Post 9/11 America: Have we united or divided?

Question

(If you don't want to read all this, just skip to the last paragraph)

In the early morning hours of 9/11/01, we Americans just went about our daily routines. We drove to drove to work. We rode the bus to school. But at 8:45 am, our routine American life was changed forever. 19 Islamic extremists took over four jetliners full of passengers. Three planes slammed into three different buildings. Due to the heroic efforts made by the passengers aboard flight 93, the fourth plane never reached its intended target.

The days following 9/11 are days I will never forget: American flags were put up all over. We were all united as one, it seemed, because we knew there was a real threat from terrorism.

The weeks following 9/11, America went after these terrorists. People signed up for the armed forces to protect the country. Americans proudly stood behind their commander-in-chief and they all agreed that terrorists needed to be brought to justice.

The months following 9/11, America started to grow impatient. Osama Bin Laden, was labeled the poster child for terrorism, yet America, this worlds greatest superpower, could not find him.

In the years following 9/11, American politics seem to cloud that threat that terrorists pose on us. A lot of people don't agree with the presidents decision to invade Iraq. Conservatives and liberals spew lies and hatred at one another about the politics and the course of action surrounding this war on terrorism...and by doing so, forgetting that this is what the terrorists wanted to accomplish: A split up America, who by being so divided is actually killing itself from the inside.

In the decades previous to 9/11, Americans stood as one in the face of all those who threatened their freedom, and that is how America prevailed. How do we expect to win this war if political differences cloud over our main reason for fighting?

So, with all this said, in a post 9/11 America, do you think we have become more divided or United? Explain.

Answer 1

History has a way of forgetting about divisions after victory. We were extremely divided in WWII. Roosevelt wanted to make Hitler's Europe the first priority, as he saw him as a larger threat. Most Americans wanted to take the fight to the Japanese in response to Pearl Harbor. Roosevelt faced fierce criticism for his stance.

In the end, we won and Roosevelt won 4 terms, and the history books gloss over how much flak FDR took.

Our divisions today have less to do with 9/11 and more to do with politicians intentionally trying to highlight issues which divide us. Namely, issues of a religious nature. Compromise is the pillar of diplomacy, but if one's faith is strong, there is no compromise possible. Issues such as God on the currency and the pledge, abortion, gay marriage, etc... these issues pale in importance when compared to long-term trade policies, healthcare, education, and fiscal responsibility, but what are the issues which we hear about all the time? The social issues, why? Because people vote with their emotions, and politicians need to be re-elected.

The terrorists (Al-Qaida) do not want a divided America, they want a destroyed America (and western civilization), in order to bring about an islamic civilization which will enforce Islamic law across the planet. That's their ultimate goal.

Answer 2

I feel we have divided.....I mean right after 9-11 I worked at Wal-Mart and we could not keep flags in stock I remember my Manager saying that flag sells had jumped over 80%!!

Now....Americans seem to be ashamed of fighting the war on terrror and they are being misled to believe that we should not be fighting it!

We Must continue the fight and we must unite once again, but I am afraid that we will have another attack and that may be the only way for us to unite again....but then again it may not happen then! People just have no patience when it comes to finding the terrorist and they feel that since we have not got bin laden yet then we are failing....when we are not....I just look at like this....We Will be failing when the war comes here to our soil and we must fear everyday to leave our houses! But that has not happened yet...so we are keeping those terrorist at bay.....for now!

Answer 3

Divided and it seems stopping terrorism world wide is a bad thing according to many. Sure maybe these specific terrorists resided in another country but we should put a stop to it everywhere. Or at least try which we are doing more then I can say for our previous President who did nothing at all about it the first time.

Answer 4

Tom W's comments reflect a lot of my feelings about this topic. I, too, have been a registered Democrat since I was old enough to vote. I consider myself a moderate on most social and domestic issues but more a conservative (along the lines of Joe Lieberman) on military and foreign policy issues. I have been a member of a union for more than 25 years so appreciate the Democrats' support of workers' rights.

But it frankly disgusts me on how the ideals of liberalism have been hijacked and twisted by the left. The term "liberal' used to denote a philosophy which advocated enabling individuals and society to achieve the greatest levels of economic prosperity and individual rights. possible in a culture of free enterprise and representative democracy.

Now when many of us hear the word "liberal" we picture politicians and so called civic leaders who are more interested in not offending the illegal aliens or the enemies of our country than remembering that they serve at the pleasure of the American voter. . At the same time, many support enabling a significant per cent of American citizens to be permanently dependent on government not because of humane reasons but because of politics.

Answer 5

I think we are very united in terms of recognizing the threat of terrorism and the mindless hatred that Muslims have for the US (much of which is related to the US seeking a peaceful solution in the Middle East and frustrating totalitarianism). In terms of perception, we are innundated daily with media reports about dissenting views about the US most which is pre election power grabbing by the Dems. I am a Dem incidentally, lifelong and have held public office as a Dem and consider myself to be left of moderate). I am appalled at the rhetoric used by the Dems in the election year and I think it does aid the anti US effort in terms of providing quotes and soundbytes. We are still very much in danger and will be for sometime. There is no easy way out. It has nothing to do with Bush, he was in office just a few months when the WTC was hit the second and final time. We were targets under Clinton's 8 years as well but did not recognize how much so. The Dems will have to address their poor image in dealing with terrorism, not the Republicans. And to think that changing Presidents will appease terrorists is so incredibly and dangerously silly. Prime Minster Blair left office, which terorrists claimed was a victory for them in the MIddle East, but two days after he left office the terrorists attempted a strike in London of bar hoppers (innocents I would imainge and likely people who helped to vote Blair out). We are united on national security but will be weakened by the upcoming election and then when we get a new President in office, regardless of who, it will be business as usual for people who want to slay Americans. Don't forget that the target of terrorists is always innocent citizens so we all know that bombers are not going to target Republicans or Mormon or anyone but Americans. I would say we are still united but being spoon fed baloney by politicians in an election year.

Answer 6

We have really been divided for the past six years. There are people who want to fight in the war and those who say leave them alone. War is necessary, there will never be a time where there won't be war. War and Peace balance each other. That remark is to the liberals. To the conservatives. If we are going to fight then lets make sure we're at the right place. Let's stop bickering at each other and finish this like it needs to be finished. At the pace we're going now, I say America is headed in a downward spiral to Hell. We need to act without being foolish...otherwise more and more terrorist countries will attack us.

Answer 7

I think we united at first and now were divided. We united as Americans in the beginning. Our nation was under attack and we realized our vulnerability. Now there are so many differing opinions on what to do military wise over seas that we have lost the unity we once had.