Introduction
"Mastermind Gets Life for Bombing of Trade Center," headline news article in the New York Times dated January 9, 1998. After being sentenced to life plus 240 years in prison, Ramzi Ahmed Yousef convicted of mastermining the 1993 World Trade Center Bombing proclaimed in court. "I am a terrorist and I am proud of it!" 1
Growing up as a child in America had its challenges. In the late 60s and early 70s, life was good, but not great! America was engaged in the Vietnam War, and the fight for civil rights was the climate that permeated the daily news. Even though the war was going on, kids thought as kids, saw the world through the eyes of a child, and were free from life's worries. The only thing that would bring you fear was the "bogyman." Kids always thought this fictitious grizzly monster would attack them in the dark. Back then, you made a conscious decision to be terrorized by going to the theatre or a haunted house. Today, the paradigm of fear has shifted to our front doors, our malls, our work places and schools. The sheer meaning of the word terror denotes a far more sinister implication than before. Today's children have every reason to be fearful of a terrorist attack. It is a real life "bogyman" that really is out to get you. This "bogyman" is a monster called a terrorist. This terrorist will use any means necessary to wreak havoc or deliver catastrophic destruction upon innocent people anywhere in the world by using any weapons at their disposal. Nothing is beyond the terrorist's methods of inflicting fear, hurt and pain upon his or her victims. The victims of such an attack do not have to be guilty of anything. The terrorist's targets are citizens of the United States of America, Israel or an ally to either of the two.
On September 11, 2001, international terrorists 2 attacked the World Trade Center in New York, the Pentagon building in Washington, DC, and United Flight #93 bound for San Francisco from Newark, New Jersey. United Flight #93 eventually crashed over Shanksville, PA, in the Stony Creek Township. The first thought I had on September 11 th was of the President of the United States. I wondered, "Where is the President, and how did this happen without the government having prior knowledge?" What had America done to have such hatred directed towards her? The questions were not simply related to the magnitude of the attack, but seemed to revolve around why America was the target. The United States had never seen such an attack like this before, aside from the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor in Hawaii on December 7, 1941.
It has been seven years after the 9-11 attack and it remains vivid in our minds. We discuss the attacks, recall the day of the event with clarity, but continue our daily routines without delving deeper into the understanding of why the terrorists decided to attack America without provocation. We are offered explanations from the mass media, critics, and other experts in the field of terrorism. But one reputable (and most credible) source emerged on September 20, 2001 at approximately 9:00 p.m. EST. The President of the United States, George W. Bush, addressed the Joint Session of Congress in Washington, D.C., and the nation, about the 9-11 attacks. At that time, the American people heard the President say:
Americans are asking, "Why do they hate us? They hate what we see right here in this chamber - a democratically elected government. Their leaders are self-appointed. They hate our freedoms - our freedom of religion, our freedom of speech, our freedom to vote and assemble and disagree with each other. 3
After hearing this speech, I thought about democracy and what it means. I also thought about the United States Constitution, "We the People…Blessing of Liberty…" The thought of being attacked for freedom, and to be hated by other countries because of this "blessed liberty," really saddened me.
In developing this curriculum unit, I had the opportunity to participate in the Theories and Practice of Democracy seminar at the Yale National Teaching Institute with Political Scientist and Sterling Professor Ian Shapiro. I discussed the comments made by the President during his speech and expressed my confidence in his explanation for the attacks (as most Americans did), mainly that the attacks were actions against democracy and American values. Historical events such as 9-11 have a way of changing the scope and focus of the American judicial system in criminal cases. It was important for me to have a keen insight on this topic in order to effectively teach my students beyond the mere textbook. In the Yale seminar and through my research, I have found there were other factors beyond American values as a moving force for terrorism. As such, the President's rationale for the 9-11 attacks was diluted from what terrorists really want. (I will address what terrorist want later in this curriculum unit).
My research has unveiled many pertinent facts that could be known "if" a person paid attention to them. Subsequently, they would remain hidden to those with limited interest in global events. As with most tragedies, the focus is never on a problem until a critical incident occurs. Afterwards, many changes are made to avoid such an incident again. From 9-11, many changes in laws related to the criminal justice system have been implemented. These laws are for the purpose of avoiding another attack upon American soil. By enacting such laws, there are areas where citizens are faced with limited civil liberties in order to maintain security. Further, new laws are setting precedent (and will continue to set precedent), as it relates to terrorism and the American criminal justice system.
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