Read Chapter Eight on War, Terrorism, and Civil Liberties
Write a reflection about the film United 93 and how 9/11 affected you personally.
Next, what is a preemptive war? According to the book, "the justification of preemptive war is the claim that changes in warfare and the character of our enemies thoughout the world make preemption necessary." Do you agree with this justification as it relates to the war in Iran? Why?
14 comments:
Terrorism was never as big of an issue and concern amoung americans untill 9/11. This movie was a good reminder of what the people on flight 93 had to go through and witness on that horrible day. No one will ever know exactly how everything happened on that flight. But this movie was enough to let people know that terrorism is real and could happen to anyone at anytime. As for the movie itself...Im not a fan of a movie being made after any type naturalk disaster or terrorist attack that is based on an actual terrorist attack. It seems like they are just trying to make money off of it.
FIRST POST FTW! woot
The idea of whether preemptive war is acceptable or not is a tough one. UP until 9/11 America was a non preemptive nation. We would not attack until we were attacked first. I don't think we should go bombing everybody just because we think there is a slight possibility they could bomb us first. I don't think if we know for a fact that we are about to get nuked, than we should most definitely send some bombs their way to keep us from being wiped off the map. There needs to be a balance and use of some kind of reasoning. The difficult part is deciding when a preemptive strike is necessary and when it would only hurt us and put us into a never ending war. The movie was a sad reminder of how horrible 9/11 was. In my opinion I think it may have been made a little too soon after the event. There are still wounds healing after that horrific day.
Kyla Harris
United 93
I really have to say that this movie was really one of the few movies that really broke my heart and got me thinking and helped me realize how much I truly love being an American. One thing I can truly say is that I don’t dislike any person of Middle Eastern background or culture. And no I do not blame anyone of that culture, and no I do not believe anyone who is Muslim is a terrorist. I think that people who think that way are completely one hundred percent ignorant! If people start thinking that way then everyone would hate each other. And if everyone gets to the point of hate then we will all become a sort of terrorist. “Preemptive war may be considered as a preventive step taken by one country trying to outthink the war moves of its enemy by aggressive action.” I really don’t know if I agree with this or not, in a way I do agree but my morals are telling me not to agree. Any American would agree with this because I know it’s sad that those people have to live through that but I don’t want to deal with my country getting bombed and having to worry about people blowing up our schools and homes and living in fear. I really don’t care to much about politics but I do care about my country and I do care about the welfare of myself and my fellow americans even if they don’t care about me. I believe that if everyone educated themselves on what is going on right now in the world then we would all atleast be a little prepared for something that might happen in the near future.
Russ Wallace
I want at least 1 hour and 15 minutes of my life back. How many times do i have to hear "i love you" and "A plane hit the world trade center" "a plane the hit the world trade center?" A plane hit the world trade center!!!" "Two planes hit the world trade center, and i just shit my pants!" "A plane just hit the pentagon and i think the guy next to me just shit his pants!!!". I know this movie was supposed to make me sympathetic to the 9/11 tragedy, but instead it just made me hate movies about it. The entire movie could have been summed up in a 2 episode made for TV movie starring Rob Lowe and Eric Roberts. Judging from the acting in this film, Rob and Eric told producers, "Kiss my ass, I'm already getting paid hundred's of dollars a year making made for TV movies", so they hired rocks to plane the passengers.
I remember exactly what i was doing on 9/11. I was sitting in geometry class, doing... well... geometry, DUH. The principal came on the intercom, and announced to the school that the twin towers had had been hit by planes, and that instead of being bored learning geometry, i was going to have to be bored, watching TV, hearing people crying, and learning geometry. The latter of which is the biggest tragedy of them all.
I'd rather not post about preemptive war, because i wish not to make anyone mad, or shit their their pants.
