9/11 Essay

September 11, 2001 was a day that changed America forever. You'll never be able to forget the day that planes were hijacked and down came the twin towers. Never will you forget the people who tried saving their lives from jumping from 110 stories high. But has America really changed? Or have we too quickly forgotten and gone back to business?

The devastating attacks of 9/11 had a profound impact on the spiritual lives of Americans. Aside from the brief bump in church attendance, the memory of lost lives, heroism and the role religious extremism played in the attacks has forced Americans of all religious backgrounds to reflect on their own beliefs and religious commitments.

The most obvious changes Americans have faced after September 11 have been at the airport. Travelers must check in at least two hours before their flight takes off. There are restrictions on what travelers can bring. Liquids and toiletries have to be a certain size and placed in clear, sealed bags. No food or bottled water is allowed through security. Passengers are selected at random for more intense screenings. Over the decade, airport security has tried different types of searches and screenings, introducing new equipment.

Airplanes are also more secure after 9/11. Every large U.S. passenger aircraft has been equipped with hardened cockpit doors. Thousands of federal air marshals are assigned to flights to guard against terrorist acts. The No Fly List existed before 9/11, but the list has grown substantially since the attacks. We now have thousands—some claim millions—of names on the list. For almost nine years after September 11, a color-coded threat system informed travelers when the country was at risk of another terrorist attack.

Public buildings have also tightened security since September 11, requiring most American workers with office jobs to enter a building with a security badge. Guests must sign in. Flower and food deliveries are left at a main desk. Television studios in New York, which once allowed fans access to the sets and offered tours, closed their doors to the public after September 11. Some travel insurance companies, such as CSA Travel Protection, now provide coverage for terrorist attacks committed in the United States.

Worldwide sympathy has faded in the ten years since the 9/11 attacks. Much of the Arab world resented the U.S. occupation of Iraq. In May 2011, the hunt for, capture, and killing of Osama bin Laden, strained relations further with Pakistan. Throughout the Middle East and Pakistan protests against the United States have continued over the decade since the attacks.

A decade is a long time, but perhaps not long enough for a country to recover from the biggest terrorist attack on its soil. Security measures have been put in place, but Americans are still feeling the impact of those measures and of what happened on that early fall day.