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Matt Beat
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9/11 Explained

I am more proud of how this video turned out than probably any other video I have ever made. It's also the second longest video I've ever produced (not counting livestreams, of course). I poured a lot into it, and it kind of took its toll on me emotionally, too. I didn't know anyone personally who died or was injured in the attacks, but it was a transformational event in my life. I definitely teared up multiple times making this video. Hopefully you get a lot out of it. 

In case you want to watch this early, just a heads up that I am premiering this at 9:11 on Friday morning (Central time) and will have it up on Patreon until Thursday evening.

Thank you all for your continued support!

9/11 Explained

Comments

Thank you Dante. Devastating indeed. 😐

Mr. Beat

This work is exemplary Mr. Beat... This one hits hard. Just goddamn devastating.

DANTE VERONA

What a trip! I think you're right, we have gone down similar paths in life and learning. I'm so glad you're a teacher and a youtube content creator; you are a principled, intelligent, and thoughtful commentator and I appreciate all that you do. Keep up the good work!

Daniel Benner

Thanks for sharing all that. I am well aware of Sage Francis, and that Popular Mechanics/Loose Change producers debate also mostly changed my mind. :) It sounds like we went down similar paths in life, although I was in much less cool places. (Kansas and Nebraska lol) But on a serious note, I'm glad you also realize the huge and devastating effects of the War on Terror. I feel like most people don't realize how damaging the war has been on the world.

Mr. Beat

Edit: I may have accidentally posted a part of this earlier by accident; my apologies if I did so. I was 15 years old when 9/11 happened, living in Kailua-Kona, HI. I got a call from my friend at 4am (on a regular phone no less) from a friend that someone had blown up the World Trade Center. At the time, I didn’t know what the World Trade Center was (I didn’t know they were the twin towers, which I did recognize at the time). I woke up an hour or two later and my mom had the news on, showing that both towers had been hit. I ended up going to school, and there were vigils for our morning Citizenship class. I believe we were given the following day off. When I was 16 years old, I first got into hip-hop music, and protest music became central to that. The song that really resonated with me was Makeshift Patriot, by Sage Francis; I highly recommend you check that song out, even if don’t listen to hip-hop or rap; just a reading of the lyrics can show you how the echoes of 9/11 reverberated into vengeance driven nationalism, that the tragedy was capitalized on by media pundits and politicians to push narratives driven by a thirst for money, power, and glory. When I was 17 years old, the Iraq War started, and I remember being confused; wasn’t Afghanistan and Al Qaeda that attacked the US? (I now know that it wasn’t Afghanistan that attacked the US). I remember my mom telling me about the people she knew in high school who had died in Vietnam, and immediately thought what was about to happen was going to be bad. When I was 19 years old, I remember marching in Portland against the Iraq War. I remember joining my college’s Pacific Progressive Union, and being involved in anti-war campaigns. In my 20s, I read books on human rights abuses of the “War on Terror” and of the Iraq War, how John Yoo and David Addington helped Dick Chency circumvent the Geneva Convention, the US constitution, and most or all human rights based multilateral agreements in order for intelligence agencies and the US military to not have limits or barriers when they conducted “interrogations” of “terror suspects.” I remember being accused of not being patriotic because “I didn’t support the troops” whenever I brought up these criticisms with devout nationalists, and my anger would well up and I’d say supporting the troops shouldn’t mean getting them involved with needless wars. Later, I also dug into the rabbit hole of 9/11 conspiracies, like you, but ultimately pulled my way out through further research (the producers of Loose Change debate with engineers from Popular Mechanics was pretty instrumental in this). Back in 2001, didn’t know it at the time, but 9/11 would change everything about my life after that; not immediately, but through the unified nationalism and the subsequent policies that it engendered. That’s not just the Iraq War; as you highlighted in your video, it was the policies that gave the executive branch a large amount of unaccountable power to prosecute the “War on Terror.” It was the erosion of human rights, and the belief that the human rights were an obstacle in prosecuting this war. It was the broad brush that described the war, which ultimately caused unbelievable suffering for people across the world, including in the US. I’m 35 years old now, but this video has got me reflecting about the domino effect of 9/11. It truly rippled out all over the world, and can still be felt today. Thank you for making this video Matt.

