September 11, 2001 is known to be one of the most catastrophic events that have occurred in United States’ history. It was a day of fear, horror and a day that many lives were lost. This event occurred fifteen years ago this year, and the country to this day is still mourning the horrible events that happened that day. It puts it into a lot perspective when you think that the United States got through this, so we'll make it through anything that's thrown at us. Like the Orlando shooting, for example. Over the past fifteen years, younger generations have learned what exactly happened on 9/11 and how tragic it was. It became a horrible time in many peoples lives. The Orlando shooting wasn't any different. Learning and understanding what happened that day, has dramatically changed the view on the use of guns in this country. Since 9/11 occurred, the United States has changed. Not just the security in airports has changed, but the patriotism and nationalism the citizens have has drastically changed as well. But in light of that, it seems like no one cares anymore.

Many groups and countries have a very strong hatred for the United States for several different reasons. The biggest reason is that the society within the United States accepts individual freedom, freedom of expression and accepts those with different religious and cultural differences. All of the victims that were murdered in Orlando were in a gay night club. My question to you is, how is the Orlando shooting any different than 9/11? The United States passed a law about two years ago for same-sex marriage to be legal in all 50 states. Osama bin Laden had high hopes for what he planned to destroy the United States. Osama bin Laden’s main objective was to attack the United States in a way that would crumble the country’s capitalism. Since Osama bin Laden had this disgust towards the United States, he plotted the biggest terrorism attack in the world. The murderer who killed all of those innocent people in Orlando was different than Osama bin Laden. The killer was believed to be part of ISIS, a terrorist group.

I just don't understand why the United States is hated so much. Osama bin Laden wanted to conquer the United States in any way that he possibly could. For what though? What did having Al Qaeda terrorists hijacking three United States airplanes and committing attacks on the World Trade Center in New York City and the Pentagon in Washington D.C., do for them? By doing this the Al Qaeda terrorists just killed everyone who were on board the planes, along with themselves, and many of those who were in the buildings they attacked. So if the plan was for them to die, what was the point when Osama Bin Laden was eventually found and killed? Yes the United States suffered an enormous loss from every one who did that day, but the United States united together, in mourning, for those that passed on this tragic day. We got through it, so we as a country can make it through this tragedy in Orlando. The day of 9/11 President George W. Bush addressed the country. The most inspiring part of his speech went out to the hearts of many citizens of the United States: “America has stood down enemies before, and we will do so this time. None of us will ever forget this day. Yet, we go forward to defend freedom and all that is good and just in our world” (George W. Bush, 2001).

The attacks that occurred on September 11, 2001 have become a part of the United States’ history and a part of who they are as a country. The country has changed in many different ways since this day, but as a nation they came together as a family. They were there for each other when they were in need, and they supported one another. As citizens, they were proud to live in the United States and they were not afraid to show their pride. To this day, many people still keep the United States’ flag hung outside of their homes or businesses. It has become a tradition all on its own. So I ask you to go out and buy a LGBTQ pride flag and raise it proudly in front of your homes along with your United States flag for those we lost in Orlando. I also want you to remember that as country we are strong, no matter what it thrown at us.

References

George W. Bush: “Address to the Nation on the Terrorist Attacks,” September 11, 2001. (2001). Online by Gerhard Peters and John T. Woolley, The American Presidency Project. Retrieved from http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/?pid=58057.