When George W Bush held his speech creating the Department of Homeland Security, I shuddered. The word "homeland" made my skin crawl for fear of where this country was headed. That gut feeling turned out to be dead on.
I remember that speech as well— and my own gut reaction to his announcement of the creation of the Department of Homeland Security. And you are right about where this country has ended up, with a clearly fascist, racist malignant President implementing an openly White Christian Nationalist agenda.
I am saddened for all of those young adults who have no recollection of the US pre-9/11. They’ve been played for fools by oligarchs who have waxed on about how much better things were in the ‘50’s, how the Civil Rights movements of the ‘70’s and 70’s have caused America to loose it’s way.
I really thought that the election of Barack Obama was a sign that the country could and would turn itself back around to the ideals that have always made the US great. Unfortunately, I was very wrong.
That turned out to be just one way in which George W. Bush exploited 9/11. I understood that the intelligence agencies needed to be coordinated, hence the Director of National Intelligence. I though Homeland Security was a bit much. The ultimate exploitation came with the invasion of Iraq, part of the neocon's wish list.
A great thought experiment. I remember 9/11 as the bursting of a bubble. The United States was pax romana - in every sense. And the outpouring of grief was about the end of an era for everyone. For 9/11 and then Uncomfortable Truth exposed the US as empty. Some day the US squandered an opportunity. But it was not in the US to become humble, to be contrite, to relinquish her underserved hegemony.
Thank you, Alan! I agree with your idea of 9/11 as the bursting of a bubble entirely. The attacks fundamentally altered how both the U.S. and the rest of the world viewed American power and vulnerability. Appreciate you taking the time to share such a thoughtful perspective!
You know how sometimes after breakfast we linger with our cup of coffee. Everyone's left the table, and it's just the two of us -- conversing back and forth. Your essays are often that for me.
The detail about Jordanian Muslim soldiers treating Afghan civilians and challenging the Taliban’s religious claims deserves to be remembered every time someone reduces 9/11 to “Islam versus the West.” Muslim countries did not merely send condolences. They sent troops, doctors, intelligence, and access while extremists were trying to manufacture a civilizational war. Washington eventually helped manufacture one anyway. That may be the bitterest part of this history: America was offered solidarity across religious and political boundaries, then spent twenty years teaching much of the world to fear what it would do with that solidarity.
Remembering those Jordanian soldiers along with the many Muslim troops, doctors, and partners who stood firmly against extremism is a vital reminder that 9/11 was never a "clash of civilizations.”
Tanner, thanks for writing this piece. At 64 years of age, I recall that Autumn day when the Twin Towers fell. But for that occurrence, the day would have been a splendid autumn day. To this day, there is a sadness attached to all such days.
The day was not almost surreal. It was Daliesque. There is not one thing I don’t remember about that day. Memories flash in slow motion of cars pulling over to the shoulder of the freeway as the news came in. Things were never the same after that day.
The election of Barack Obama gave some hope that we would correct our trajectory, but we were already in the middle of two wars in Afghanistan and Iraq when he entered office. Afghanistan was understandable. Iraq was not— any more than Iran is now.
Please continue with this series. It us important, especially for people in their 20’s and early 30’s, who weee either not born yet or too young to remember clearly, how things were like prior to and leading up to 9/11, and how they evolved from then to where we are now.
I remember a time when there was a great deal of good will between the United States and the rest of the world. We have squandered that good will. So the answer to your question regarding whether the world would react in the same way had 9/11 happened today is no. But we also need to remember that 9/11 was the catalyst that caused us to move in the trajectory that finds us in the disgraceful situation that we are now in.
Thank you for the encouragement, David! For people born after 2000, 9/11 is just history, it's always been there. To them, it must feel the same way World War II felt to older generations: so distant.
I think I might be alone in my thoughts on the world response to 9/11. I don’t believe all that stated good will and sympathy was genuine. I suspect it was a forced emotional response with each country determining they had little choice but to join in on the collective effort to offer aid and comfort to America. How would it look if they didn’t?
I think, too, that many countries who might show reluctance to provide support and assistance, feared they would invite the wrath of the ‘mighty and fierce’ USA. That fear of potential retaliatory consequences dictated their actions, and they joined the ranks of USA supporters simply to avoid conflict with the most powerful nation in the world.
I really don’t blame them. America is a giant, and can be a fierce bully. Best not disturb the beast lest you get stomped on by their economic and military power.
Well, I could be completely wrong in my assessment. I’m not all that politically savvy, and so I just go by a little intuition and a lot of guesswork.
Tanner, no matter what you write about, you always make it fascinating, so go for it! It will be great, as usual!
What you’re suggesting is a matter of perception, so I can’t argue with that angle, and I agree that a fear of the "with us or against us" dynamic played a massive role behind the scenes for many governments. However, that came much later.
What I refer to as the "goodwill period" was really that initial, spontaneous wave: citizens in Iran holding independent vigils, European newspapers printing the U.S. flag because it’s what their readers were feeling, and everyday workplaces in Europe pausing for moments of silence because their staff was genuinely shaken.
