For some individuals, the 9/11 attack was a series of events that they witnessed as spectators, watching everything unfold on national television. For others, the experiences directly affected them through the death of a beloved friend or family member. Of course, these events also caused mass hysteria and trauma throughout the entire globe. Many adults or older siblings can recall that specific day: a clear and positively sunny morning. Nevertheless, within a very tight time span, a sudden turn of events occurred as two hijacked airplanes crashed into the World Trade Center towers in New York City, another plowed into the Pentagon, and a fourth was brought down in a crash on a Pennsylvania field, ending the lives of nearly 3,000 precious Americans.
As we surpass 19 years since that tragic ambush, there exists no better time to reflect on how those circumstances continue to shape our reality. There are a myriad of ways that Americans annually mark the devastating events of 9/11, including candlelight vigils, permanent memorials, and solemn gatherings and ceremonies.
Counter-intuitively, some benefits stemmed from the tragedy, including the breakdown of Al Qaeda and other terrorist organizations, advances in surveillance and military technology, and the uniting of practically all individuals around the world during a period of economic and political unrest. Of course, 9/11 also spurred an economic downturn, Islamophobia, and the increased deportation of racial minorities.
9/11’s legacy has spurred many political and social leaders each year to make special statements dedicated to the lost lives. For instance, former president, Barack Obama, articulated “Today we remember the lives we lost on 9/11. Even the smallest act of service is a way to honor them.” New York’s own Governor, Andrew Cuomo, proclaimed, “Today, as we have for the past nineteen 9/11 anniversaries, we stand together in remembrance.” In fact, even democratic nominee Joe Biden and vice president Mike Pence crossed paths and acknowledged one another at the 9/11 memorial in New York City, displaying that even rivals can come together in remembrance of a day that changed the world.
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