Daniel Benner

Oh wow, I'm so sorry. 😔

Mr. Beat

I really enjoyed this video, There’s no telling how much work you put into this video, as well how heartbreaking some of the stories are. I was pretty young when it happened . Edit (Pressed enter early): My brother was one of the victims. Truly sad, This video is great for the younger ones who don’t know what happened. Great job

Ulysses S. Grant

Aw thanks Trey! That was really nice of you to say. I did really put a lot of effort into crafting it. Maybe I've peaked with this one. hahaha

Mr. Beat

I really enjoyed this video, Mr. Beat. I think this is my favorite one of yours. You did a really expert job not only informing people on this subject but sharing your own personal experiences with it. Awesome work man

Trey the Explainer

Thank you Alexander. Also, I'm impressed you are taught that way. That's actually really amazing!

Mr. Beat

It does look like an awesome memorial. I would love to see it, as well as the NYC museum. I can't believe you don't remember being pulled out of school!

Mr. Beat

The whole thing was depressing!

Mr. Beat

For the channel other than livestreams yes! And thanks 😊

Mr. Beat

damn what a depressing ending.

Devin Canada

I’ve watched way too many programmes about this…. I’m gonna get myself depressed. Also, The video was great. Is that your longest one yet?

Ralph W. Kelly

I was too young to actively recall the attacks, and over here in Europe 9/11 mostly serves as the base to the modern history of the world. In all school history books the era after the Cold War starts with 9/11 and the Iraq War. Thank you for making this very informative video Mr. Beat!

Alexander Meijer

Fantastic video Mr Beat!!!! I was only 7 when 9/11 happened. My friend said we all got pulled out of school however I don't remember. I live an hour away from the Flight 93 memorial, I went last October and it's truly a surreal thing to be there. It's hard to believe something like that happened there, if you ever get a chance to come to PA and see it, it would definitely be worth seeing. It's an absolutely beautiful memorial

Levi Basinger

You all are making me feel old. 😄 But on a more serious note, thank you for sharing. I think it'd be even crazier being in middle school going through it.. Oh, and it would be really weird if you and Adam were at the museum at the same time. 😳

Mr. Beat

Fantastic video! Certainly one of your best! I liked the music you used in the video, too. I’ll never forget that day. I was in eighth grade and luckily we had a half day scheduled on 9/11. I remember being glued to the tv and was in a state of shock, confusion and sadness. I visited New York City in 2015 and went to the World Trade Center memorial and museum. Both are very moving and fitting tributes to those who lost their lives and all the heroes from that day. As tragic as that day was , it is nice to know that it United the whole country. Sadly, that was short lived and we are now more divided Than ever. Thanks for making this video!

Naterade

Dang, they had to have been so worried. 😕 So much about that day was about not knowing what was going to happen next. Glad they were fine, and cool you got to see the museum!

Mr. Beat

I was only 4, and I remember that day, but it was more of a "something is wrong" mentality. My mom was freaking out because my grandmother and great-grandmother were flying back to Illinois from visiting my aunt from New Jersey. My mom couldn't get in touch with either her mom or great-grandma and thought they were in one of the two planes that hit the buildings. They were on the ground and stuck in the plane for over 3 hours. My Grandmother told me she saw the old buildings the day before the incident. Kinda scary. I got to see the 9/11 museum back when I visited NYC back in June 2015. Was very interesting to go and witness.

Adam Christians

Same age here. During the tenth anniversary of 9/11, my 6th grade teacher told us how on the day of the attack, he saw the footage of the attack on the classroom TV during lunch and began to weep. It turned out his sister-in-law was injured in the attack, but thankfully recovered

Christopher Lea

🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸Never Forget 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸

Christopher Lea

Thanks for the kind words. I also appreciate you sharing your personal experience. I'm glad you know so much about it despite not remembering it. I'm worried others won't realize how big of deal it was.

Mr. Beat

Amazing video Mr. Beat. One of the best summaries of the events on YouTube. I am 22 years old. So I was 2 years old when the attacks happened. My father was actually traveling during the attacks and my mother was scared he might have been a victim. He ended up having to drive home from Las Vegas. Growing up, my parents always had the news on to keep up with current events. So the images of 9/11 and the war on terror are as ingrained in me as my favorite childhood cartoons. 9/11 has truly been a constant impact throughout my whole life.

Michael M

Thanks for the kind words and for sharing that video!

Mr. Beat

This Video is so Informing about one of America's worst tragedies. Wonderful video Mr. Beat. I wasn't alive during the event but it feels like I was just watching it since I know so much about it. I watched a video about Welles Crowther who helped people evacuate the South the building in the impact zone. Watch his amazing story right here. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S77KYbkmjwc

Jakob Birnbaum


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