emotions+9-11

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How did 9/11 change us? How did Americans cope with emotions caused by 9/11?



CONTINUUM QUESTION: Has the way we coped with emotions caused by 9/11 made the United States stronger? How does your group answer the continuum question? Reach a consensus on your position and mark it with an " * " on the continuum.

WEAKER--*STRONGER



During the period of turmoil and grief that 9/11 created, America was strengthened through the various ways, such as music, that Americans used to cope with emotions including fear, anger and loss. When 9/11 touched the lives of all Americans, people found new ways to help each other work through emotions and problems that they had never before faced; although this was difficult, this unity strengthened America. For example, a women who lost her husband in the September 11th attacks is doing her part in assisting others by “becoming a counselor” (Saslow, Eli), which creates a way to help herself and the people around her to work past haunting memories that 9/11 scarred into their minds. The act of helping others regain their footing in the world helps to make America stronger because fellow citizens are able to use their own healing processes as a way to unite. 9/11 struck fear into the lives of many Americans, but people found ways to channel that fear into music. Paul McCartney was one artist who "held a concert in honor of those lost on 9/11" (Serjeant, Jill); the concert brought people together, eased some fears, and it made us stronger. Music strengthened America by comforting some of the on-going fears that 9/11 sparked. In addition to memorial concerts, a lot of protest music came out after 9/11, strengthening American by unifying us, and increasing our nationalism. Due to the government's banning hundreds of songs, many musicians were forced to use songs written before the attacks to metaphorically voice their opinions. “There was plenty of protest music being produced, it simply wasn’t being played on [the] radio” (Resist). Music from every genre came out after 9/11, and songs such as //Empty Sky//, by Bruce Springsteen, strengthened America by giving people a healthy way to deal with the wide realm of emotions that 9/11 brought fourth; “artists from virtually every musical genre came forward in the days following the tragedy to make it a little easier for others by expressing their own thoughts and feelings through music” (“Songs Inspired by 9/11”). This expression displayed by American songwriters unified America by helping them cope with their emotions, and ultimately strengthening our nation when it needed it most. Although the September 11th attacks tested America’s strength, unity, and emotional stability, it ultimately has made us a stronger country today.

Works Cited: RESIST. "Popular and Protest Music Post–9/11." //RESIST//. N.p., July-Aug. 2011. Web. 5 Sept. 2011. <[|www.resistinc.org]>. "Stars Burn Bush Unleash Songs & Anger In $7.5m Kerry-edwards Fest At Radio City." //NY Daily News//. N.p., 2011. Web. 5 Sept. 2011. <[|articles.nydailynews.com]>.

Saslow, Eli. "9/11 Widow Still Trying to Find Her New Normal since the Pentagon Attack." //The Washington Post//. N.p., 2 Sept. 2011. Web. 5 Sept. 2011. [|http://www.washingtonpost.com]

Serjeant, Jill. “McCartney Recalls Fear After 9/‌11, Says Music Heals.” Yahoo News. N.p., 24 Aug. 2011. Web. 24 Aug. 2011. <[]‌mccartney-recalls-fear-9-11-says-music-heals-221621924.html>.

"Songs Inspired by 9/11: How Music Helped Us Cope with the Tragedy." //Associated Content//. Yahoo, 2011. Web. 1 Sept. 2011. <[|http://www.associatedcontent.com]>.

RUBRIC: A quality statement of the Group's Position will •clearly state a position that answers the Group's question,an •explain the Group's placement on the continuum •support the position and continuum placement with clear, focused evidence from each member of the group, •explain how the evidence clarifies and supports the group's position, •establish the credibility of each source, •cite the evidence with internal citations and include a Works Cited below the statement, •conclude by recommending the actions that American society should take going forward, •strictly adhere to the Power Paragraph format, •edit so that mechanics are clean and do not detract from meaning. •be posted on the group’s wiki page.

Quality Participation with the Group and the Town Meeting includes , •engagement in organization and consensus building to develop the statement and wiki page, •collaboration in the writing and presentation of the statement the press, •quality individual contributions during the Question and Answer portion of the Town Meeting.