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The anniversary of the 9/11 terror attacks provides a moment to reflect on the unifying effect that fateful day had on the United Sates.
The immediate aftermath of the attacks saw a nation come together – in acts of defiance and expressions of patriotism.
Stores ran out of flags, millions donated blood, thousands enlisted.
There was political bipartisanship as Congress passed a $40 billion anti-terrorism and victim aid measure, three days after the attack.
The words “United We Stand” were not just a throwaway motto but the foundation of how America intended to move on.
In pictures: President Bush’s immediate response to 9/11
Show all 12But, the sentiment did not last. A recent Gallup poll has shown American patriotism at a 15-year low.
A bitter presidential election between Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton, disharmony in race relations and a rise in Islamophobia all appear to have contributed to the most divided US in 15 years.
Watch the video above to see how the lives of four families were changed by 9/11 and if a unified America exists today.
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