Ten years ago I watched on with the rest of the world as the World Trade Centre in New York burned. Like so many others I was shocked, awed, appalled and angry. When you see the images today there is still an element of disbelief and the images fail to really sink in and become real. But it was real and the world changed that day, whether or not it changed how anyone expected it would, it changed nonetheless. Whilst 9/11 was a horrific event, the events that have unfolded in the world since, and as a result of that day are possibly just as horrific.
Terror, freedom and rights
One of the first issues I think is critical to look at in terms of the fallout of 9/11 is the effects it has had on the west, as well as on the Muslim world and the Middle East. Since the events that unfolded in New York there has been an almost unprecedented and near universal increase in ‘security’ in the west. In particular the United States has been affected greatly by this. The most notable measure taken to ensure security is the Patriot Act, or the Uniting (and) Strengthening America (by) Providing Appropriate Tools Required (to) Intercept (and) Obstruct Terrorism Act. I find it almost ironic that now in the ‘land of the free’, freedom is a commodity that is in short supply. The patriot act served as a means for the government and police agencies to operate under lest restrictions, enabling them to ‘fight terror’ at home. Whilst some would argue that the Patriot Act is a necessary evil to ensure that the American way of life is protected, the act itself contradicts with basic American principles of freedom and democracy—is the American way of life being protected, or has the American way of life been destroyed by its own government?
It is interesting to look at the Act as a form of terrorism, maybe a non-violent form, but the Act itself poses to perpetuate the idea that ‘anyone could be a terrorist’. This indirect fear mongering permeates an Act established on fear—the American Government played perfectly into the extremist’s hands, and allowed the event to change the American way of life, to infuse it with fear and breed hatred. It is ironic that an Act aimed to protect freedom diminished freedom. American’s have become victims of their own fear, and it is manifest still today, with invasive measures that anyone fifteen years ago would find almost impossible to conceive ever taking place. Full body scans at airports, highly armed security officers, unrestricted phone taps, internet monitoring, all these have become the norm, not the exception, and I am sure had Stalin had these tools available to him, he would have used them himself. It is these same types of tools that if slightly misused or abused can turn a state like the USA into a state like China—and it wouldn’t take much of a push.
It is important not to single out the USA here either, Great Britain, Australia, and most other westernised countries have all taken a step in this direction, some to a greater extent than others. In the UK you can’t walk down a street without having several different cameras film your every move. All these measures are a response to extremist terrorist acts against the west, acts of which you are more likely to be struck by lightning than ever really being a victim of. So why spend so much money on something that is, when put into perspective, a relatively minor annoyance? The answer is simple, visible politics. If the politicians are seen to be taking action, we can get behind them, even when the achievement is costly for almost no tangible result.
Perpetuating Dichotomies
Another issue that has arisen as a result of terrorism is the perpetuation of dichotomies. There is a ‘them’ and ‘us’ mentality the world has taken on. I remember the Afghanistan war and the ‘axis of evil’ where, somewhere, somehow, along the line notions of differences have become the main discourse. They are ‘evil’, we are ‘good’, there is ‘Muslims’ and the ‘west’, ‘Arab’ and ‘American’, ‘terrorists’ and ‘the US army’. All these dichotomies exist, and are continually reinforced through the media and politicians. For some reason it is wrong to point out the atrocities of the war in Iraq, with countless civilian deaths (caused by both sides), and calling it terror. The west wages a ‘war on terror’ against the Muslim nations, but sometimes I think calling a ‘war of terror’ would be more apt. What could be more terrifying than not knowing if today is the day a bomb from the coalition of the willing (oh look another dichotomy, willing and unwilling) is going to land on your house, killing your children, and leaving you critically injured? More innocents have died in Afghanistan than Americans died on September 11, yet we continually try to justify the war.
We perpetuate these dichotomies as a means to garner support; ‘you are with us or against us’ mentalities are rife. Talk to any Muslim on the street today and ask them have they suffered discrimination because of their background, the result might shock you. These dichotomies enable us to feel justified in our war efforts, and satisfied with how things are going, because it aims to separate us, taking away the impact of the reality—a reality in which we really aren’t so different. The problem with perpetuating these dichotomies is so profound it is almost agonising seeing them played out. We are raising a generation who fear and hate what they are told is different, because it is all they have ever known. We need these discourses to protect our sanity and desensitise us to what is really happening.
They are people too.
They might have a different perspective, and see the world in a different light, but they are people, and the dangers of separating ‘them’ and ‘us’ is that BOTH sides will resent each other, fracturing humanity and cutting off any discussions that could bring us closer together in understanding to end the continual hatred.
Ten Years From Now
I worry. I worry that ten years from now, things won’t be better, things will be worse. I fear the massive blow-outs in military spending, neglecting the needy and starving. I fear the continued hatred, instead of resolving issues and coming together I worry that we will be at loggerheads, that the dichotomies of ‘them’ and ‘us’ will exist to a point where we need another civil rights movement. I worry that we won’t learn from history and our errors, and instead of working together to create a better humanity we continue to alienate each other. I worry that states won’t repeal the invasive security measures we see today, and they will become the norm.
At the same time I hope. I hope that we can actually put these differences aside after ten years of bitter conflict and move forward into a peaceful world with understanding.
Feel free to add your thoughts, to agree/disagree with me.
I want to know your own opinions, how do you think the world might look ten years from now? Do you agree with the war and measures taken by our governments?