You’re probably right, Tanner. I really didn’t pay a whole lot of attention to European reaction, so obviously I didn’t give a response fair to them. Maybe they were genuinely sympathetic and that’s good thing!
I shall be more cautious in the future when forming conclusions without knowing the complete facts!
I think this is a worthwhile effort, so keep going! I have a controversial thought concerning the squandering of all the good will, as you refer to in that those were done under Republican presidents, and their response was military. Yes, Democratic presidents inherited that and had to keep working within the situation while trying to solve it, but as we saw with Biden's withdrawing troops from Afghanistan, there is no good solution once we are bogged down in a war (same with Vietnam; we didn't learn from that either). And now we are caught in this situation again, under a Republican/MAGA president with no good way to get out of it, and this time with no widespread support. Instead, we are facing widespread condemnation, stirring enmity with allies who can no longer count on us, and making rash, incoherent decisions that increase a volatile situation. I hope that your writing can give us some sort of hope and possible solutions. Thanks for taking this on.
I hear what you're saying. But why Democratic presidents acted the way they did is internal kitchen talk, invisible to the outside world. Other countries only see the actions, not the reasoning behind them. People don’t distinguish between administrations. What they see is America, no matter who’s in charge.
That said Democrats aren't too innocent either.
Remember when a missile hit a hospital in Gaza, killing and injuring hundreds? Biden said Netanyahu (who is sitting on a suspended prison sentence for corruption) told him it wasn't Israel, and that he'd take his word for it. A law-abiding America that actually cared about human life would have said there needs to be an investigation, and it would wait for the results before commenting. How would you feel if you were Palestinian? Would you feel sympathy for Americans killed in a terrorist attack, or would you feel a sense of satisfaction, believing justice had been served? And the answer to that has nothing to do with Islam.
It goes without saying that this is about building empathy, not implying justification or excusing anything.
When George W Bush held his speech creating the Department of Homeland Security, I shuddered. The word "homeland" made my skin crawl for fear of where this country was headed. That gut feeling turned out to be dead on.
Your intuition was spot-on about the trajectory it set in motion (unfortunately). Thanks for reading and sharing that memory.
I remember that speech as well— and my own gut reaction to his announcement of the creation of the Department of Homeland Security. And you are right about where this country has ended up, with a clearly fascist, racist malignant President implementing an openly White Christian Nationalist agenda.
I am saddened for all of those young adults who have no recollection of the US pre-9/11. They’ve been played for fools by oligarchs who have waxed on about how much better things were in the ‘50’s, how the Civil Rights movements of the ‘70’s and 70’s have caused America to loose it’s way.
I really thought that the election of Barack Obama was a sign that the country could and would turn itself back around to the ideals that have always made the US great. Unfortunately, I was very wrong.
That turned out to be just one way in which George W. Bush exploited 9/11. I understood that the intelligence agencies needed to be coordinated, hence the Director of National Intelligence. I though Homeland Security was a bit much. The ultimate exploitation came with the invasion of Iraq, part of the neocon's wish list.
Tanner,
A great thought experiment. I remember 9/11 as the bursting of a bubble. The United States was pax romana - in every sense. And the outpouring of grief was about the end of an era for everyone. For 9/11 and then Uncomfortable Truth exposed the US as empty. Some day the US squandered an opportunity. But it was not in the US to become humble, to be contrite, to relinquish her underserved hegemony.
Congrats on such a thoughtful thought experiment.
Alan
Thank you, Alan! I agree with your idea of 9/11 as the bursting of a bubble entirely. The attacks fundamentally altered how both the U.S. and the rest of the world viewed American power and vulnerability. Appreciate you taking the time to share such a thoughtful perspective!
Yes, please continue, as painful as it is to watch how the US squandered its goodwill.
Thanks for the green light, Bruce! It’s definitely a painful trajectory to unpack, but Part II is coming your way today at the usual time.
If 9/11 happened today, would the world shrug and say “Well, they deserve it”? Please continue your insights beyond Scripture.
That’s a haunting question, James, and it speaks volumes about how drastically the global temperature has changed since 2001. Stay tuned for Part II!
Looking forward to the rest. I wrote this recently. Something of a corollary to what you wrote. Keep challenging us. https://medium.com/@davidpeters_34514/cancer-world-cup-and-world-peace-dce014d1c680?sharedUserId=davidpeters_34514
Thanks for reading, David! I appreciate the support and looking forward to checking out your piece as well. Keep the conversation going!
I’m with you so far. Please continue this series.
Thanks so much, Eric! Glad to have you along for the ride. Part II drops today at the usual time.
Thanks, Tanner
You know how sometimes after breakfast we linger with our cup of coffee. Everyone's left the table, and it's just the two of us -- conversing back and forth. Your essays are often that for me.
Alan
Honestly, this is the best compliment I’ve gotten in ages! You just made my day.
