The infamous attack on the World Trade Center that occurred 16-years ago is still a heavily controversial topic. There are two teams: those who wish to continue serious mourning for the almost 3,000 Americans who lost their lives on that day and those who wish to move on from the event. The general consensus in the Beacon newsroom is that the U.S. needs to remember September 11, but that our society’s obsession with the day needs to fade.

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This may be partially due to the fact that the majority of us have little to no memories of that day, but we have grown up with the consequences of the event. Whether that be increased airport security, the PATRIOT Act or hatred towards people that look anything remotely like the terrorists, the aftermath of September 11 is still panning out. These are issues happening in the U.S., but there are plenty of other things in other countries that were a result of the terrorist attack.

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The Bush Administration was able to use the September 11 attack to launch the War on Terror, also known as the Global War on Terrorism. The World Trade Center collapse has directly affected many people in the U.S., but it is fair to say that many more people have been negatively impacted in the Middle East because of the U.S.’s harsh attitude after 9/11. The problem with the mindset of a “war” is that it gives the impression that there is something that can be beat. The thing that caused 9/11 is not a specific thing that can be beat because it is an anti-American ideology. Ideologies cannot be “beat”.

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September 11 also has caused our government to act more defensive against other governments and people from other countries, especially immigrants. As a world power, the U.S. has had an immense negative impact upon the lives of people from other countries, whether that means being more militant or rejecting immigrants based on their country of origin.

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Yes, 9/11 was a devastating event, but there are disastrous things that happen in other countries on a daily basis of greater magnitude. Many people have been killed in long-running civil wars, genocides and global wars. The size of the event should not necessarily be the only factor that makes it more important, but comparatively 9/11 affected relatively few people.

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We do not think that 9/11 was not important, but that we should be aware of bigger issues globally, rather than focusing on an American event that occurred almost two decades ago. No one who experienced 9/11, whether directly or indirectly, will forget that day, but it is time to move on and face the problems that have come as a product.