The Impact Terrorism has had on American Culture Since 9/11 (Essay Sample)

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The impact terrorism has had on American culture since 9/11
Prior to the 11th September 2001 terrorist attacks, the United States was not officially participating in any wars. Few Americans had ever heard of Osama bin Laden, al-Qaeda or any other terrorist organization. The country deported less than half the number of individuals it does today, and its surveillance activities were much less aggressive than they are now. The 9/11 attacks, together with the resultant US involvement in the War on Terror, led to changing concerns and attitudes towards vigilance and safety. It ushered in an era of policies that prioritized defense and national security, most of the times at the expense of civil rights. The changes have had a major impact across the world, especially in the Middle East where US-led military operations have triggered rebellions and unrest in many parts of the region. Below is a look at the impact terrorism has had on American culture since 9/11.
A notable effect of the 9/11 attacks involves changes in the American government. The Patriot Act is probably the most prominent piece of legislation that was influenced by the attacks. However, over 130 pieces of legislation related to the attacks were introduced to Congress a year after the attacks. Of those, 48 bills and resolutions were either signed or approved into law. Notable laws include Enhanced Border Security and Visa Entry Reform Act that requires Immigration and the State Department to share immigration and visa information with one another. According to Paquin & James (121), there was also the creation of government agencies such as the Department of Homeland Security whose role was to consolidate other agencies. Over 263 government agencies were either formed or re-organized following the 9/11 attacks. Budgets allocated to defense-related agencies also increased, with those of TSA, Border Patrol and The Coast Guard being more than twice they were prior to 2001.
Air travel is something else that was significantly affected by the 9/11 attacks. The most obvious and immediate changes are probably those that took place in American airports. Congress passed the Aviation and Transportation Security Act, two months after the attacks. This act federalized security in airports through the creation of the Transport Security Administration. Before the attacks, security was handled by individual airports, often by outsourcing it to private security firms. The newly reorganized TSA executed procedures that included stricter ways of screening passengers and luggage. The only passengers who could go through security were those with tickets, and complex procedures and machinery were put in place to scan for explosives and weapons (Jenkins & Godges, 271).
Commercial aircrafts also went through major overhauls. Notable changes include the introduction of fortified cockpit doors, while some airlines did away with first-class cabin curtains. Nowadays, pilots can apply and be authorized to become federal flight deck officers; something that allows them to play the role of federal officers aboard planes and carry loaded weapons. As much as these changes have made air travel much safer, the extra security steps have consumed a significant amount of travel time for passengers. They have also infringed on privacy rights while also increasing scrutiny on certain travelers, especially those of Middle Eastern descent.
The 9/11 attacks also led to intense surveillance within the United States. The country’s intelligence state boomed after the attacks, leading to a significant increase in government intrusion, mainly through an immense, clandestine network of telephone and internet surveillance. According to classified documents leaked by former government contractors, the surveillance state was expanded in a way that it plied into the lives of millions of American citizens. According to Peek (139), the National Security Agency has went through tens of thousands of emails and other forms of communication by people who have no connection to terrorist each year. This agency alone has violated privacy countless times per year since the attacks.
Immigration and tourism was also adversely affected by the 9/11 attacks. After 2001, international tourism to the United States fell for a period of about three years. It began to rise again from 2004 and went on to surpass the pre-2001 numbers in 2007. The number of...