Headline RoundupSeptember 10th, 2021

Perspectives: Post-9/11 Unity, 20 Years Later

Summary from the AllSides News Team

Saturday will be the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, which left almost 3,000 dead and served as the inciting moment for the War on Terror. Americans and American allies came together in the aftermath; according to Pew Research Center, 79% of American adults said they displayed an American flag, trust in government rose to 60%, and then-President George W. Bush’s approval rating spiked to 86%, including 96% of Republicans and 78% of Democrats. While comparable levels of unity were reached prior to 2001—former President George H. W. Bush’s approval rating peaked at 89% in 1991—Americans today are sharply divided. 

Commentators from across the political spectrum wrote articles on 9/11 in the week leading up to the anniversary. Most voices across the spectrum lamented America’s current divisions. Some voices noted that the death toll from COVID-19 matched 9/11’s death toll every two days. Voices in right-rated outlets were more likely to note the timing of the Taliban’s return to power in Afghanistan. Voices in left-rated outlets were more likely to highlight the experiences of Muslim Americans. 

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