A recent poll has raised alarms, revealing that 30% of Generation Z believe Osama Bin Laden's views were "a force for good." This alarming trend reflects a growing radicalism among America's youth, one that is closely tied to failures in the American education system, according to political science professor Nicholas Giordano.
Giordano, who teaches at Suffolk Community College and is a fellow at Campus Reform, highlighted that this phenomenon isn't an isolated case but part of a broader shift in how young Americans perceive their country. He pointed to widespread indoctrination in schools, where students are increasingly taught to view the United States as an oppressive, racist nation rather than a beacon of freedom. The rise in anti-American sentiment, particularly in relation to significant historical events like 9/11, has contributed to the growing sympathy for extremist ideologies.
Gen Z’ers on TikTok are having an existential crisis over Osama Bin Laden’s, ‘Letter to America’, written after the 9/11 attacks on the WTC’s. For the greater good of the world let’s hope these Gen Z’ers never read Hitlers Mein Kamph. #lettertoamerica #GenZ #TikTok pic.twitter.com/sYFc6KvU7d
— Paul Kemp (@PaulKempcartoon) January 16, 2024
The controversy started on TikTok in late 2023, when videos featuring young users endorsing Bin Laden's "Letter to America" went viral. In these videos, Gen Z TikTokers echoed Bin Laden’s justifications for the September 11th attacks, with some even claiming the letter altered their views of the U.S. One user mentioned how they “could never look at America the same,” illustrating the dangerous shift in perceptions driven by misinformation and historical detachment.
This TikTok trend, coupled with data from a subsequent Daily Mail poll, revealed that a staggering 31% of young voters believe Bin Laden’s ideas were legitimate, though many differentiated between his views and his actions. For example, 23% of respondents agreed that while Bin Laden’s ideas were "good," his actions were not, and 8% believed that both his views and actions were justifiable.
22 years later, 9/11 JUSTIFIED!
Gen Z is supporting Al-Qaeda!
People are sending their followers to read Osama Bin Laden's letter to America.
In a short form:
RADICAL ISLAM = GOOD 👍
ANYTHING ELSE = BAD 👎 #GenZ #terrorsupporters #isis #Stupid pic.twitter.com/chWQZQdRFE— leonskee (@leeonskee) November 17, 2023
The problem, Giordano argues, stems from how history and civics are taught—or rather, not taught—in schools today. He recalls a time when students had personal connections to the 9/11 attacks, either through family members or the broader impact the event had on the nation. However, as newer generations become further removed from that traumatic day, their understanding of its significance has waned.
Instead, schools now focus on narratives that paint the U.S. as an imperialist aggressor, fostering a sense of distrust and even disdain for the nation's historical accomplishments.
The poll’s data also showed a disturbing racial divide, with Black respondents being among the most likely to express positive views of Bin Laden, at 18%. Meanwhile, older Americans, especially those over 65, were overwhelmingly critical of the terrorist leader’s ideologies, with only 2% showing any level of support.
The generational gap in how these views are formed further underscores the need for a more robust and patriotic education system, according to Giordano.
