Is the U.S. War on Terrorism an Appropriate Response to the Events of 9/11?
After 9/11, reaction was mixed regarding ways to respond to the terrorist attack. Many people favored the government’s decision to respond with force. Others believed that those involved with the attack should be punished, but that war was not the proper tactic. Ask students to read A Widows Plea (http://www.pbs.org/now/society/widow.html) and its related information as a backdrop to a debate. Have students chart the various issues Amber Amundson raises. For each issue, encourage students to raise a counterpoint, based on research and personal opinion. Divide the class into several pro and con “war” groups to debate the question of whether or not the U.S. should use force to defend itself against terrorism. As an extension, have students conduct research on periods when force was used and note what happened as a result.
