This of course is the very mission of these acts. The meaning is unambiguous; the meaning is that we are not safe, not even in our own back yards, literally.
The World Trade Center in down town New York City was the first target to be struck by a previously unheard of bomb. Most Americans had never before entertained the idea of using aircraft for such purposes. This unconventional source of destruction was yet another symbolic act for us to ascribe meaning. What it says is that not only are we not safe in our own back yards, but also we do not even know what it is that we are not safe from. This idea has us believing than nothing is safe, and we can never really relax and enjoy our lives as we did before September 11, 2001. The goal of terrorism being met here once again.
In America we place great value in our famous skylines of free standing structures. They show how advanced our country is economically. We can build giant stadiums such as The Raven's PSI Net in Baltimore for nothing more than a game. For Americans these buildings flex our muscles and show our might. However, many of these skyscrapers hold great function for American society within their walls. Some of these buildings are much more than just a big playground or strength prop, none more so than the World Trade Center in New York City. These towers were the places where 50,000 Americans and foreign nationals came to work each day. This made it an ideal target for the terrorists, because they destroyed a symbol of American work ethic and pride and murdered thousands with an unbelievably wicked one two punch. They also wanted to cut the throat of our economy by instantly erasing 50,000 jobs and putting the American routine on hold indefinitely. The trickle down affect has been overwhelming, bringing the travel, tourism, and hospitality industries to their knees. The towers are gone forever, replaced with fear of the unknown and a state of paranoia ingrained in the American mindset.