The movie United 93 in my opinion was a movie that should not have been made due to that tragic day that occurred on that day. It is sad to say that a film producer made so much money out of a tragedy that affected millions of people. I understand that what the people in that flight were heroic. The only way that I could see this movie going is if the money collected were to be donated to all the families and those who risked their lives to save all those who suffered that day. It is really great to see that people are now becoming braver around the situation that affect us every day and united they found that they could accomplish things. Is a good message to give out that united we’re unstoppable.
Reflecting back to 9/11 it was a very sad day. I was taking my history class when all of the sudden we start seeing teachers going around each room. Then when we received the news that one of the twin towers were hit by an airplane everyone was taken out and brought down to the library and as well all watched the new we were all witness to the second hit to the twin towers and when the news changed into the U.S. being attacked. It was very sad to see all those people who jumped off those high floors and to know people who family members where on that flight really saddens the mood of everyone.
However, many disagree with me but I still believe that this attack was not only caused by the terrorist but also an inside attack. I understand that why would U.S. attack himself? Many believe that this was just a justification to go to war with Afghanistan and Iraq. There are others who believe that these were terrorist attacked, but there are still some things that are completely mysterious on the day of that tragedy. One example is the blue box that was carried out of the Pentagon. Nobody knows what was inside that box? If we were really attacked wouldn’t they want to show the people that live in the country what attacked us? What was with the mystery of the box being carried out without anyone knowing what was inside? Another would be why where there was no airplane parts found on the United 93 flight when it crashed? Some of the questions may have an answer, but the only one that always buzz me was the fact that a building who was still standing collapses all of the sudden after about five or six hours. There are still so many questions that can be answered but for some reason the government have hidden this information. If we were really attacked why would the government give us a reason to believe otherwise? Why the mystery? Why not tell the people how we were attacked, by whom, and how they came up with this conclusion.
A lot of people disagree with me and I really respect what they have to say. I have my opinion and I could be wrong, but is my opinion and if I don’t see any facts I can’t really change my mind. About the pre-emptive strike, I think that there isn’t a reason to justify attacking a country that has not attacked us. An example would be the current war in Iraq. Our mission was to find Osama bin Laden and he was hiding in Afghanistan. However our president decided that Saddam was helping Osama and therefore they should be attacked. I think that the US army did a great job on capturing a villain who has violated so many human rights, but I believe that after capturing Saddam, they should have focused more on Osama and his whereabouts. Who knows if Osama is still alive? Who knows if Osama is already dead? Instead of focusing on Oil, we should focus on those who harmed our homes.
Luis Joel Lopez
This is the second time I watched this film, and each time I do view it reminds me of all the anguish I origionally felt and then some due to the fact that the viewer feels like they are right there in the event. I'm glad this movie was made, the event should always be remembered. A lot of people complain that this war is about the wrong thing, and that the president pushed it, but honestly anyone would have done the same thing in the situation even if it is not true now.
Normally I do jump on the bandwagon that Hollywood is only out to make money, but this film was not the same case. A lot of the proceeds went to the families of the victims and I think this was not made just to make a pile of money, and just to inform and make the viewer remember that horrible day and these people on the flight specifically need to be remembered.
While it is quite the upsetting movie, it does make me proud as an American to watch it. For people to band together and take down such a threat, even if it takes their lives is incredibly inspiring.
Preemptive war is not the best answer, sometimes it is the only one. Its frightening that there is a bomb that can kill millions of people, and that there are such people who have no moral qualms about using them. You can't always wait until a huge attack before striking, and only act after millions die. We made the mistake with Hitler before, where we gave him enough breathing room before striking, and in the process we nearly lost a whole race of people.
War is ugly, its horrific and it should never happen. But that doesn't mean that wars are never the right thing to do. We as a society often claim that the needs of the many are more important than the few. Than how can we ever not justify the sacrifice of soldiers and warriors in the name of saving thousands upon thousands more than those that die?
The film United 93 upsets me. First of all I hate the fact that someone is making money off of what these people went through. I was very upset watching this film and I actually cried when people were calling their families to say goodbye. I can't imagine what that felt like.
