i-feel-very-strongly-that-history-is-about-everything-it-isn-t-just/) [David McCullough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mccullough/) > [That's one of the central problems of history, isn't it, sir? The question of subjective versus objective interpretation, the fact that we need to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-barnes/that-s-one-of-the-central-problems-of-history-isn-t-it-sir-the/) [Julian Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-barnes/) > [History isn't really about the past - settling old scores. It's about defining the present and who we are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-burns/history-isn-t-really-about-the-past-settling-old-scores-it-s-about/) [Ken Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-burns/) > [My favorite thing is talking to people about history - that's what I like doing. The sort of history I do isn't just for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucy-worsley/my-favorite-thing-is-talking-to-people-about-history-that-s-what-i/) [Lucy Worsley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucy-worsley/) > [“History isn't all fact--it's just the story the victors tell to keep themselves in power. And it's been a slow revision. The more time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heather-anastasiu/history-isn-t-all-fact-it-s-just-the-story-the-victors-tell-to-keep/) [Heather Anastasiu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heather-anastasiu/) > [The most important things to remember about back story are that (a) everyone has a history and (b) most of it isn’t very interesting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/the-most-important-things-to-remember-about-back-story-are-that-a/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [History isn't just what happened, but what happened to whom and why and what would have been different if the cast of characters had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mccullough/history-isn-t-just-what-happened-but-what-happened-to-whom-and-why/) [David McCullough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mccullough/) > [“Perhaps I just feel safer with the history that’s been more or less agreed upon. Or perhaps it’s that same paradox again: the history…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-barnes/perhaps-i-just-feel-safer-with-the-history-that-s-been-more-or-less/) [Julian Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-barnes/) ## More by Richard Peck > [I caught a glimpse of happiness, and saw it was a bird on a branch, fixing to take wing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-peck/i-caught-a-glimpse-of-happiness-and-saw-it-was-a-bird-on-a-branch/) [Richard Peck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-peck/) > [We write by the light of every story we have ever read.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-peck/we-write-by-the-light-of-every-story-we-have-ever-read/) [Richard Peck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-peck/) > [“Nobody but a reader becomes a writer.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-peck/nobody-but-a-reader-becomes-a-writer/) [Richard Peck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-peck/) > [I read because one of these days I'm going to get out of this town, and I'm going to go everywhere and meet everybody,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-peck/i-read-because-one-of-these-days-i-m-going-to-get-out-of-this-town/) [Richard Peck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-peck/) > [Only the nonreader fears books.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-peck/only-the-nonreader-fears-books/) [Richard Peck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-peck/) > [...they'd just tell you to turn the other cheek, wouldn't they?...Trouble is, Mrs. Dowdel observed, after you've turned the other cheek four times, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-peck/they-d-just-tell-you-to-turn-the-other-cheek-wouldn-t-they-trouble-is/) [Richard Peck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-peck/) > [Fame is a funny thing, like a secret, both are hard to keep.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-peck/fame-is-a-funny-thing-like-a-secret-both-are-hard-to-keep/) [Richard Peck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-peck/) > [“The Shambaughs came, bringing Letty. She simpered up to me. Her eyes summed up the lace tippets on my Princess dress and the wide…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-peck/the-shambaughs-came-bringing-letty-she-simpered-up-to-me-her-eyes/) [Richard Peck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-peck/) > [Writing is communication, not self-expression. Nobody in this world wants to read your diary except your mother.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-peck/writing-is-communication-not-self-expression-nobody-in-this-world/) [Richard Peck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-peck/) > [The years went by, and Mary Alice and I grew up, Slower than we wanted to, faster than we realized.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-peck/the-years-went-by-and-mary-alice-and-i-grew-up-slower-than-we-wanted/) [Richard Peck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-peck/) > [“I read because one life isn't enough, and in the page of a book I can be anybody; I read because the words that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-peck/i-read-because-one-life-isn-t-enough-and-in-the-page-of-a-book-i-can/) [Richard Peck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-peck/) > [Grandma, how old is she?" "Oh I don't know." Grandma said. "You'd have to cut off her head and count the rings in her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-peck/grandma-how-old-is-she-oh-i-don-t-know-grandma-said-you-d-have-to-cut/) [Richard Peck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-peck/) > [Humor is anger that was sent to finishing school.