As the 25th anniversary of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks approaches, many Americans are reflecting on how the nation’s response has changed over the past quarter century. In the days following the attacks that killed nearly 3,000 people at the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and in a field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania, the country experienced a powerful wave of unity and patriotism. Today, that shared sense of purpose appears far more fractured.
Post-9/11 Patriotism vs. Today’s Climate
“Just after that awful day — September 11, 2001 — the nation came together,” said Sheri Few, founder and president of United States Parents Involved in Education (USPIE). “Patriotism broke out from coast to coast. Americans were astonished and grateful for the brave first responders who gave their lives to save others after the hijacked planes hit the buildings.”
Few argues that the cultural shift since then is closely tied to what is taught in schools. “Yet, today, with New York City electing an Islamist/communist mayor, and schoolchildren being told that America is the world’s biggest problem — not a beacon of hope — it’s clear what decades of miseducation in government schools has produced.”
In a Fox News opinion piece, Evan Fallor explained how September 11 is “becoming history rather than memory,” stating that America’s youth now see the day as “just a chapter in a textbook — or worse, fodder for internet conspiracy theories, memes and jokes.” For millennials, the last generation with firsthand memories of the attacks, Fallor stressed the importance of reminding children of the extraordinary things ordinary Americans did that day.
The Role of Education in Shaping National Identity
“America has gone from patriotism and exceptionalism to a full-on embrace of Islam and hate for our nation. This is because of what’s being taught in K-12 schools, filtering down from corrupt colleges,” Few said. “We have lost the strong sense of patriotism and respect for our fellow Americans since 9/11. Our fellow citizens were heroes that day, rushing into danger to protect others, not running from it.”
“We are now a very divided nation with many people attacking the very foundations of our country,” she continued. “Many of the attacks are being made by prominent politicians and activists. Government schools are indoctrinating children with materials that criticize America while touting sexual depravity, failed ideas like collectivism, and the false religion of climate hysteria.”
Few believes the anniversary offers a chance for renewal: “The anniversary of 9/11 affords a great opportunity to remember what makes this nation great and for Americans to come back together as a united people under God.”
USPIE Podcast Episode with Alex Newman
To hear more from Sheri Few, tune in to the latest episode of USPIE’s podcast, Unmasking Government Schools with Sheri Few, on Tuesday, September 8. Few is joined by Alex Newman to discuss the fight over closing the U.S. Department of Education, concerns about shifting federal education programs rather than eliminating them, and the influence of organized political movements in K–12 schools. The weekly podcast exposes the dangers of education shaped by government bureaucrats and social engineers while exploring practical ways to protect children and preserve America’s freedom. It is available on YouTube, Facebook, Spotify, and X.
About USPIE and Its Documentary
United States Parents Involved in Education (USPIE) is a nonprofit, nationwide coalition fighting to return education to its proper local roots and restore parental authority over children’s education by helping parents and local communities escape federal and other national influences. USPIE’s vision is to create a culture where parents, empowered with the authority to choose what and how their children learn, are the undisputed primary educators of their children, where local schools operate in support of families, and where education is unencumbered by federal mandates.
USPIE’s documentary, Truth & Lies in American Education, addresses some of the most glaring issues in the American education system and helps parents experience a paradigm shift in how they think about education and the role of their local schools. The film follows Few’s daughter-in-law, April, as she seeks to learn more about the system she was planning on exposing to her own children and learns the shocking truth. Truth & Lies in American Education is available for streaming on SalemNOW, as well as on DVD.
For more information on United States Parents Involved in Education, visit www.uspie.org or follow USPIE on Facebook or X.
A Moment to Remember
Twenty-five years after the attacks of September 11, 2001, the contrast between the unity that followed the tragedy and the divisions visible today remains striking. As the nation marks this anniversary, voices like those at USPIE are urging Americans to examine how education has shaped attitudes toward patriotism, national identity, and the country’s founding principles.
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The contrast between the immediate post-9/11 wave of unity and today’s fractured civic landscape is striking, especially in how schools have become a battleground for competing versions of patriotism and history. The article’s 25-year perspective raises important questions about what education can do to preserve shared purpose without erasing disagreement.