The events of September 9th 2001 changed the entire outlook of the world. It was not just an attack of few individuals against certain few; rather it clearly gulfed cultures, religions and societies. Since the perpetrators on the attacks were Muslims, the civilians living in United States of America had to bear the brunt of it in multiple ways.
Thesis statement:
The American citizens distanced themselves from the Muslims. Muslims faced problems all over. Be it airports, malls, jobs nay all facets of social life.
The twin tower attacks (Connell and Cole, 209) lead to killing of couple of thousand innocent civilians. However the impact was not just limited to the loss of life, instead it had a cultural and societal impact that would run a long way and create disharmony amongst the American society and its inhabitants. This disharmony came in form of sense of insecurity, sense of being persecuted and alienation amongst people from different backgrounds that are part of one American society as a collective entity.
It was a stigma brought upon the local Muslims community by a group of fanatics who launched offensives against the United States of America.
American society has long been known for and considered as a pluralistic society that accepted and adjusted the new concepts, new cultures (sub cultures) and new people; however this particular incidence resulted in creation of hatred and bias against the outsides in general and against Muslims in particular. The events caused separation and diminishing of tolerance amongst the people hailing from different religions within the American society.
Numerous accounts of events and incidents have come to forth where clear hatred and disowning has been on display only because of the events of 9-11 that were conducted by the Muslims from number of countries. The level of discrimination has been quite evident that even the Muslim students get bullied in their schools by their fellow American local school fellows (MAYTON).
Some of the citizens felt directly in the line of fire and being victims of witch hunting only because of their social and religious affiliations. They found instances of mockery, isolation, jobs deprivation, social isolation and many more similar accounts that were contrary to the prior American society that was representative of pluralistic outlook. The concept of Muslims being anti American also rose in certain segments of the society, which actually was based on personal prejudice and untrue ideas and concept.
The events had an overall impact on all the people living in the American society, including the locals and the foreigners. Foreigners felt being targeted because of their backgrounds and the Americans felt being insecure. Psychologically a thick wall of insecurity came to observance due to the tragic events (Morgan,101). Depravity of the identity as a nation and based on religious background has been a direct gift of the post 9-11 society.
The same image and pattern has been reflected in the local media as well. On some instances, media has taken up the case well and stressed for removing any such inclinations, on others numerous accounts have been witnessed where Muslims as a religious entity have become part of criticism, biased and harsh opinion.
References:
Connell, Nancy D. and Leonard A. Cole. Local Planning for Terror and Disaster: From Bioterrorism to Earthquakes. John Wiley & Sons, 2012. Press.
MAYTON, JOSEPH. It Is Hard Emotionally To Be A Muslim In America. 17 Aug 2013. 15 October 2013 <http://www.thedailybeast.com/witw/articles/2013/08/16/being-a-muslim-american-woman-in-the-decade-after-9-11.html>.
Morgan, Matthew J. The Impact of 9/11 on Psychology and Education: The Day that Changed Everything. Palgrave Macmillan, 2009
