10 Years Later, Post-9/11 Unity Hard to Come By

COMMENTARY | September 11th changed our political landscape in countless ways, from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan to the creation of the Department of Homeland Security. Some of the events of that tragic day are less obvious, but have just as much of an impact on the way politics affects our lives.

Immigration

Illegal immigration has long been on the radar of politicians, especially conservatives. With the election of George W. Bush, there seemed to be a new direction for immigration policies in the United States. Although a Republican, Bush saw value in Mexican immigrants, and began to work with Mexico on programs such as the temporary worker program. Bush realized how powerful the Hispanic voting bloc could be.

After 9/11, any efforts to support Mexican immigration were squashed. Foreigners became the enemy, and not just those from the Middle East. Politicians seized the opportunity to tighten security at the border and grant the government more power to deport those who are in the United States illegally, rather than create a path to citizenship. Even 10 years after 9/11, conservative politicians use immigration as a way to frighten Americans and shore up votes. In a post-9/11 world, the nation built on the backs of immigrants no longer wants foreign-born citizens.

Personal Freedom

The U.S. went into Iraq after 9/11 under the premise that we were bringing freedom to an oppressed people. At the same time we were sending our young men and women to fight for the rights of others, freedoms were quickly being stripped away from American citizens. The U.S. Patriot Act is the single largest example of this.

The Patriot Act has seen the inside of a courtroom many times since its inception. In 2004, part of the act was deemed unconstitutional because it essentially allowed the FBI to collect information on citizens from Internet service providers. In 2007, the act was found to violate the Fourth Amendment of the Constitution because it allowed the FBI to obtain search warrants without having to provide probable cause, reports The Associated Press. Though many parts of the act were controversial, many Americans accepted it as the price one must pay to be safe. 9/11 permanently changed the way we value our personal freedoms in this nation.

Religion in Politics

Religion has always played a role in politics in this country, but it has typically been represented by the Christian Right looking to defend issues such as the right to life and prayer in schools. The tone of religion in politics has changed significantly since 9/11. Politicians now look not only to prove their devotion to Christianity but also assert their disapproval of Islam.

Politicians in the United States have used issues like Sharia law and terrorism to create a political climate where all followers of Islam are seen as the enemy, rather than just those people responsible for acts of terrorism. Presidential candidate Herman Cain suggested at one point that Muslims undergo a loyalty test, an idea that fellow candidate Newt Gingrich also seemed to support, despite the fact that it is unconstitutional. Religion is now a tool used by politicians to strike fear in the hearts of voters, a fear that political leaders can manipulate into more votes and unconstitutional measures.

Americans came together in the days after 9/11 in a way that was inspiring and awe-inspiring. What happened in the months after 9/11 was a bit more complicated. Politicians manipulated the events to advance their own agendas, and the personal freedoms of American citizens were the unfortunate casualty.