Alright, what is that supposed to mean?

It means that before the incident, there was a mindset that all was good with the American dream.

it's essentially the post cold war feeling that, in spite of a few harmless guerillas here and there, globalization was destined to triumph with enough time and diplomacy. the feeling that there really are no more strong threats to imperialism.

I always thought it was the naive attitude that most had pertaining to terrorism itself, even though America had been consecutively a victim of some manner of terrorism, whether it have originated from domestic terrorists or not.

I think it's a piece of propaganda made up to make us think more about the danger that we are in.

It sorta depends on what side is interpretting the phrase, isn't it?

A pre-911 mindset could be the idea that, before the incident, people, Americans specifically, were ignorant (voluntary or no) of the "immenent danger" and hatred towards U.S. foreign policy. Airports and governing officials, hence, were complacent towards inforcing broadsweeping security measures and keeping one eye peeled for possible threats.

Conversely, after 911, Americans and their goverment representatives turned caustically defensive (to the point of being offensive) and paranoid of anyone who wasn't white. Returning to a pre-911 mindset would be a call to recind said paranoia and blind nationalism that really just makes people dislike Americans more.

Maybe it's just where I live, but I haven't experiened a rise in overall racisim. There's more of a distrust for Muslims, but that's it.

...that would be a shade of racism....

Not really considering that Islam is a religion and not a skin color.

--I think we all know that there's no difference to the average American.

I was there on Sept 12th and anyone who was dark was verbally assaulted by angry nationalists. The fact of the matter is, most Americans believe that the entirety of the Middle East composes the Arab world, that every Muslim is a jihadist waiting to happen, and that everyone that looks dark is a potential terrorist. It became 'okay' to ridicule Middle Easterners and France in the media, and that was okay because everyone Else is the enemy. America has never quite shaken its Cold War Us-vs.-Them mindset--pre-911 or no.

It stands to be noted that 88% of Americans can't find Afghanistan on a map, and atleast 70% don't even know where Iraq is. How are they supposed to distinguish between a skin colour and a religion?

No, the average American is afraid of the word "racism" and is likely to find any reason but race to pin their hate on some one. It's not "racism" it's bigotry, which racism is a form of.

Where? New York? When? 2001?

Yeah, when the fear was the worst? I won't argue with you about this because it's believable, however, over all? The race thing is something that scares so many people that as I said, it's not a race issue. You should also read this:

And I have not experienced that much racism where I live. Granted, it is on the west not the east coast which has handled the whole situation better in my opinion, but I did live in the boonies at the time. We were scared of our own shadows apparently. However, not a single person would have ever admitted to not liking a "Middle Eastern person."

The choir is tired of the sermon.

And it also should be noted that most Americans, as I have said twice previously, are frightened of being pegged as a "racist." However, we are not talking about most Americans, we are talking about you and me.

And I say that Islam is not a racist so it's stupid to call people who are bigoted toward it racists.

You should also bear in mind that both cultures have vastly different values and can not understand one another on any level, though. There was bigotry and there were misjudgments about Islam before 9/11 as well.

People are still more racist-ish toward Middle Eastern/Arab people.
I hear terms like: "That terrorist family" and "Those filthy <Slur here>"

It's disgusting.
Then again, these come from people who also have continually bad mouthed "Puerto Ricans"(Basically any latino/hispanic) for the past five years.

I suppose that's true. Which is probably why it hasn't registered seeing as I expect this attitude from them and sort of put up a "stupid filter."

most of my neighbors are actually from the middle east or of the descent, and they wear the robes and sit outside talking because of their religion's stance on television and media.
the only other neighbors i have are the usual american hispanic or black. (kinda weird to be aryan around here)

people that come over often ask me if i'm afraid of the arabic neighbors. i laugh, because every incident that involved police was thrown by the more "american" people. if it weren't for the peaceful middle eastern folks and their influence, i'd hate this area.
it's sad that few people can discern the difference between saddam and the remaining majority of the country's people. it's considerable, at best.

I'm right. You're wrong.

People do delibeately shy away from being seen as racist though, and since you can't measure if people are actually racist unless they are demonstrably so, the point stands.

(And your tone is entirely unnecessary).

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Hey, the post vanished!

And some people Don't diliberately shy away from being seen as racist, and so the original point stands.

Not really, the vast minority don't count for much statistically.

Where does the information come from that says 'the majority' shies away from the term "racism"?--more specifically I suppose, where are the stats that convey the idea that most Americans try to avoid the term "racist" and in such a manner that they do not, when in an aggitated state, act out on such propensities?

My post was specifically referencing a time--when Americans were in an 'aggitated state' no less--where people, despite their inhibitions about being deemed racist, threw caution into the wind.

White Nationalists for example, even though they're patently racist, deny it.

We weren't talking about in that agitated state since I didn't reply to that post, but to a general point you deleted made in rebuttal to a post of Sphyres.

I get the distinct feeling I'm trying to discuss something against hurt pride, you were mistaken on a small point, get over it.