Since the turn of the 21st century, terrorism has become a major problem on earth. Groups such as Al-Qaeda, the Taliban, and ISIS, among others, have infused intimidation and violence throughout the world for political and religious reasons. World tension has grown to high levels with the rise of these terrible organizations, resulting in the unreasonable loss of precious human life, and controversial war conflict. On the morning of September 11th, 2001, the United States was introduced first hand to the destructive, unfathomable acts of the Al-Qaeda terrorist group. At the very moment that those planes crashed into the twin towers of New York City, a sleeping American giant became awoken to the terrorism that has been poisoning the world. As result of Al-Qaeda's actions against America, our country has come together as one to help fight against the deadly terrorist groups of the Middle East. The topics of American unity and the ability of America to rise up and protect itself have become growing goals for the country throughout the early 21st century.

In response to the attacks on the United States on the morning of September 11th, 2001, President George Bush and John Edgar Wideman produced two passages that outlined the goals, ideals, and controversies of America during the early 21st century. Bush's "Address to the Nation on the Terrorist Attacks" provides hope and foreshadowing of war for the troubled people of America, while Wideman's "Whose War: The Color of Terror" discusses the military action and question of national unity against terrorism. The two documents, as a whole, provide analysis of the acts that occurred on September 11th, 2001 by describing the event and later talking about it with personal opinion and point of view. Wideman's essay especially provides an overview of the attack, while also outlining the idea of terrorism and the controversy of military action that has been running through the minds of the American public since 2001. The two essays both portray the evil of terrorism and the controversy of the war on terrorism, which have shaped the unity and self protection of United States military and politics throughout the 21st century.   

On the night of September 11th, 2001, President George Bush delivered his "Address to the Nation on Terrorist Attacks" from the White House. In his speech, Bush provides a hopeful message for Americans regarding the attack, along with an assurance of American protection against terrorism. Bush especially enlightens the American population when he says, "These acts of mass murder can shake the foundations of our biggest buildings, but they cannot touch the foundation of America". He also mentions the strength and opportunity of our country, which spills confidence and patriotism into the American public during the time of the speech. Bush establishes his sense of unity for Americans throughout his speech, especially when he says, "America and our friends and allies join with all those who want peace and security in the world and we stand together to win the war against terrorism". Overall, the speech is very short, but it sets the foundation of unity and defense that has become a major American ideal during the 21st century, not only during the September 11th, 2001 attacks, but also in present time with the problems of ISIS and other terrorist groups. Bush's brief message also sparks the war on terrorism that has raised controversy throughout the early 21st century, further discussed in John Edgar Wideman's essay.

In comparison to Bush's "Address to the Nation on Terrorist Attacks", John Edgar Wideman reviews the event of September 11th, 2001 while discussing what it means to be American through topics such as racism, power, and privilege. In the first part of his essay, Wideman discusses the attack as a first hand experience through his apartment window, describing the piles of rubble and smoke rising up from the piles, which immediately pulls the reader in. He then talks about how racism is still a problem in America, and that he cannot support a president whose thoughts about terrorism resemble the problem of racism. This is especially apparent when Wideman says, "How can I support a president whose rhetoric both denies and worsens the muck when he pitches his crusade against terror as a holy war, a war of good against evil, forces of light versus forces of darkness, a summons to arms that for colored folks chillingly echoes and resuscitates the Manichean dualism of racism". 

Wideman then goes on to discuss the controversies of the war in Afghanistan, calling it a "phony war". He says that the war is only being used to display American power and nationalism, a nationalism that centers its ideals around profit and freedom to exploit race, class, and gender. Wideman also explains that the war is being portrayed as something that is righteous and self-defending, when it is really an attempt to gain access "for oil and geopolitical leverage in the Middle East". Next, Wideman transitions to his views of terror. He describes terror as a title of action, especially, on September 11th, but also a controversial, ignorant reaction. Wideman encompasses this concept when he writes, "Terror feeds on ignorance, confines us to our inflamed, tortured imaginings. If we forget that terror, like evil, resides in us, is spawned by us no matter what name we give it, then it makes good sense to march off and destroy the enemy".  He says that terror is something that we cannot ever entirely remove, so why would we try to eliminate something that "constitutes being human". The topics mentioned in Wideman's essay outline the controversy of the war on terror and the idea of terror itself, along with the abuse of power for the betterment of the American population and government. These ideals, along with those mentioned in Bush's speech, create an outline of what the the terrorist attacks on September 11th, 2001 are doing to the early 21st century America.

Ironically, in Wideman's essay he mentions President Bush and his controversial action of war. He basically shuts down the hope and protection mentioned in Bush's speech, especially when he says, "Instead he's terrorizing Americans into believing that we require a wartime leader wielding unquestioned emergency powers". If one thinks about it, Bush is imposing a one-sided aspect of unity and war in his speech. He portrays war as the right action to take after the actions of September 11th, when it is really a controversial act that has shaped America's actions against terrorism in the 21st century. In Wideman's essay, he almost directly alludes to Bush's speech when he writes, "Beneath the drumbeat belligerence of his demands for national unity, if you listen you'll hear the bullying, the self-serving, the hollowness, of his appeals to patriotism. Listen carefully and you'll also hear what he's not saying: that we need, in a democracy full of contradictions and unresolved divisions, opposition voices". Overall, Wideman's essay directly relates to Bush's speech by discussing the the lack of opposing voice and controversial act of war on terrorism.

The controversy of war and military involvement in the Middle East have been major topics of news and government discussion in the 21st century. After September 11th, President Bush did not hold back in beginning the "War on Terror" and "Operation Freedom". Bush was warned that his military actions would be the start of a long struggle with terrorism, which is why a lot of Americans were against it. President Bush even promised that America would eliminate terrorism for good, which remains an impossible task, as mentioned in Wideman's essay. After Bush began military action in Afghanistan in October of 2001, his approval rating actually skyrocketed to ninety percent. However, his military action has sparked a war on terror that has raised questions and doubt throughout the 21st century. Now that ISIS has become a major global threat, the number of questions about America's war on terrorism has boomed. In fact, Obama has already sent special operations teams into the Middle East to start deteriorating the ISIS threat. The only thing is, ISIS, and terrorism and general, will never be able to be erased, which is why America's military action is questionable. In fact, ISIS may just boost military power because of The United States' involvement in the Middle East. These have all been topics of controversy in America during the early 21st century, sparked by Bush's initial actions shortly after the morning of September 11th, 2001.

Bush's speech and Wideman's essay both discuss the topic of the war on terrorism, but they exemplify different viewpoints and intentions. Bush's "Address to the Nation on Terrorist Attacks" focuses on national pride, unity, and patriotism in response to the terrorist attacks. Wideman's essay explains the controversy of the war on terrorism and gives personal opinion on Bush's actions and nationalist ideals. Wideman criticizes Bush and the war on terrorism, saying that terrorism is impossible to stop and that the national protection and pride advertised by Bush is one-sided. The controversy of war discussed in Wideman's essay has become relevant to not only September 11th, but also the problem of ISIS in the recent past. In conclusion, the essays both surround the ideas of the war on terrorism and the concept of terrorism, which have shaped the American ideals of unity, pride, and self protection during the early 21st century.  

