Young Americans Still Feeling Effects of 9/11, Ten Years On

On Sept. 11, 2001, terrorists from the al-Qaida network hijacked four planes and flew two into the World Trade Center towers, the tallest buildings in New York City, and another into the Pentagon building in Arlington, Va. The last plane, headed for the nation’s capital, crashed in a field in Pennsylvania after passengers fought against the hijackers.

Thousands were killed that day, and millions of lives were forever changed.

Attacks changed America’s view of the world

	Among the victims, there are many heroes, including more than 400 emergency workers who died at the scene at the World Trade Center trying to rescue people and fighting fires.

One tragic day, two wars and numerous attempted attacks later, the decade since Sept. 11, 2001, changed the way many Americans view the world. Focus on national security and defense became a part of people’s everyday lives.

In response to the attacks, the federal government created new agencies in an effort to keep America safer: the Department of Homeland Security and the Transportation Security Administration.

But even with these efforts to increase safety, a sense of uneasiness has remained.

“The events of 9/11 have created a national feeling of fear,” writes Allegra, 16, in her student voice. “Sometimes it’s invisible. Other times it is wrapped around you like a thin sweater you can forget you have on.”

“The events of 9/11 have affected me tremendously indirectly,” said Basch, 17. “I’m constantly hearing and seeing anxiety about terrorist attacks in public areas and in crowded places. But as far as directly, I’ve never really known anything any different.”

“Especially since I’ve moved to New York City I do feel anxious and I do know that it is a result of what happened,” Rachel, 23, shared. “There are some days that I’ll be on the subway, and…a train hasn’t come for a long time and something in the back of my brain will say, ‘This would be a perfect target.’ And I’ll panic, and I have to get off and I have to go above ground and I’ll have to walk or take a cab or whatever. And that’s something that would not have happened to me otherwise.”

Life for Muslim Americans after 9/11

	Many Muslim Americans continue to face discrimination and scrutiny after 9/11.

Although the hijackers represented an extreme and tiny minority in the Muslim population worldwide, Muslim Americans faced a great deal of discrimination and scrutiny after 9/11.

“A few weeks after 9/11, I remember playing with my neighbor outside who was my age,” Dina, 16, said. “I asked her to come inside and she said she needs to go ask her mom something. She never came back outside and that’s the last time I remember playing with her….This happened right after 9/11 and I’m pretty sure it happened because of fear.”

“Most of the kids in my class associated Islam with evil. They didn't know any better; most of what they were being fed by their friends and family polarized them, and so it was natural to share those feelings,” remembers Salman, age 19.

Commemoration Events

	The Pentagon Memorial was dedicated on Sept. 11, 2008.

To mark the 10th anniversary of the attacks, there will be memorial events across the nation.

Among many events citywide, New York’s 9/11 commemoration ceremony will take place at site of the World Trade Center. Only family members of those who died will attend the event.

In Washington D.C., a morning memorial service is scheduled to be hosted at the Washington Hebrew Congregation, and the evening concert will be held at the Kennedy Center. President Barack Obama is scheduled to speak at the concert event.

The victims of Flight 93, which went down in a field in southwestern Pennsylvania, will be remembered at an event at the Flight 93 National Memorial, located at the crash site.

NewsHour Extra Video Quilt: Youth Remember 9/11