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Former President George W. Bush issued a terrible warning on Saturday in commemoration of the 20th anniversary of the September 11, 2001 attacks, saying that international extremists are not the only threats to the country’s security. In the wake of the political and social divide in the United States, Mr. Bush has declared that “the violence that gathers inside” is just as dangerous as extremists abroad.
“We have seen more and more evidence that the dangers to our country can come not only across borders, but also in the violence that is gathering inside,” said Mr. Bush, who was president of the country. September 11th. “There is little cultural overlap between violent extremists abroad and those at home. But in their contempt for pluralism, in their contempt for human life, in their determination to defile national symbols, they are children of the same foul spirit, and it is our duty to face them. “
MANDEL NGAN / AFP via Getty Images
Mr. Bush’s remarks came eight months after hundreds of supporters of former President Trump stormed the United States Capitol in an attempt to prevent the certification of the 2020 presidential election. most of 570 people arrested For their part in the attack, officials said at least 83 people had ties to extremist groups, including the Proud Boys, Oath Keepers and Three Percenters.
Members of far-right groups are also expected to attend a rally at the United States Capitol on September 18 to demand “justice” for those indicted in the attack on the Capitol.
Bush spoke on Saturday from the Shanksville, Pa., Site where United Airlines Flight 93 crashed in 2001. The hijacked plane was believed to be heading for Washington, DC, when passengers and l ‘crew chose to crush him in a field so that he would not hit his target.
Mr. Bush said those 33 passengers and seven crew “have all replaced us.”
“Faced with an impossible circumstance, they comforted their loved ones by telephone, prepared for action and conquered the designs of evil,” said Mr. Bush. “These Americans were brave, strong and united in a way that shocked terrorists, but shouldn’t surprise any of us.”
A recent CBS News Poll found that 40% of Americans believe that if international terrorists carried out an attack today, the United States would not be as united as it was directly after 9/11. More than half of those polled said that discrimination had worsened as a result of the attacks.
One of the common memories of the 9/11 attacks is how Americans came together the next day. However, for many Arab and Muslim Americans who were there at that time, the weeks following the attacks were much more violent. Political rhetoric in the two decades following the attack also fueled discrimination against Muslims and those in the Middle East.
And now the landscape shows an even more divided America – highlighted by the Capitol Riot, deep political divisions and last year’s protests sparked by the death of George Floyd at the hands of the police and the AAPI community processing in the middle of Coronavirus pandemic.
President Biden also addressed the division in the country in recorded remarks he tweeted on Friday.
“In the battle for America’s soul, unity is our greatest strength. Unity does not mean we have to believe the same. We have to have fundamental respect and faith in each other. and in this nation, ”Biden said. . “We are unique in the history of the world because we are the only nation based on an idea, an idea that everyone is created equal and should be treated equally throughout their lives.”
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