Essay - Terrorism Has Clearly Changed the Face of America, not Only...

Terrorism has clearly changed the face of America, not only the skyline of New York, but our false sense of security and ease with which we forget terrorism when it is barely averted or not as successful as was intended by the terrorist. Americans for the most part have an altered sense ***** the real possibil*****y of terrorism, no longer holding to ***** idea that ***** are safe upon our own soil. "... terrorism is a brut*****lly real d*****ger, that hijackers, suicide bombers ***** other lunatics stand incontestably ready to murder randomly, and ***** government faces an excruciatingly hard job of balancing security and freedom."

Stepp 56) Yet, despite this realization, some ***** are living under the assumption that things have changed since September 11th and that we ***** ********** than we have been in the past, from acts of terrorism because ***** officials who are charged ***** our protection have learned their lesson and ***** keeping us safer through action and prevention. Officials like ***** attest to the strides ***** have made in the direction of safety.

Billions of federal dollars have ***** spent to improve the nation's response to terrorism, including creation of a new de*****ment to coordinate activities." ("An Emergency of Unpreparedness;" A19)

Yet, many are also clear about the fact that there are ***** facets of security, including the lack of funding for emergency preparedness in the areas of ***** medicine, shipways safety and even local law enforcement training, that are not being adequately funded for real preparedness. ("***** Emergency of Un*****;" A19)

The questions are then, are we once again under a false impression of safety, or are we truly safe? Are the actions ***** our government, as of late reflecting c*****e values and attempting to truly prevent terrorism or are they increasing the odds that ***** will again occur in a grand way, on our soil?

A ********** c*****rn that U.S. security policies and acti*****s - in Iraq, in the development ***** "usable" nuclear *****apons, ***** in turning away ***** ***** ***** of international cooperation and treaties ***** may be counterproductive or lead to an escalation of dangers. The April 23 Register-Guard quoted Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak as saying that Arabs have been driven ***** a "h*****tred never equaled" toward America. ("Terrorism Dem*****s Prevention" a17)

***** is a common sentiment ***** terrorism is ********** inevitable consequence of our time and that the only real answer to ***** is ***** make every attempt to protect *****selves ***** security policies ***** rules. Yet, ***** prevailing opinion may ***** be the only answer, as prevention of terror*****m must go farther than guarding our borders and airways but through creating ***** change in the actions we take toward other nations and peoples.

We must decide whether to be the world's cop or the ***** carpenter - building trust by building the infrastructure and agricultural supp*****ts necessary to keep at*****risk societies functioning, self-sufficient and free. We ***** shift budget priorities to ***** fund both homeland security and emergency response