September 11th: Ten Years Later

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This year marks the ten year anniversary events of September 11, 2001.

The Chronicle of Higher Education has a very interesting feature in the Chronicle Review (available in print in the library, Volume LVII, Number 43) featuring today’s top thinkers and their reactions to the September 11th attacks. The Chronicle is an important resource as it deals with how universities, students, and scholars see and shape the world. Chatham University will be participating in the remembrance of 9/11 with week-long events both on campus and off, and the Library has created a thought-provoking display that commemorates 9/11 and includes books that explore the lead up to and aftermath. Topics range from the media’s coverage of the attacks, the Bush administration’s handling of the events and the call for war, America’s sudden confrontation with Osama bin Laden and radical Islam, global terrorismMiddle East relations, democratic ideals, and the promotion of tolerance.

The attacks were a shock to the nation and forced us to confront many issues, both domestically and globally. The events of 9/11 provoked politicians and civilians alike and calls were made for justice and retaliation, as well as for non-violent negotiation and self-reflection. Middle Easterners and Muslims grew fearful of becoming targets for hate, and love and support for the victims poured out from all over the world.

The violence of September 11, 2001 did not end there, but continues on to this day.  The final capture and assassination of Osama bin Laden on May 2 of this year has not quelled the violence in the Middle East, nor ended the war in Afghanistan, nor brought us any closer to explaining why any of this had happened. On the ten year anniversary of the day that opened the eyes of America and the world to the darker side of humanity and its capabilities, let us explore issues surrounding 9/11 though books, photographs, films, and first-hand accounts of the events. We will never forget the physical and emotion destruction that this day brought, but we can also remember the altruism and selflessness it brought as well. We remember the struggles of peoples from around the world and focus on our shared humanity and hope, though education and communication, we can move toward a better tolerance and peace with one another.

~Display and blog post by Donna Guerin, Reference Associate

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