Chronicle poll results: World safety post-9/11
We asked our readers if the world is more safe, less safe or about the same since 9/11. Here's what they said.
Last week, the Chronicle asked its readers in an online poll the following question: “Is the world more safe, less safe, or about the same since 9/11/2001?” Of the 265 people who responded, 90% said less safe; 7% said about the same; and 3% said more safe. Comments were submitted by 68 people. A few follow.
Less safe in most regards: attacks from abroad and within our own country, a rise in malign autocracy, and an increase in extremists from both directions crushing the sane, moderate middle. Ideological fanaticism and blatant profiteering at public expense have become the norms. Naturally, each of these groups blames the others, but the real problem is all of them, from jihadist terrorists to the woke who support them.
We are less safe not because of 9/11, but because of Trump and Hegseth.
The world is less safe for Jews. Current events seem to mirror early-1930s Germany.
People seem to be more aggressive in their physical attacks against others. We did not have the impact of social media back in 2001. It makes you wonder if there is a correlation.
I used to worry about the leaders of China and Russia. And now we have our own mad man. Am I afraid? I’m very afraid.
I think people are more vigilant now.
With the open borders under Biden, too many unknown people are now in the U.S. I’m worried about the next threat and/or attack on America.
On the surface it may seem that the world is less safe since 9/11. The real difference is our level of awareness about the threats out there.
The world will not be safe until Hamas is eliminated.
The world is definitely less safe. Terrorism and attacks continue and antisemitism is on the rise. It is not a safe world.
Most new threats to our safety are Trump-induced. Certainly Putin and others destabilized some areas, but Trump has made us more unsafe on our own soil. In addition, his economic and environmental policies have decreased our long- and short-term safety, health and viability.
There are still terrorists, and now there are probably more blatant antisemites and anti-Zionists willing to turn their hatred into action. I don’t think any country is safe anymore.
I believe we are less safe mostly as a result of policies taken by the United States government. That, and the refusal of our elected officials to follow our wishes and enact sensible gun control laws.
In the Western democracies, the traditional political and societal guardrails are gone. Jew- hatred is worldwide and socially acceptable. It has become a hysteria and we are in grave danger. Europe’s insane immigration policies have ignited a demographic time bomb. Western civilization is in terminal decline. And now, Israel is following a self-destructive anti-democracy path. It seems hopeless.
The developed world may be somewhat more safe from a 9/11-style terrorist attack, but there are so many more threats nowadays. In addition to terroristic threats, there’s global climate change, unregulated AI, the rise of illiberalism and intolerance, and on and on. PJC
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