This is collage entitled "...After September 11th" was submitted by an officer in my Social Psychology course who described creating this collage as an spontaneous moment which he was compelled to do when his officer magazine's came in the mail. His words, printed in the shape of a flag and in Red & Blue text,describe his collage providing him a cathartic release of how his feelings and behavior changed after September 11th. I had invited two Professors from Lewis University to speak on campus about Terrorism since they were teaching courses on them.

I heard a man speak today about Terrorism,
he generated thought as well as fear.
I enjoyed my interaction with this man and as I
left I shook his hand and thanked him for sharing his knowledge.
As I pondered what I had heard I began to thnk of how my life
has changed since September 11th.

Good morning citizen, please excuse me if my demeanor has
changed.
I no longer approach your car with a friendly skip in my step,
no, now my holster is unsnapped and my gun at the ready.

I no longer respond to calls of a suspicious person assuming it's just
a nosey neighbor concerned of someone they may not recognize.

No longer do I speed down the street wtih lights and siren wailing to
a bomb threat assuming some kid played a prank, this time it may be
real.

I don't treat suspicious packages the same anymore.

I don't consider hte bills I may get n the mail to be the horror letters
I once did, now I fear the unknown in the envelope I don't recognize.

The term "white powder like substance" in my reports no longer
immediately makes one think of suspect cocaine.

Please stop complaining to me when your delayed because you set
off an alert entering the building and I must now search you, I only
want to protect you and your family from danger.

I look at each new day differently now than I ever did before, I think
of a promise I made my children the first day they pinned this badge
upon my chest, "I promise I will come home everyday to you, no
matter who tries to stop me."

I wonder how many of my fallen brothers and sisters in this tragedy
made the same promise to their loved ones...oh how their lives have changed.

My life and my job have changed since that horrific day, and I don't
really believe they will ever go back tot he way they were.

I thought I knew what stress was in my life and career, I find now I
am only just beginning to understand it's true meaning.

Today a wise man told me, "know your enemy, and know yourself."

I'm afraid I don't know my enemy, is it you citizen?

I most fear that I don't even know myself since September 11th...my
life and the lives of my loved ones have forever changed.

Good morning citizen, please don't make any sudden moves and
please keep your hands were I can see them...

God, I'm not the man I use to be...damn terrorism!!