Remembering 9/11: Generation Z Mourns a National Tragedy
By Jane Cohen with Margaux Bauerlein, 9/11/2020
With the nineteenth anniversary of 9/11 upon us, The United States is in the throes of another national tragedy, the COVID-19 pandemic. Both devastating situations loom large in the lives of all Americans from all generations. However, most members of Gen Z were infants when the Twin Towers fell, were born in 2001, or were born shortly afterwards. Yet 9/11 is an event that those in Gen Z can never forget because it set the tone for the type of world they were bound to inherit--a world that must rebuild itself after a pandemic, a world where most are desensitized to terrorism, a world where masks are a major topic of controversy. In that sense, even for those who were not alive at the time, commemorating that catastrophic day that occurred 19 years ago is incredibly important, and growing more so.
On September 11, 2001 , the Twin Towers, the hallmark buildings in the New York City skyline that composed the World Trade Center, were struck by two planes having been hijacked by members of the terrorist group, al Qaeda. When the towers fell to their destruction, only 6 people survived. Similar attacks occurred within the United States to the Pentagon building, and a failed attack that was believed to be targeting the White House.
Almost 3,000 people died that day, and people today, 19 years later are still feeling the effects. Many first responders developed cancers due to the exposure to the buildings’ debris and many more were severely injured, leaving them impaired for the rest of their lives.
In response, the United States declared a War on Terror, not only sending troops into the Middle East, but also increasing national surveillance and security at airports substantially. Many of those in Gen Z can not remember a world without having to go through layers of metal detectors and x-rays at airports or having the government have access to our phone calls and internet searches.
Although those in Gen Z were not alive or can not remember the events that occurred on 9/11, the events that are occurring in the present and the community that was created as a nation in reaction to the terrorist attacks allow many to empathize with the experiences of those who do remember.
COVID-19 has touched hundreds of thousands of young Americans, either with the deaths of loved ones or the fear of catching this illness. This pandemic, even with the conflict surrounding it, has built a national community, very similar to that created after 9/11. For six months after the Twin Towers fell, names were put into the New York Times, in order to commemorate the thousands of lives that were lost. Similarly, after the first thousand deaths within the United States, the New York Times created a similar program for the lives lost to the disease.
In times of despair and pain, community is one of the most important tools that can be used to heal wounds and save lives. During a pandemic, congregating and joining together may be difficult, but through online communication and a sense of togetherness, we can all get out of this difficult time together, just as those who remember the terrible events that occurred 19 years ago got together and survived by remembering those who were lost.
On September 11, 2001 , the Twin Towers, the hallmark buildings in the New York City skyline that composed the World Trade Center, were struck by two planes having been hijacked by members of the terrorist group, al Qaeda. When the towers fell to their destruction, only 6 people survived. Similar attacks occurred within the United States to the Pentagon building, and a failed attack that was believed to be targeting the White House.
Almost 3,000 people died that day, and people today, 19 years later are still feeling the effects. Many first responders developed cancers due to the exposure to the buildings’ debris and many more were severely injured, leaving them impaired for the rest of their lives.
In response, the United States declared a War on Terror, not only sending troops into the Middle East, but also increasing national surveillance and security at airports substantially. Many of those in Gen Z can not remember a world without having to go through layers of metal detectors and x-rays at airports or having the government have access to our phone calls and internet searches.
Although those in Gen Z were not alive or can not remember the events that occurred on 9/11, the events that are occurring in the present and the community that was created as a nation in reaction to the terrorist attacks allow many to empathize with the experiences of those who do remember.
COVID-19 has touched hundreds of thousands of young Americans, either with the deaths of loved ones or the fear of catching this illness. This pandemic, even with the conflict surrounding it, has built a national community, very similar to that created after 9/11. For six months after the Twin Towers fell, names were put into the New York Times, in order to commemorate the thousands of lives that were lost. Similarly, after the first thousand deaths within the United States, the New York Times created a similar program for the lives lost to the disease.
In times of despair and pain, community is one of the most important tools that can be used to heal wounds and save lives. During a pandemic, congregating and joining together may be difficult, but through online communication and a sense of togetherness, we can all get out of this difficult time together, just as those who remember the terrible events that occurred 19 years ago got together and survived by remembering those who were lost.