On September 11th, 2001 we as Generation Y all witnessed an event that would forever allow future generations to question us on. As so many have labeled it, 9/11 is the modern day Pearl Harbor. Many have challenged this analogy and instead drawn a parallel between September 11th and the sinking of the Lusitania during the times of World War One. In other words, some believe it was purposeful, others–an inside job.
This sounded like a conspiracy theory too heavy for even a skeptic like myself so I did the research as I always try to do before constructing opinions on matters. I read books such as 'The New Pearl Harbor' and watched internet documentaries about conspiracy theories pertaining to September 11th. In conclusion I came to no conclusion, something complex and upsetting for any strongly opinionated individual such as myself.
The Arguments From Both Ends of the Spectrum
The government—even the Bush Administration—would never sacrifice the lives of so many United States citizens for political gain. If they did, they probably wouldn't pick some of the wealthiest people in the country to sacrifice. Osama bin Laden himself has continuously referred to September 11th as his responsibility and has said on at least one occasion that he never expected the Towers to actually fall. That means that, at the very least, he seems to have had something to do with it.
On the other hand, this would be a great idea for the government, especially with at the expense of a couple thousand rich people's lives, because it was a guarantee to get the nation riled up. Many of Bush, Jr.'s cabinet consisted of members from the Bush, Sr. cabinet who devised the Project For a New American Century which called for a 21st Century of United States global imperialism which would only be accepted following a "Pearl Harbor like event." The convenience is worth investigating.
We also know that it could have been prevented and that scientifically and pragmatically the way the government has said the events transpired on that horrid day doesn't make any sense. We also know the connection between the Bush and bin Laden families.
And so we don't know. But should we care? Noam Chomsky says it doesn't matter because the Bush Administration has gotten everything they wanted from that day whether they had a hand in it or not. Chomsky's point is well made and taken but it still certainly matters.
Republics are not a guarantee of safe government as has been documented throughout history, perhaps most notably in the Nazi Era. We need to keep an eye on the government's every move because blind trust has never helped anyone except the person who wishes to remain silent so as not to fear the consequences of defying or questioning their government. We have been swept into a "War on Terror" under a cloak of blind nationalism with Old Glory swinging in the gentle wind on what seems like every house on every block. We need to be careful of what our government is doing to ensure they get what they want.
September 11th is a dismal day in the Americas, not just the United States. On September 11th, 1973 democratically elected Chilean President Salvador Allende was overthrown by a Fascist named Augusto Pinochet who led a military coup. What followed was people living in fear, mysterious disappearances and concentration camps. Many, including international figureheads such as Margaret Thatcher, applauded Pinochet for quelling inflation in Chile. This is called economics before ethics, a practice often employed in the United States. Interestingly, Pinochet was assisted by the "leader of the free world" as the CIA helped to overthrow the electoral representative Allende.
Will George W. Bush throw us into concentration camps? Probably, almost certainly, not. But this is not the last of that administration. This is not even the last of the Bush family. We should never blindly adhere to conspiracy theories but we should never blindly adhere to our government either. By the way, Pinochet at least legitimized his reign of terror by improving the economy. Looks like George Bush will have to find something else to validate his radical policies.
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