Fiche de révision : 9/11 Speech and Magazine Covers

📋 Plan du Cours

1. Le discours de George W. Bush
2. L’opposition entre les États-Unis et leurs ennemis
3. Les conséquences immédiates des attaques
4. Les couvertures du New Yorker

📅 Repères chronologiques

1. 2001The first New Yorker cover showed the shadow of the two towers against a very dark background, suggesting terror or national mourning for those who died.
2. 2003The second New Yorker cover showed skyscrapers, including the twin towers, reflected in the Hudson River; the peaceful scene may suggest denial of what happened in 2001.
3. 2014The third New Yorker cover showed the Ground Zero memorial surrounded by tourists taking pictures and selfies and learning about 9/11, suggesting acceptance and paying tribute to the victims.

📖 1. Le discours de George W. Bush

★ À maîtriser

• George W. Bush delivered a speech on the evening of 9/11.

• 🔄 The speech proceeds in this order :

  1. It recalls the events of the day.
  2. It presents the USA positively against the terrorists.
  3. It reassures the people and explains immediate actions.
  4. It develops the idea of retaliation.

• Bush’s goals were to :

  • pay tribute to the victims
  • reassure the people
  • prepare the country’s response

Compléments

• Bush announced that he would not distinguish between terrorists and the countries that hide or shelter them.

• The speech presented a positive image of the USA to gain Congress’s and the nation’s support for Bush’s decision.

• The speech marked the starting point of the USA’s war against terrorism.

📖 2. L’opposition entre les États-Unis et leurs ennemis

★ À maîtriser

• The speech describes the USA with the terms “powerful,” “foundation of America,” “best of America,” “freedom,” “strong,” “resolve,” “justice,” “terrible sadness,” “disbelief,” “quiet,” “unyielding anger,” “great people,” “great nation” and “prepared.”

• The terms used to describe the opponents are :

  • “terrorist”
  • “evil”
  • “despicable act”
  • “mass murder”
  • “deadly terrorist acts of terror”
  • “attack”
  • “chaos and retreat”
  • “failed”
  • “frighten”
  • “the very worst of human nature”

Compléments

• Bush portrayed his opponents as evil to justify declaring war on them.

💡 Astuce mémo

The US (« freedom », « justice ») versus the terrorists (« evil », « mass murder »).

📖 3. Les conséquences immédiates des attaques

★ À maîtriser

• After the attacks, some people were in hospital because they were wounded or injured, some had died, and some had not yet been found.

• Rescue workers, including firefighters and police officers, were still working to find the victims.

Compléments

• Some citizens gave blood to help after the attacks.

📖 4. Les couvertures du New Yorker

📝 Points essentiels

• The New Yorker is an American magazine with a democratic bias.

💡 Astuce mémo

Shadow → reflection → memorial.