The Significance Symbolism of Terrorism - Essay Example

The Significance Symbolism of Terrorism As It Pertains To the September 11, 2001 Attacks on American Homeland The significance symbolism of terrorism as it pertains to the September 11, 2001 attacks on American homeland Symbolism is a core feature of terrorism as most of the terrorists’ target often symbolizes the uprightness of the terrorists’ cause and the iniquity of the opponent that they want to fight. Symbolism is used to lessen acts of extreme violence and can be influenced to fit into any number of targets into the group of an enemy interest. Symbolism can make ideological and conceptual associations between victims and terrorists. The most deadly attack that has happened recently occurred in United States on September 11, 2001. The attack was carried out by nineteen Al Qaeda terrorists who were sent out on a suicidal martyrdom operation. They carried out the attack to hit the symbol of America and Western interest about what they perceived as continuous exploitation and domination of Muslim countries. They were religious- attackers who said that they were fighting in the name of holy grounds against perceived evil originating from America. Their reactions were born in the political, ethnic-national and religious uproar that characterized the modern politics in the Middle East. During the attack, nearly three thousand people were killed. United States has for several times been a target of international terrorism both abroad and at home, but homeland has never undergone a terror attack of this magnitude (Martin, 2010). The symbolic value of the targets is what distinguishes terrorism from other types of extreme violence. Terrorism is aimed at inflicting psychological wounds to an enemy instead of demolishing its ability to fight. The September 11 attacks on American homeland proved the power of symbolism. The Al Qaeda targeted the World Trade Center as it symbolized the US domination, Western civilization, economic success, freedom, and modernity. The symbolism of the terrorism combined with its absolute scale led US to war and suddenly changed the American security. Counterterrorism in United States changed from its law enforcement mode to security mode. The security measures comprised exceptional seaport and airport security, visa examination, border services and immigration protocols. Many people were questioned and detained during the identification of individuals who fitted the profile of the attackers. The symbolism of the terrorism on homeland targets was significant as it showed that the American superpower was defenseless against small groups that were upcoming. On September 11, 2001, a group of terrorists turned commercial airplanes into weaponry and attacked the key symbols of American military and economic power. The terrorist attacked destroyed the World Trade Center in New York as well as part of the Pentagon. The military, political, and diplomatic responses regarding the attack have been intense. It is quite easy to understand why the attack of September 11, 2001 aimed the Pentagon. However, reasons for attacking the World Trade Center are not clear to the majority of Americans, who are likely to think in terms of a dichotomy between civilian and military targets. The World Trade Center terrorist attacks were carried out and planned against the civilians (Martin, 2010). The questions that many tend to ask is why civilian, individuals and structures also to the military and government centers. The answers are found in the extraordinary usage of symbolism by the terrorist groups. Utilizing symbolism in an equipped struggle has been tremendously effective historically in instilling fear in one’s enemy and motivation for one’s forces. Terrorist usually use symbols to produce and communicate fear to its targets. Terrorists are not just ordinary like common people as they do not think or act like ordinary citizens. This is evident in the area of symbolism and communication. The targets of 9/11 were the symbols to terrorism and the acts of terrorism that followed were used as a form of communication. Often, communication and symbolism are so ambiguous that the message is not passed to the intended audience. The World Trade Center in the New York City became a target due to its representation in the eyes if the terrorists. Americans may not consider New York as symbolic to the United States. However, foreigners have always seen it in that light and due to the domination of skylines by Towers, terrorist knew that they were striking the heart of America. The towers represented American ideas such as financial stability, achievement, strength, democracy and capitalism (Martin, 2010). The Al Qaeda terrorists argued that their mission was to demoralize God’s enemies by blowing and destroying the towers that comprised the pillars of civilization, such as tourist attractions and high buildings of which they prize. The Al Qaeda observed the Towers as a symbol of capitalism as well as pillars on which the evil American culture was plunked. Americans had not only been targeted as allies of Israel, but as primary targets and a strike that hit the heart and soul of United States was encouraged, celebrated and funded by Muslim religion zealotry. The killing of civilians, as infidels is much loved by radical Muslims, as a way of eliminating the Islamic enemy and as a way of instilling fear. That is exactly why the World Trade Center became a target both as an opening barrage of an operation to conquer America and as symbolism. After the 9/11 attack, it became necessary for United States to identify the likely terrorist target and how to prevent future attacks. After the attack of September 11, steady plans were proposed to refurbish the American homeland security. Prior to the domestic attacks of 9/11, US had relied on separate federal law enforcement as well as service agencies to ensure the safety of the American homeland. To rectify the highly publicized operational and political confusion of the domestic security, the president started a process that fully restructured the American homeland security. The process involved the passing of the Department of Homeland Security Act which was later signed into law by the president in 2002. The new law made a large Cabinet- level DHS (Department of Homeland Security). The result of this massive restructuring was the generation the third largest federal agency, besides the Departments of Veterans Affairs and Defense (Martin, 2010). In conclusion, symbolism is a significant aspect of terrorism as most of the terrorist targets often symbolize the uprightness of the terrorists’ cause and the evil of the enemy that they want to fight. Symbolism can make conceptual, ideological connections between terrorists and their victims. The symbolic value of the targets is what differentiates terrorism from other types of tremendous aggression. The September 11 attacks on American homeland proved the power of symbolism. The Al Qaeda targeted the World Trade Center as the World Trade Center symbolized the US imperialism, Western civilization, financial success, freedom, and modernity. Utilizing symbolism in an equipped struggle is has been tremendously effective historically in instilling fear in one’s enemy and motivation for one’s forces. Reference Martin, G. (2010). Understanding Terrorism: Challenges, Perspectives, and Issues. New York: Sage. Read More