American society after events of 9/11

By Nancy Chan '05

On Sept. 13, the last 9/11 commemoration panel, titled "American Society After 9/11," was held in Call Auditorium before a small but engaged audience.

Judith Ross-Bernstein, senior lecturer in human development, makes a point during the panel "American Society After 9/11," Sept. 13. Panel moderator Patsy Brannon, the Rebecca Q. and James C. Morgan Dean of the College of Human Ecology, looks on. Robert Barker/University Photography

The panel was moderated by Patsy M. Brannon, the Rebecca Q. and James C. Morgan Dean of the College of Human Ecology, and the panelists included Judith Ross-Bernstein, senior lecturer in human development at the College of Human Ecology; Robert H. Frank, the Goldwin Smith Professor of Economics at the Johnson Graduate School of Management; and Steven H. Shiffrin, professor of law.

Brannon, who initiated the discussion, spoke about the widespread impact the mainland attack "on unarmed civilians in the midst of their daily work and life" has had on American life. "We face an unusual situation in which our psychological perspective and emotional mood has dramatically changed, in which our certainty of the future has been radically altered and the fragility of life has been demonstrably shown to us," she said.

Ross-Bernstein focused on the significant impact the trauma of the 9/11 attacks has had on the very young.

"We want to look very closely at how children are functioning in their world, at their behavior. We want to look very carefully at how they are looking toward their future," Ross-Bernstein advised.

She emphasized the importance of parents instilling a sense of security in their children and assuring them they can be kept safe.

Shiffrin addressed an issue that has caused some controversy -- civil liberties and the American government's response to terrorism threats. He discussed instances of what he saw as constitutionally questionable moves by the Bush administration after 9/11. He called attention to the fact that many citizens have acquiesced in the reduction of their civil liberties, and he referenced a poll that showed 49 percent of Americans think the First Amendment goes too far.

When a member of the audience asked, "Do people expect to have civil liberties returned to them after the war?" Shiffrin replied that people who give up their civil liberties do not understand how it will affect them in the long run.

What about the financi al costs of the war on terrorism? Frank, the last panelist to speak, posed the question "How should we pay for our response to 9/11?" He pointed out that financing the war on terrorism would need to be different than financing strategies used in past, well-defined wars. And covering the long-term cost of the fight is not being helped, he pointed out, by the lowering of taxes in the face of projected deficits.