Despite the great struggles that were put on our country, the September 11″ attacks have played a huge role in defining American Culture over the last decade and have influenced people’s attitudes toward our government and different ethnic groups because of it. In the book titled 9/11 Culture by Jeffrey Melnick, he talks a lot about how our country has changed as a result of 9/11 and what things have changed since before 9/11. Lots of government changes were made due to the result of 9/11 and the views of people also changed. While these attacks were terrible, it also helped to result in creating a tighter relationship of people within the United States. The Terrorist Attacks of 2011 occurred on Tuesday, September 11, 2001.
It was a series of 4 terrorist attacks that were plotted by a terrorist organization called Al-Qaeda. It was conducted by 19 terrorists in which they hijacked 4 commercial airliners. Two of the hijacked airliners were targeted at the two World Trade Center towers in New York. Another one of the hijacked airliners were targeted at the pentagon in Washington D.C. The fourth airliner crashed in Pennsylvania but was headed toward Washington D.C. as well. In total, almost 3000 people were killed in the result of the attacks and nearly 10 billion dollars worth of damage was caused. This terrorist attack resulted in many changes in the U.S. from a political and government perspective. These attacks resulted in the creation of the Homeland Security Act, which was created to prevent terrorist attacks within the U.S. and reduce the number of terrorist threats to our country.
Another thing that was a result of 9/11 was the creation of the Patriot Act,which was signed in by George W. Bush as a way of detecting terrorist activity in the U.S. and to in turn, reduce the threat of a domestic terrorist attack. These two acts were some of the first government plans to reduce the spread of terrorism and has helped in many ways over the years in terms of detecting terrorist activity. In 2002, Guantanamo Bay was created which is used to house convicted terrorists. On October 7, 2001, The U.S. officially declared war against the Taliban and Al-Qaeda, which started the War on Terrorism. Times were tough for most Americans after 9/11. Americans started to see lots of changes being made in their lives because of it. Americans saw the increase in Airport security as well as increased security in other places. These increases in security were the result of the department of homeland security. As a result, Americans lived in more fear thinking that something like 9/11 could very easily happen again. Americans feared for their families and friends and felt scared towards other races.
127 our experts are availableright now
After 9/11 happened, Americans tended to show hate towards people of Muslim heritage by labeling them as terrorists. After 9/11, there were more and more instances of discrimination towards people of Arab Descent. In the book 9/11 culture by Jeffrey Melnick, he talks a lot about the rumors that were made about Arabian people and how they were discriminated because of it. In a study produced by the New York City Commission on Human Rights, it shows the increase of discrimination and hate towards Muslims, Arabs, and South Asians after the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
Although there were many negative affects as a result of 9/11, there was also some good that came out of it. For the first time in decades, Americans started to come together and be there for one another. It united the nation in a whole new way. After the 9/11 attacks, President Bush’s approval rating rose to over 90 percent. He brought hope to America and pushed legislation as a result of 9/11. For once in a very long time, Americans weren’t divided as Republicans or Democrats but they were united as one. George W. Bush stated “America is United” after the attacks and it helped to bring people together. At that time everyone shared the same goal, to beat the terrorists.
A decade later, The United States sees 9/11 under a whole different perspective rather than an event that created unity. Today, 9/11 plays a big part in politics in America. The idea of foreign policy is more important than ever before as a result of 9/11l and always will be. It seems today that the policies that were created by George W. Bush are viewed entirely differently between Democrats and Republicans. After 10 years, the fights between Democrats and Republicans are so much different. Rather than talking about what’s going on in our country, the government has an agenda that revolves around the war on terrorism and other countries as well. This view of a terrorist threat has been believed by many to have created the astounding amount of national debt and could be the reason for the recession as well. 9/11 brought this country together, but a decade later it’s two sides arguing back and forth with each other. The 9/11 terrorist attacks were terrible.
They brought lots of pain and suffering to American families and shook the world in so many ways. It prompted new laws to be put in place and more security to be taken to defend our country from these types of things. It also brought Americans together as a result of it and then divided them apart by blaming one another years later. It has been a main point in congressional debates and has been widely studied and criticized. It has played a role in all of our lives. All in all, it’s easy to see how our culture has changed through this event and how people are viewed today. It’s created discrimination of ethnic groups because of it and has pulled The United States together and also pulled it apart. It has played a huge part in defining American Culture because of the attacks and will continue to do so for many years ahead.
Works Cited
- Blalock, Garrick, Vrinda Kadiyali, and Daniel H. Simon. “The Impact of Post-9/11 Airport Security Measures on the Demand for Air Travel.” Journal of Law and Economics 50.4 (2007): 731-55. JSTOR. Web. 28 Nov. 2014. <http://www.jstor.org/stable/10.1086/519816?ref=no-x-
route:416b980de9a0f7dea0d4cccldidd38b3>. - The Department of Justice. “The USA PATRIOT Act: Preserving Life and Liberty.” What Is the USA Patriot Web. The Department of Justice, 25 Oct. 2001. Web. 26 Nov. 2014.
- “Hate Crime Reports up in Wake of Terrorist Attacks.” CNN.com. Cable News Network, 17 Sept. 2001. Web. 28 Nov. 2014.
- Melnick, Jefrey Paul. 9/11 Culture: America under Construction. Chichester, West Sussex, U.K.: Wiley-Blackwell, 2009. Print. Schulte, Annette.
- “9/11 Brought Us Together, but Was It Unity? – TheGazette.” The Gazette Site Wide Activity RSS. The Gazette, 2 Apr. 2014. Web. 28 Nov. 2014.
- United States of America.New York City Commission on Human Rights.DISCRIMINATION AGAINST MUSLIMS, ARABS, AND SOUTH ASIANS IN NEW YORK CITY SINCE 9/11. By Patricia L. Gatling. New York: New York City Commission on Human Rights, 2003. Print.
