This week’s lab at the Newseum on Wednesday reminded me of the powerful ways media and journalism shape political and social life in America. Since I live in Maryland, this was my fifth visit to my favorite museum. I remain in awe each time.
The September 11th exhibit at the Newseum gives an interesting perspective on how media reacted to the terrorist attacks. The most poignant component of the exhibit is the wall of 9/12 headlines. Newspapers exclaimed everything from “Apocalypse”, “Terror”, to the particularly strange San Francisco Chronicle headline “Bastards!” These headlines serve as an excellent snapshot into the emotionally volatile time directly after the attacks. Now, on the nine year anniversary of 9/11, tensions still run high over what these terrorist attacks mean for our national community. The so-called “Ground Zero mosque” and “Burn the Quran Day” have dominated headlines in the Washington Post and New York Times. These controversies demonstrate that the bitterness and anger over 9/11 is still present and often misdirected at the entire religion of Islam instead of the Al Qaeda terrorists. In his national address today, President Obama reiterated to the country that the U.S. is not at war with Islam but Al Qaeda, a group that perverts the Muslim religion.
Reflecting on the meaning of 9/11 on the national anniversary, I couldn’t help but consider how this event affects the U.S.’s role as the major hegemony in the world. What are the consequences of this growing anti-Muslim sentiment or “Islamophobia” in our nation? Doesn’t this seem to diminish our reputation as a benevolent world power in the world? While 9/11 is first and foremost a day of remembrance for the lives lost in this tragedy, it is also a day to reflect on what our values are as a nation and how we can work together to protect them.
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