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-peck/humor-is-anger-that-was-sent-to-finishing-school/) [Richard Peck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-peck/) > [We don't write what we know. We write what we wonder about.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-peck/we-don-t-write-what-we-know-we-write-what-we-wonder-about/) [Richard Peck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-peck/) > [“Never worry about a book corrupting a child. Worry if your children are not getting ideas from books.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-peck/never-worry-about-a-book-corrupting-a-child-worry-if-your-children/) [Richard Peck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-peck/) [Explore all 54 Richard Peck quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-peck/) ## More Children quotes > [I am certain that children always know more than they are able to tell, and that makes the big difference between them and adults,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-lusseyran/i-am-certain-that-children-always-know-more-than-they-are-able-to/) [Jacques Lusseyran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-lusseyran/) > [Behind every successful child is an adult who believed in him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/behind-every-successful-child-is-an-adult-who-believed-in-him/) [Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/) > [I believe in freedom to do what you want if you aren't hurting others, but pictures of obese protesters giving their children big gulps.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-defranco/i-believe-in-freedom-to-do-what-you-want-if-you-aren-t-hurting-others/) [Philip DeFranco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-defranco/) > [If the audience likes your work, if they like you, they don't think whether you are married or have children or not. I made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dimple-kapadia/if-the-audience-likes-your-work-if-they-like-you-they-don-t-think/) [Dimple Kapadia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dimple-kapadia/) > [It doesnt seem to me strange that children should like the macabre, the sensational, and the forbidden.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-hecht/it-doesnt-seem-to-me-strange-that-children-should-like-the-macabre/) [Anthony Hecht](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-hecht/) > [Let children support their parents or be imprisoned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/let-children-support-their-parents-or-be-imprisoned/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Gratitude isn't just a feeling, it's an action. Expressing gratitude by writing in a journal, taking a photo, or shooting a video creates a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janice-kaplan/gratitude-isn-t-just-a-feeling-it-s-an-action-expressing-gratitude-by/) [Janice Kaplan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janice-kaplan/) > [My embarrassing confession is that my father is a 'Camelot: The Musical' obsessive. So as a child, when we were going to visit relatives…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-chibnall/my-embarrassing-confession-is-that-my-father-is-a-camelot-the-musical/) [Chris Chibnall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-chibnall/) > [I have many who keep me going, I am very fortunate in this sense. There is nothing like a child who knows more about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/floyd-cooper/i-have-many-who-keep-me-going-i-am-very-fortunate-in-this-sense-there/) [Floyd Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/floyd-cooper/) > [My school was one of the most beautiful places a child can grow up in. 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I would see it as my failure as a parent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salman-rushdie/if-my-child-had-prejudice-in-his-head-i-d-be-ashamed-i-would-see-it/) [Salman Rushdie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salman-rushdie/) > [“Children's lives are always beginning and adults' lives are always ending. Or is it the opposite? Your childhood is always ending and your adult…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-espach/children-s-lives-are-always-beginning-and-adults-lives-are-always/) [Alison Espach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-espach/) > [As a child I was very involved with sports and I knew at age 9 that I wanted to be an Olympic champion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marion-jones/as-a-child-i-was-very-involved-with-sports-and-i-knew-at-age-9-that-i/) [Marion Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marion-jones/) [Browse all 62,396 Children quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "September 11 We thought we'd outdistanced history Told our children it was nowhere near; Even when history struck Columbine, It didn't happen here. We took down the maps in the classroom, And when they were safely furled, We told the young what they wanted to hear, That they were immune from a menacing world. 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