America, the most powerful country in the world, has had to deal with very few terrorist attacks on U.S. soil in its short history as a country. When confronted with terrorism, the choice is often to retaliate with soldiers and war. Think back to Pearl Harbor and how America responded to the Japanese attacks. We declared war on Japan and entered World War II. Now back to the current century, September 11th brought about one of the largest attacks and death counts on American soil in history. The nation came together under President Bush and went to war in Afghanistan. Analyzing and comprehending George W. Bush's "Address to the Nation on Terrorist Attacks" helps the reader interpret "WHOSE WAR: The Color of Terror" written by John Edgar Wideman by understanding the situation, tension, feelings and emotions of the September 11th attacks on the Twin Towers. 

In George W. Bush's "Address to the Nation on Terrorist Attacks," Bush is forced to confront and comfort the American people about the attacks that occurred earlier the same morning. Bush opens up by saying "our very freedom came under attack in a series of deliberate and deadly terrorist acts. The victims were in airplanes or in their offices- secretaries, businessmen and women, military and federal workers. Moms and dads. Friends and Neighbors." (467). He declares these as terrorist attacks and identifies the victims of the tragedy. He immediately instills a sense of fear into the audience by confirming the plane crashes as terrorist attacks. The thought of a terrorist group powerful enough to bring down the twin towers in New York City frightened many people and caused a panic among the American people. While reading this, Bush explains the situation at hand and describes to the American people what has occurred. In Wideman's writing, we are left out the details of what had occurred the day of the attacks and are assumed to be fully aware of the circumstances and situation he refers to throughout his writing. Bush's response is very prompt and binds the American people together in support of this "War on Terror" and the sending of troops to Afghanistan. The American people begin building a sense of nationalism and pride in their country and want the people responsible for this to be brought to justice. This is evident in Bush's address when he says "Today, our nation saw evil, the very worst of human nature, and we responded with the best of America, with the daring of our rescue workers, with the caring for strangers and neighbors who came to give blood and help in any way they could. (468) Bush relays the effort and resilience that the people of New York showed in these attacks to those across the country and it shows how strong and tough the American people are in a time of tragedy. President Bush was responsible for the task of easing the American people's mind and proving that America was still a safe place to live everyday life. He responds to this issue by saying "Immediately following the first attack, I implemented our government's emergency response plans. Our military is powerful, and it's prepared. Our emergency teams are working in New York City and Washington, D/C., to help with local rescue efforts." (468) The insight and intellect that President Bush passes along to the American people is key in being able to interpret Wideman's text and any future texts involving the attacks on the Twin Towers. 

In John Edgar Wideman's, "WHOSE WAR: The Color of Terror," Wideman puts a spin on the view of the September 11th attacks and places a sense of uncertainty in the reader. He challenges the view of these attacks that society has instilled in most Americans. Americans are raised believing that we were attacked by terrorists on a horrible day in history known as 9/11. While this is true, we are not exposed to anything like Wideman's writing. He involves race as a key issue in his problem with going to war in Afghanistan. He refers back to President Bush's "Address to the Nation on Terrorist Attacks" and discusses his discomfort by boldly saying "I'm sorry. I'm an American of African descent, and I can't applaud my president for doing unto foreign others what he's inflicted on me and mine. Even if he calls it ole-time religion. Even if he tells me all good Americans have nothing to fear but fear itself and promises he's gonna ride over there and kick fear's ass real good, so I don't need to worry about anything, just let him handle it his way, relax and enjoy the show on TV, pay attention to each breath I take and be careful whose letters I open and listen up for the high alerts from the high-alert guy and gwan and do something nice for a Muslim neighbor this week. Plus, be patient. Don't expect too much too soon. These things take time. Their own good time. You know. The sweet by-and-by. Trust me." (471) The way Wideman boldly calls out Bush only months after the attacks happened is very interesting to read and analyze. He is so passionate that he openly picks apart President Bush's address to the nation and discredits the points President Bush makes. Wideman integrates his roots of living in an African American community in Pittsburgh throughout the piece and it is a key component in being personal and easy to relate with to some readers. He tears apart President Bush's address to the nation and instills fear into the American people that the "War on Terror" is never going to end and that President Bush is going to take his sweet time. His radical view of the term terrorist is put on full display when he refers to George Washington as a terrorist. "George Washington, inaugurated as America's first president only a few blocks from the ruins of the World Trade Center, would have been branded a terrorist if the word had been invented in 1775." (474) He makes a good point in this because Washington was viewed as a terrorist in the eyes of the British. Wideman continues to make interesting points and challenge our view on the September 11th terrorist attacks. When hearing George Washington's name the first hundred times the word terrorist never came to mind. Wideman makes it so easy for the term "terrorist" and George Washington to be connected and accepted as a concept. Wideman refers back to President Bush's address to the nation throughout his writing. He uses his intellect and personal background to put a spin on all of President Bush's words in a relatable, more comprehensible way and is able to influence the opinion of the reader.

If a reader was to read John Edgar Wideman's, "WHOSE WAR: The Color of Terror" before reading President Bush's "Address to the Nation on Terrorist Attacks," they would not be able to understand the references and connections Wideman has to offer. Reading these pieces in this order would cause much confusion among perceptions of the events of September 11th. Reading and analyzing President Bush's address to the nation first provides the basis and groundwork for Wideman's writing. Without President Bush's address there is no writing from Wideman. An important connection and powerful thought is made by Wideman when he concludes his writing, "Although trouble may always prevail, being human offers us a chance to experience moments when trouble doesn't rule, when trouble's not totally immune to compassion and reason, when we make choices, and try to better ourselves and make other lives better. Is war a preferable alternative. If a child's afraid of the dark, do we solve the problem by buying her a gun." (476-477) This closing statement made by Wideman can possibly connect with President Bush's statement, "Tonight I ask for your prayers for all those who grieve, for the children whose worlds have been shattered, for all whose sense of safety and security has been threatened." (468) It seems as if Wideman is attacking this line in President Bush's address. Wideman is saying that fear will always be present in some shape or form to this country and that going to fight in Afghanistan is not the way to deal with the fear of continued terrorist attacks. Wideman's idea of getting a child a gun because she is afraid of the dark is a powerful way to visual and interpret this concept. 

President Bush addressed the nation in a time of panic and tragedy. A few months later, Wideman responded by tearing apart that address in his writing.  If only having the amount of knowledge that is taught to the average person about the September 11th attacks without reading President Bush's address to the nation, Wideman's writing would be much harder to read and his points would not be clearly communicated to the reader. His work was published shortly after President Bush made the address and the address was still fresh in people's minds. Fast forward to today and many people have not heard or read President Bush's address to the nation. This lack of knowledge weakens Wideman's writing and is not as interesting for the reader. Having an understanding of President Bush's address helps the reader understand Wideman's writing and Wideman's concepts are strengthened. The analysis and comprehension aspect of President Bush's address to the nation opens Wideman's writing for interpretation among the readers.

