Dozens of residents joined the American Civil Liberties Union of Mississippi in observance of the 10th anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. The program paid respect to the lives lost that day in 2001, but also examined the impact post 9-11 that government policies have had on the country's civil liberties.
The program featured a screening of the POV film, "Better This World," and a panel discussion featuring Dr. Stephen Rozman, professor of political science at Tougaloo College and director of the Center for Civic Engagement and Social Responsibility; Dr. Michelle Deardorff, professor of political science at Jackson State University whose teaching research have focused on the constitutional protections surrounding gender, race and religion; and, Sababu Rashid, director and co-founder of the International Museum of Muslim Cultures.
The screening of the PBS/POV film, "Better This World," led to in-depth discussions about security measures currently in place in the U.S. Concerns were raised about what's been a decade's long infringement on civil liberties in this country as part of the long-standing war on terror. Participants also voiced concern about the deaths of thousands of Americans and tens of thousands of civilians in Iraq and Afghanistan as part of the war.
Deardorff said the public is becoming more aware of the restrictions that's been place on Americans post 9/11. She said that's been a sobering realization for many young people. "They were a generation who felt safe, and that's not true anymore."