Mistaken Identity: The Role of Media on Terrorism As America becomes involved in the war against terrorism, Americans must not disregard the terror inflicted to each other in the home country. “Terrorism” can be defined as any violent or threatening action in order to influence political ideas by using the factor of fear to coerce the desired result. Since the terrorist attack on September 9, 2001, Americans have felt fearful in their homes, which is a concept synonymous to a safe haven. However, the event resulted in Americans feeling displaced, an ironic emotion in the place where the individual has a sense of belonging. Hence, engaging in a war against terrorism allows for Americans be able to restore the concept of home through exercising
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Furthermore, considering the identity of terrorists are being generalized to any individual with Muslim background, the United States of America has directed the war against terrorism towards people committing acts of terrorism, such as mass murder, because of a group identity. That group identity is being extrapolated by being applied to the general population; the pattern of most terrorists being Muslim is misapplied developing the perception that all Muslims are terrorists. This mistaken identity is creating friction between many communities due to differences in religion and countries by delivering a sweeping blow of accusations based on opinion. These cultural tensions between the Muslims and Americans are caused by the prejudice and expressed through the quick baseless judgements of Americans. The friction between the two groups facilitates violent actions against the other group, such as Americans mistreating Muslims, which relates to the terror America is inflicting on itself by these prejudices. Also the mistaken identity of Muslims as terrorists is inhibiting their ability to feel a sense of belonging in the American society because the stereotypes present barriers for the two groups. The Muslim does not feel accepted into the American society, thus making it difficult to feel at “home” because the concept of home is based on the emotions of safety and …show more content…
“It is worth noting that the 9/11 terrorists attacked America’s most visible symbol of world trade, the World Trade Center, and the most visible symbol of the military might which enforces the unequal rules of world, the Pentagon” (Smith 4) because these places are important, globally-recognized landmarks. Therefore, the destruction of them displays a weakness of America, that America is vulnerable. Three Muslim men were able to hijack three separate planes and “successfully” deliver a blow that shook the cores of American society by allowing the world to watch the landmarks crumble to dust. Later, the mass media uses the pattern of three Muslim men to start creating stereotypes against the general Muslim population. Immediately after the attack, CNN showed the scene of the twin towers crashing to the ground at ten second intervals interplayed with scenes of people holding signs ushering readiness to go to war, or discussions about the future need of weapons to prevent 9/11 from reoccurring (Herman 218). Not only CNN but other news station had the same basic fundamentals in presenting the facts, and each news channel were providing different perspectives to the terrorist events in a dreadful continuous manner (Morris 205). This buildup of fear and anger by the mass
Furthermore, considering the identity of terrorists are being generalized to any individual with Muslim background, the United States of America has directed the war against terrorism towards people committing acts of terrorism, such as mass murder, because of a group identity. That group identity is being extrapolated by being applied to the general population; the pattern of most terrorists being Muslim is misapplied developing the perception that all Muslims are terrorists. This mistaken identity is creating friction between many communities due to differences in religion and countries by delivering a sweeping blow of accusations based on opinion. These cultural tensions between the Muslims and Americans are caused by the prejudice and expressed through the quick baseless judgements of Americans. The friction between the two groups facilitates violent actions against the other group, such as Americans mistreating Muslims, which relates to the terror America is inflicting on itself by these prejudices. Also the mistaken identity of Muslims as terrorists is inhibiting their ability to feel a sense of belonging in the American society because the stereotypes present barriers for the two groups. The Muslim does not feel accepted into the American society, thus making it difficult to feel at “home” because the concept of home is based on the emotions of safety and …show more content…
“It is worth noting that the 9/11 terrorists attacked America’s most visible symbol of world trade, the World Trade Center, and the most visible symbol of the military might which enforces the unequal rules of world, the Pentagon” (Smith 4) because these places are important, globally-recognized landmarks. Therefore, the destruction of them displays a weakness of America, that America is vulnerable. Three Muslim men were able to hijack three separate planes and “successfully” deliver a blow that shook the cores of American society by allowing the world to watch the landmarks crumble to dust. Later, the mass media uses the pattern of three Muslim men to start creating stereotypes against the general Muslim population. Immediately after the attack, CNN showed the scene of the twin towers crashing to the ground at ten second intervals interplayed with scenes of people holding signs ushering readiness to go to war, or discussions about the future need of weapons to prevent 9/11 from reoccurring (Herman 218). Not only CNN but other news station had the same basic fundamentals in presenting the facts, and each news channel were providing different perspectives to the terrorist events in a dreadful continuous manner (Morris 205). This buildup of fear and anger by the mass