Watching this movie made me afraid. I sometimes feel that films like this are released to make us afraid of terrorism to be more supportive of the "war on terror."
I almost wish that we had watched a film from the terrorists point of view rather than the victims. I think people are starting to think of terrorists as monsters or something non-human.
One scene in the film I really thought was interesting is right before the crash when everyone is praying. The passengers are reciting the lord's prayer while the terrorists are also saying prayers of their own. I liked how that shows that everyone was (including the terrorists) were just trying to do what they saw as right and justified.
I do not believe that a preemptive war is ever justified. I don't believe in war period. It sort of reminds me of the movie minority report where people are convicted of crimes that they may commit.
The movie flight 93 was something very disturbing but true. I never knew those events went on until I seen the movie last Friday. The movie was based on the 9-11 events and I didn’t know that United 93 was another plane that crashed over Pennsylvania. Coming from Cleveland and seeing that one of the planes could of hit my city had me a little troubled. I never knew something like that could happen until I actually seen it. Preemptive means done before somebody else has had an opportunity to act so making his or her planned action pointless or impossible. That was an attempt by another country to destroy the white house and twin towers before we could strike. I can agree and disagree with the war going on in Iraq. I agree because that was some fucked up shit they did. I can disagree because no one knows what they hell is going on over there. We always here about how many American soldiers who died but we never here about the kill count for the Iran and Iraq soldiers. So if were not getting anything accomplished why not pull out. This was unnecessary preemptive war because we had no intentions on bombing Iraq or Iran or at least I dint think we did.
The movie United 93 which i had seen on television when it premiered really just made me mad. They dragged out all the deaths of the people on the plane throughout the entire movie. Terrorism was a concern to the government before 9/11 and had been especially since the 1970's with the hostage crisis with Iran but to the people it never hit home until that morning when i woke up and watched the second plane crash into the tower.
The funny thing is we already had a policy to prevent attacks like that so another Pearl Harbor wouldn't happen but it happened anyways. We have had government agencies figure out ways to get around airport security even today so obviously we're not safer now than we were in the past. Quite frankly i'm surprised we haven't been attacked yet.
Preemptive war to me is more a government and politics game which is used to scare americans into doing what the politicians want or need such as occupying oil rich countries such as Iraq, Turkey, Qatar, Saudia Arabia, etc. We need the Saudi's so bad right now for oil and resources and just that single country alone is being forced to meet the demands of both the US and China and they have alot of oil but it won't last forever.
The attack of 9/11 changed my life ALOT. Since it occurred and the economy made a downturn i got laid off two or three jobs in the silicon valley and so did my dad. My parents had to move to Florida after my dad lost his job. I also have a huge amount of friends in the armed services whom i hardly ever see anymore and one of them never came back. So this movie because of that reason makes me very angry towards not just terrorists but our own government for not leading our armed forces properly and giving them a poor plan in Iraq which is only destined to fail.
I remember the first time I heard about what happened. I was in pottery class when all the sudden my teacher hears on the radio what happened to the twin towers. I had an awful feeling about it. I was scared and I wondered how Bush was going to handle it. I was with Bush when he said we're going to war.
Preemptive war to me is no more an attempt creating an empire. America could take out Mexico, Canada, and South America along with any other tiny country near by and claim it. I would solve the border problems and because we have access to more resources everyone could benifit. Do I think we should? No, America is free and it should stay free on its own lands, not someone else's.
As for the reason and my opinion on bombing Iran, thier attacking our allies. I believe that if they did that the war would probably go on farther. We might even stretch our troop lines thin. But I'm no expert on war. I would rather not that Bush bomb Iran. But then again the Saudies are our allies...- Melissa
Allow me to start off with a quote of mine, that came about while deployed in Support of Operation Iraqi Freedom...
