The Aftermath of 9/11……………

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The Attacks• The terrorist attack on September 11, 2001 was the

single largest attack on US soil since the Pearl Harbor bombings.

• The terrorists that high-jacked the plane were mostly citizens of Saudi Arabia and were believed to be members of the group Al Queda. They took control of two commercial airliners and purposely crashed them into the World Trade Center in New York City.

• Another group of terrorists took control of a different plane, and attempted to purposely crash it into the White House in Washington D.C. A group of passengers overtook the plane and caused it to crash into a field in Pennsylvania.

• A third group of terrorists seized another plane and crashed it into the Pentagon.

Footage Recovered of the Attack

• This video clip of the attack was recorded by a man from his 30th floor balcony. He had left his camcorder up to record the attacks as he watched the news inside, not knowing that a second plane was on it’s way for the second tower.

Video.flv

The Government’s Reaction

• President George Bush was speaking at Booker Elementary in Florida when he was informed of the attacks underway on the World Trade Center and Pentagon.

• President Bush signed the Patriot Act into law on October 26, 2001 in reaction to the attacks. This act gave government law enforcement agencies the right to search telephone, medical, financial, and email communication records to monitor possible terrorist’s located in America. Many people believe that by approving this act, he is promoting bias opinions and racial actions.

Effects of 9/11

Increased Security

1. Since the attacks, airport security has greatly increased.

Many people going through security are selected for random searches as an effect of increased security.

Racial Stereotyping

2. Many Arab Americans, or people that look of Arab descent have been treated cruelly since the terrorist attacks. As of 2002, and early 2003, the number of verbal and physical assaults against Arab Americans has decreased considerably, although they do remain an issue.

Military Conflicts

3. American military officials have skewed the country’s view of the enemy on the horizon. This unwinnable “war” with the Middle East has taken a toll on the American people as well as the already fragile economy.

• President Bush has attempted to justify this war by creating fear among the American population. During his speech that he gave at 8:38 pm September 11, 2001 addressing the attacks he said," The terrorists goal is not only to kill and destroy us, but to frighten us into inaction.” Scare tactics like these are often used in the media today to create fear.

Final Analysis• Why do Americans fear

Muslims so much? Many people target

Arab/Muslims because the terrorists of Al Queda, a Muslim terrorist group, were the men that flew the planes into the World Trade Center, and the Pentagon.

Scare tactics used by political leaders and the media also greatly contributed to the negative view regarding Arabs/Muslims.

• Why did the terrorists attack America?

The Muslim terrorists believed that it was “a holy act” to bomb the towers.

America has the freedom of speech, religion, and choice, which greatly contrasts with the religious values and morals that the Muslims live by in the Middle East. The Muslims were greatly offended by our way of living and the symbol of freedom that America stands for.

Connection to Lord of the Flies

• President Bush used fear to manipulate the American people into giving support using speeches, campaigns, and promises of safety.

In Lord of the Flies, Jack uses fear of the beast to manipulate the other hunters into following his command.

• The fear of terrorism that Bush and the media has created is similar to the non-existent beast that the boys on the island had to encouter and “deal with.”

• When America became afraid, Bush used the war in Afghanistan or “the war on terrorism” to reassure America and emphasize America’s “proactive” approach.

Jack kills the wild boars to make the hunters feel powerful, and less scared of the beast because they are doing something proactive on the island.