Americans may have no clue what total unrest or anarchy is like, but the nation is no stranger to death or destruction. “The American experience of terrorism within her borders is so limited that attempts to extrapolate broader inferences and scenarios from the incidents are necessarily limited.” (Taylor 2001) Not for lack of effort though. As far back as 1987, the United States has been the number one target for international terrorists. (Onwudiwe, 2001) The American government has ordinarily been able to protect its peop

“Unlike old colonial powers- British and French- the American’s seem to have little aptitude for the nuances of international politics. Part of the problem is America’s astonishing ignorance of the rest of the world.” (D’Souza 2001) American’s are self concentrated in the present day, and assume everyone else is too. The American people haven’t the slightest idea that “America is still seen in many quarters as the embodiment of rootlessness, disruption, cosmopolitanism.” (Silvers 2002)

“Despite the religious foundation for the American system of government, the founders were determined not to permit theological differences to become the basis for political conflict. The solution they came up with was as simple as it was unique: separation of religion and government.” (Smith 1976) Muslims despise the separation of church and state, it goes against their ways of life. Islam is more than a religion it’s a way of life involved in every aspect of society. The American idea endangers the sanctity of the Muslim home, as well as the authority of Islamic society. It empowers women and children to assert their prerogatives against the male head of the household. It also undermines political and religious hierarchies. Americans see these as human rights that belong to everyone. They view giving these rights liberation not destruction.

The classification of terrorism is a blurred line, and the distinction between terrorism and war is basically whether or not catastrophe was expected. Prior to September 11, 2001 the entire world was moving to what Marshall Mcluhan referred to as a “Global Community.” Marshall Mcluhan however, never mentioned “Planet America.” The attacks were in clear defiance to this notion of the western way of life. Since the crumbling of the Ottoman Empire (which happened to be the last great Muslim state), the world has been moving “decisively in the direction of liberal capitalist democracy.” (Malkin 2002) After the collapse of the USSR, America was left as the sole super power. Osama bin Laden claims that since this point America is the biggest threat to his people since the days of Muhammad. “Discrediting of socialism meant that there was no concrete alternatives to capitalism, and all the countries of the world seemed destined to be intergrated into a single global economy.” (D’Souza 2001)

Christians of today’s secular world that pushes premarital sex, drugs and divorce can’t fathom a religion that involved. Christianity is about forgiveness, and Islam is about submission. “In the Muslim community, holy war is a religious duty, because of the obligation to convert everybody to Islam either by persuasion or force.” (Khaldun 1967) The Koran urges Muslims to “slay the idolaters wherever you find them.” Very few American’s would fight for their religion… let alone die for it. “The deep hatred and suicidal fanaticism of the Islamic terrorists, their lack of rational politics calculus and their belief in divine sanction make the penalties and deterrents traditionally used against terrorist far less effective.” (Silvers 2002) When someone is willing to lose their life for their cause what else can you do? Isn’t death already the ultimate punishment? How are you supposed to punish the dead?

“Anyone who has lived or travelled away from the United States knows something of the shape of contemporary anti-American sentiment.” (D’Souza,2002) Whether it’s the man in Dublin drinking a Budweiser, listening to Nellie yelling “Go Home Yanks,” the woman eating in Burger King making a “Fuck America” poster, or the man the police claim to be Neo-Nazi in Germany who attacked me, I have seen, heard and felt the hatred that the world has for America. I don’t claim to be an expert on terrorism, nor do I claim to know the solutions to it. I do however, claim to be an American, raised to believe in my country and have faith in my government,

Some topics in this essay:
Revolution Incredible, Pearl Harbor, American Emergency, USSR America, French- American’s, Neo-Nazi Germany, Trade Center, President Bush, East American’s, Towers America’s, september 11th, d’souza 2002, american people, pearl harbor, bin laden, september 11, september 11th attacks, entire world, rest world, attack pearl, 11 2001, attack pearl harbor, september 11 2001, osama bin laden, world trade center,