"IT TAKES ONE MAN TO START A WAR; THOUSANDS OF MOTHER'S CHILDREN TO STOP ONE"
...think about that for a minute. If you are unable to comprehend what that means, this may help...
http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2003/iraq/forces/casualties/
Each time you watch the news and you hear a newscaster say we have suffered the loss of another fallen Marine, Seaman, Soldier or Airman please do not just think of that as just another number. It really will hit home, once you see the face of that number you once thought it just was. As your checking your regular websites on a daily basis, take time to check this most important one out. Take into consideration the fallen service member and their family, and that they gave the ultimate sacrifice as an American. The average description of fallen service member is male, white, eighteen years of age. Not even old enough to drink a beer legally, yet is able to give his life for the freedom and peace of Americans, or Iraqis as mentioned in the operation I supported. At one time, this war was about September 11, 2003, terrorism, Osama Bin Laden and the country of Afghanistan. Since that time, we managed to travel to the country of Iraq lead by Sadaam Hussein. We are led to believe we are there to help the local nationals of Iraq, yet the main concern is money and oil. You watch a film such as Flight 93, this makes you sad, it makes you angry. Angry that one man had the power to bring such hardship on our people, on our country. It's most likely that your thinking that man is Osama Bin Laden. WRONG, this man is our Commander in Chief. Are you angry yet? Something to think about...you cannot force democracy upon a country who just does not want it.
As of today 4,079 Americans have died in Support of this war...Operation Enduring Freedom/Operation Iraqi Freedom. This number does not include the people who died on that one horrific day of 9/11. I may be a democrat, I may not support the war, but you better believe if I got recalled by the Marine Corps, I will be right there standing tall with my fellow Marines. I have enough knowledge about this war that if we were to pull out of Iraq, total chaos would breakout. Our President started something he himself knew he could not and would not end. Today Bush vowed to veto the bill Senate requested for more funding for our service members in Iraq. The democrats within the senate rallied back with more added spending costs to the Iraq war spending fund. Come on Mr. President, you want our troops to keep fighting, keep giving their lives yet you want to deny us necessary supply needed to win this war.
It is time for Change...
Semper Fidelis
"Always Faithful"
Shane Bresnahan
For starters, the most powerful nation of earth should NEVER start a war. The most powerful nation on Earth should NEVER manufacture bullshit reasons to go to war. Especially when it is with a 3rd world country that obviously likes its horribly brutal dictator. I only say that because you could buy a case of AK-47’s cheaper than a loaf of bread in pre-war Iraq and these people could have had there own revolution to oust Sadam without the US if they REALLY wanted to see him gone.
9/11. I am one of the intelligent in this county that sees though the obvious farce that the 9/11 “terrorist“ attacks were. Simple facts like, No steel constructed building has EVER, ever, in the history of man, EVER fallen due to fire. The incredibly suspicious connections between the Bush families, the Bin Laden families, Halliburton, and Cheney’s oil pipeline, which he and his buddies at Halliburton want to build across Afghanistan . Way too many inconsistently to go into here.
It is so sad that we have had quite a bit of our American rights stolen right out from under us by the Patriot Act and your average citizen has no idea. The American populous really needs to open its eyes and see that martial law is right around the corner. Just wait until our government manufactures another “terrorist” attack and we are swamped in another unwanted conflict in Iran.
I have trouble watching United 93 even after so many years have past. During the time of 9-11, I was working in the travel industry in the car rental business. I was woken up by my uncle tell me to watch the TV. I had just gotten off of work at 1am. At that moment when I saw what was happening I saw my job disappearing. For a minute I want you to think for a moment. There was ten people working at a small car rental business and there are always three of us on. After 9-11, there was nothing for us to do and a month later I had to find a new job. The events of 9-11 did not only affect me emotionally as an American. It also was affecting me a working individual. If I even go a little bit further on how it all affected me. I could say that I lost a lot of friends who were sent to Iraq and Afghanistan to fight the war on terrorism. None of them died but it sit effect them personally. Go to war effects people and changes them. Everything in my world changed on that day.
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