Have We Truly Changed After 9/11

Many events have occurred within history to cause major alterations in the United States’ mentality. Some such examples include Pearl Harbor and the Civil Rights’ movement. But most quintessentially, 9/11 stands to be the most traumatic event in recent American history. In retrospect, this momentary engagement in terror has forever corrugated America’s perspective. Do we truly live free from domestic attacks? Do our decisions, made millions of miles away, truly affect us here? And will we ever change?

Written only three days after the attack, John Updike’s article illustrated most passionately 9/11. With his graceful quotes such as “it fell straight down like an elevator” and “much rehearsed moments from a nightmare ballet”, the reader encounters a plethora of new similes and metaphors to paint the author’s true impression. Detachment. Updike watched the sturdiest buildings in New York crumble like two clumsy ballerinas; he observed in awe as the unattainable shores of his beloved U.S.A. burned like dry grass near lightning. No precise words could describe what he had viewed. His mental disablement forced the crippled novelist to write in concrete ideas he knew could exist such as elevators and ballets. Through his similes he could describe the incomprehensible events of 9/11.

After his original perplexity, the author begins his blind rage. He speaks of “war” and “destruction that defies belief” precariously forgetting the years of pain we can’t seem to stop inflicting in the Middle East. Similar Iranians, Iraqis, Afghans, Egyptians, Libyans, and Syrians ask why they have the “mundane duties of survivors”. “Future kamikaze pilots” aren't necessarily formed within Florida schools, but the bombs and missiles that fall on these Middle Eastern nations are without a doubt made in the U.S.

Just as Susan Sontag’s article tells, this unilateral perspective is “unworthy of a mature democracy”. American citizens can’t let themselves be led in unnecessary wars and foreign attacks (such as in Iraq) because of a traumatic event and sanctimonious denouncement of all terrorists. We must bear the burden of reality to end the inappropriate intervention of the United States in the world.

In reality, the United States has never been safe from attack. As seen in Pearl Harbor and 9/11, the decisions we make miles away truly affect us. And the only way we can protect ourselves is by informing ourselves and listening to both sides. Only after this can the United States truly change and grow from 9/11.