The detail about Jordanian Muslim soldiers treating Afghan civilians and challenging the Taliban’s religious claims deserves to be remembered every time someone reduces 9/11 to “Islam versus the West.” Muslim countries did not merely send condolences. They sent troops, doctors, intelligence, and access while extremists were trying to manufacture a civilizational war. Washington eventually helped manufacture one anyway. That may be the bitterest part of this history: America was offered solidarity across religious and political boundaries, then spent twenty years teaching much of the world to fear what it would do with that solidarity.
Thank you for writing this!
Remembering those Jordanian soldiers along with the many Muslim troops, doctors, and partners who stood firmly against extremism is a vital reminder that 9/11 was never a "clash of civilizations.”
Tanner, thanks for writing this piece. At 64 years of age, I recall that Autumn day when the Twin Towers fell. But for that occurrence, the day would have been a splendid autumn day. To this day, there is a sadness attached to all such days.
The day was not almost surreal. It was Daliesque. There is not one thing I don’t remember about that day. Memories flash in slow motion of cars pulling over to the shoulder of the freeway as the news came in. Things were never the same after that day.
The election of Barack Obama gave some hope that we would correct our trajectory, but we were already in the middle of two wars in Afghanistan and Iraq when he entered office. Afghanistan was understandable. Iraq was not— any more than Iran is now.
Please continue with this series. It us important, especially for people in their 20’s and early 30’s, who weee either not born yet or too young to remember clearly, how things were like prior to and leading up to 9/11, and how they evolved from then to where we are now.
I remember a time when there was a great deal of good will between the United States and the rest of the world. We have squandered that good will. So the answer to your question regarding whether the world would react in the same way had 9/11 happened today is no. But we also need to remember that 9/11 was the catalyst that caused us to move in the trajectory that finds us in the disgraceful situation that we are now in.
Thank you for the encouragement, David! For people born after 2000, 9/11 is just history, it's always been there. To them, it must feel the same way World War II felt to older generations: so distant.
I eagerly await part 2
Thanks Dick! Part 2 is on its way.
I think I might be alone in my thoughts on the world response to 9/11. I don’t believe all that stated good will and sympathy was genuine. I suspect it was a forced emotional response with each country determining they had little choice but to join in on the collective effort to offer aid and comfort to America. How would it look if they didn’t?
I think, too, that many countries who might show reluctance to provide support and assistance, feared they would invite the wrath of the ‘mighty and fierce’ USA. That fear of potential retaliatory consequences dictated their actions, and they joined the ranks of USA supporters simply to avoid conflict with the most powerful nation in the world.
I really don’t blame them. America is a giant, and can be a fierce bully. Best not disturb the beast lest you get stomped on by their economic and military power.
Well, I could be completely wrong in my assessment. I’m not all that politically savvy, and so I just go by a little intuition and a lot of guesswork.
Tanner, no matter what you write about, you always make it fascinating, so go for it! It will be great, as usual!
Thank you for your kind words, Ariel!
What you’re suggesting is a matter of perception, so I can’t argue with that angle, and I agree that a fear of the "with us or against us" dynamic played a massive role behind the scenes for many governments. However, that came much later.
What I refer to as the "goodwill period" was really that initial, spontaneous wave: citizens in Iran holding independent vigils, European newspapers printing the U.S. flag because it’s what their readers were feeling, and everyday workplaces in Europe pausing for moments of silence because their staff was genuinely shaken.
Always appreciate your insightful perspective!
You’re probably right, Tanner. I really didn’t pay a whole lot of attention to European reaction, so obviously I didn’t give a response fair to them. Maybe they were genuinely sympathetic and that’s good thing!
I shall be more cautious in the future when forming conclusions without knowing the complete facts!
I think this is a worthwhile effort, so keep going! I have a controversial thought concerning the squandering of all the good will, as you refer to in that those were done under Republican presidents, and their response was military. Yes, Democratic presidents inherited that and had to keep working within the situation while trying to solve it, but as we saw with Biden's withdrawing troops from Afghanistan, there is no good solution once we are bogged down in a war (same with Vietnam; we didn't learn from that either). And now we are caught in this situation again, under a Republican/MAGA president with no good way to get out of it, and this time with no widespread support. Instead, we are facing widespread condemnation, stirring enmity with allies who can no longer count on us, and making rash, incoherent decisions that increase a volatile situation. I hope that your writing can give us some sort of hope and possible solutions. Thanks for taking this on.
I hear what you're saying. But why Democratic presidents acted the way they did is internal kitchen talk, invisible to the outside world. Other countries only see the actions, not the reasoning behind them. People don’t distinguish between administrations. What they see is America, no matter who’s in charge.
That said Democrats aren't too innocent either.
Remember when a missile hit a hospital in Gaza, killing and injuring hundreds? Biden said Netanyahu (who is sitting on a suspended prison sentence for corruption) told him it wasn't Israel, and that he'd take his word for it. A law-abiding America that actually cared about human life would have said there needs to be an investigation, and it would wait for the results before commenting. How would you feel if you were Palestinian? Would you feel sympathy for Americans killed in a terrorist attack, or would you feel a sense of satisfaction, believing justice had been served? And the answer to that has nothing to do with Islam.
It goes without saying that this is about building empathy, not implying justification or excusing anything.