Cultural Effects Of 9/11 On American Culture

On September 9th, 2001 two thousand nine hundred and ninety six people died from the terrorist attacks committed by Al Qaeda. The attacks left the Twin Towers completely destroyed and the Pentagon badly damaged but forever left its mark on the United States. This traumatic event has changed many aspects of Americans lives and is referred to as the “Pearl Harbor” of our time. The tragic events of 9/11 have crucial effects on United States culture in many ways such as the creation of Homeland Security, racism, health, patriotism, and The War on Terror. One of the biggest and most crucial effects in culture from September 11th was the development of security. Before 9/11 airport security would be considered very light, compared to todays, with

With the events of 9/11 also came the creation of Homeland Security. The job of Homeland Security is to investigate and secure our borders from any threats or illegal activity. This protects the United States from any threat from terrorism or threats in general. Homeland security is woking minute by minute everyday to ensure that American citizens are safe and that we don’t have to fear a huge disaster from happening such as 9/11 so we can live our day to day lives with the worry of our rights being impeded. Homeland security also relies on us to say something if we see something. Reed tells us ”Public service announcements encouraged citizens to remain vigilant, report suspicious activity and prepare for disasters. The Patriot Act of 2001 authorized enhanced domestic surveillance and law enforcement techniques previously considered excessive” (Reed). Reed explains that since the terrorist attack public violence has been on the rise and practicing what to do has become part of American culture such as lockdowns in schools. Reed also says surveillance and some privacy has been lost to ensure the safety of

This event led to Americans realizing there will always be a chance of the worst coming to happen. This led to many creating plans and practicing what to do incase of emergency or disaster. This has created a more safe and prepared United States. Another effect of 9/11 on American culture is The War on Terrorism. Starting less than a month after the attack President George Bush sent American forces to Afghanistan and Iraq to fight against terrorist groups in the Middle East. The War had great support at first with support from NATO and the American people. Twenty years later the United States are still fighting in afghanistan. According to EBSCO “The war in Afghanistan has been one of the longest wars and as of 2020, 8600 soldiers are still deployed in Afghanistan”(“Effects of 9/11 Terrorist Attacks Still Felt Today,”2020). The article explains that years later the war is still being fought and directly plays a role in our culture today. The war on terrorism shows the United States global superiority which affects its influence in the world through culture, politics and beliefs. Our influence also brings in foreigners and immigrants and therefore creates a diverse and unique culture thats mixed with many other cultures from all over the world. 9/11 not only showed the United States strenth but also helped