Nine years after 9/11 changed America forever, we still can't seem to agree on whether the changes have been for the better or the worse. Many argue we're safer today, though others claim the Patriot Act is unconstitutional. Anti-war protesters clash with those who claim the wars were necessary, and millions are still frightened enough to protest against the New York City ""mosque.""
Though I remain ambivalent about the changes our country has undergone in the last nine years, to read Fareed Zakaria's Newsweek article on the topic was alarming. He said in the article, ""September 11 was a shock to the American psyche and the American system. As a result, we overreacted."" Overreacted? As an 11-year-old witnessing the death of 3,000 fellow citizens, it seemed very clear to me on that day that the ""bad guys"" must pay.
Yet, Zakaria's claim that ""Al Qaeda is simply not that deadly a threat"" is sound. The group has since been unable to execute a major attack on an American or European target, and the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have only added to our trillion in debt. In addition, he says thirty thousand people now spend their work days listening in on phone conversations under the Patriot Act, and that the ""Christmas bomber"" is proof that our new and improved system isn't even effective.
Did America overreact? Probably. But the decisions made after the terrorist attacks were difficult ones made under emotional duress, in a climate unfriendly to clear reasoning. Imagine the uproar it would have caused if Bush decided not to err on the side of national security.
Criticizing that administration's actions in that situation is like saying America shouldn't have dropped the atomic bomb on Japan. With all the information we have now it's easy to use hindsight and argue for what should have been done, but the moment the people of America demanded action, the government delivered.
Though I won't analyze whether or not we reacted appropriately, I do have a problem with Zakaria's finger pointing. Whether or not one believes the wars were wrong, or that we spend too much on military intelligence, blaming the previous administration is never a productive exercise. Instead of looking back and analyzing all the mistakes of the decade, we should be looking forward toward how to repair them.
It's true that the wars are expensive, that we have given up some of our civil liberties in the name of national security, and that many Americans still fear the wrong people. But blaming Bush or any other politician is not going to change any of that. Zakaria's lamenting about past mistakes will only create drama and polarization in Washington and the rest of the country, while we should instead be looking to wipe the slate clean and working toward a better future.
This outlook is especially important for our generation, as most of us were still children when this tragic event happened. Like myself, there are probably few college students who clearly remember what pre-9/11 America looked like. We have grown up in a world of terrorism, suicide bombings, and, yes, islamophobia. And unlike current leaders, we have the added benefit of having been educated in this reality. We understand the challenges we face, and are uniquely suited to deal with them as our turn comes around.
As we move out into the real world, I hope this generation looks to the blank slate of the future instead of a muddy past. I see us emerging as a socially conscious group, joining Peace Corps and Teach for America in large numbers, drinking from Nalgene bottles and exercising our voting privileges. I can only hope we have learned that change can only be achieved through action, not blame games.
It's truly unfortunate that it took our country's reaction to 9/11 to teach us what not to do, but taking a critical look at the past, learning from it, and moving forward will allow our generation to find some good in even the most horrific of national memories.
Lydia Statz is a sophomore majoring in journalism and international studies Please send all feedback to opinion@dailycardinal.com.
