NOT ALONE

[NanceGreggs]

NOT ALONE
By Nancy Greggs

For those of us who tried desperately not to make this past Monday into an excuse for inappropriate photo-ops and mindless spin, it has been a time of introspection, a time of thoughtful reflection, a time for remembrance of not only what we have become, but who we, as Americans, once were.

A million stories have survived that tragic day, and this past weekend we reminisced; sometimes with hope, sometimes with despair. Sometimes with joy of loved ones found; sometimes with tears over loved ones lost.

But what we should recall, and rejoice in, is the stories not told – simply because they never happened.

We have heard the tales of people who, hundreds of miles from New York or Washington, jumped into cars and drove for hours on the off chance they might somehow be of assistance. We have never heard of any one of them saying, “I’m off to save my fellow Republicans. I will do what I can for my fellow Democrats.”

We have never heard of firefighters who risked their lives in the World Trade Center determined to save only their fellow Catholics, Episcopalians, or Jews. We have never heard of Pentagon survivors who called out amidst the wreckage, “Are there any white people here who are still alive? Speak out, and I will help.”

In the aftermath of the unthinkable, no one showed up at their local hospital to donate blood to their fellow Italians, Mexicans or Englishmen. No one stood on the streets of lower Manhattan with coffee and sandwiches available only to site workers who agreed with their politics. No one lit a candle and said a prayer meant only for those who prayed in the same language, the same words, the same house of worship.

As what was left of those so viciously killed were taken from the smoldering ashes, all bowed their heads. No one asked the religion, the country of origin, or the political affiliation of those whose remains were removed; no one sought a reason, nor an excuse, to break the respectful silence.

We cannot undo what has been done, the division we have allowed between us for the sake of political expediency. But we can vow to never allow its repetition.

Let this be not a time of loss, but a reminder of what can be gained; the realization that we can stand together as fellow Americans, that we can go back to where we stood that day, united as never before.

You stood me with once, my fellow citizens. In our darkest hour as a nation, you stood beside me without regard to my religious beliefs, my political leanings, my income bracket, my choice of lifestyle, or my choice of friends. And I stood with you.

If we cannot find our way back to that moment, there is so much more to be mourned than the events of one tragic day. And that will be the tragedy we, as nation, will be destined to mourn forever.

[panader0]

1. Well said. That time of unity was squandered by bushco

The American people are as divided as they have ever been.

[NanceGreggs]

2. So true.

What is also true is the fact that WE, as Americans, don't have to allow that to continue.

Divide us once, shame on us. Divide us for all time - you know the rest.

[civildisoBDence]

6. Move me once, thanks on you. Thank you thank you thank you.

Yesterday motivated some of the most eloquent commentary and lucid analysis I've seen in years, both here and elsewhere. Call me a dreamer, but I sense the tide turning in a big way.

As DUHbya would say it, "Divide us once, shame on you. Divide us twice, uh, won't get divided again."

The resistance is multiplying, exponentially.

Newsprism

[Sparkly]

3. I love this sentiment, Nancy...

But I've become more of a cynic than ever.

As a former NYer, I think NYC is a very special place. I've experienced people there helping each other through stalled subway cars, garbage strikes, blizzards, and more. Like any densely-populated area, there's a fair share of wrong-doing per square foot, of course -- but in so many ways, I always thought NYers respect each others' needs for space and survival.

It's crowded -- so we know to navigate umbrellas on crowded streets, to keep our carts to the side in grocery stores, to share space on subways. (There are also unspoken codes about not invading each other's valued space.)

It made perfect sense to me that the people of NY responded as they did -- people of all stripes, ethnicities, religions, incomes, and political persuasions.

And I was gratified to see red, white and blue everywhere here in MD/DC/VA -- flags on overpasses, ribbons on mailboxes, etc. All the pro-USA messages seemed like proud defiance against terrorism, seemed like setting aside differences as trivial, seemed like the start of a path toward focusing on what actually IS meaningful. (And after all the anti-government freaking out from the rightwing during Clinton's terms, I was somewhat relieved that rightwingers were getting some patriotism!)

But when I went back to the stupid CNN and AOL boards I frequented back then, the SAME hatred and biases were there, only worse. The very SAME people I'd warned about terrorism for over a YEAR were just as hostile, as prejudiced, as intolerant. The same "anti-Yankee" sentiment was there, along with "anti-intellectual" and "anti-Liberal" etc. etc. etc...

(And sad to say, in my local craft shop, there were women fighting over the limited supply of red, white and blue ribbons!!)

I know most of US (Democrats) gave Bush a chance, gave unity a chance, rallied for our country, opened our hearts and reached out for what we THOUGHT was a common trust as Americans. But did they really stand with us? Did they ever REALLY do that??

I used to think that the only way we'd ever have peace on earth, peace with each other, would be if we were all fighting attacks from some other planet. THEN we might come together as proud Earthlings defending our planet. But now I doubt even that. There'd still be hold-outs -- there'd still be plenty of closed-minded assholes who would NEVER stand with us, no matter what the stakes.

And one last thought: In 2004, just as in 2000, the areas hit by terrorists (and still most vulnerable) voted for the DEMOCRAT, not Bush. But on the outskirts -- in places where people resent "the North" and certain "big cities," Bush was selected on the basis of "security," and "fighting terrorists," and "courage, resolve," blah blah blah.... As I believe Stephen Colbert said on TDS, "Thank you... Thank you for saving us from ourselves."

So again, I think there was a moment when I stood with them. I don't believe now that there was EVER a moment when THEY stood with ME.

[NanceGreggs]

4. I, too, am a native New Yorker, born and raised ...

But I wasn't talking about NYers, or any other particular state, county, or region.

We DID stand together on that day, just as we stood together in the aftermath of Katrina. My point is simply this: Americans, left to their own gut instincts, tend to do the right thing. I'll even go so far as to say that our fellow global citizens lean more towards what is ethical and moral than what is the opposite.

The only thing that stands between the citizens of the world and world peace, IMHO, is so-called leaders: political leaders, religious leaders, financial leaders, corporate leaders, etc.

I am tired of living in a country (and a world) divided into US and THEM. It is human nature for people to reach out to each other and find common feelings, common commitments, common goals.

I refuse to be divided so readily from my fellow citizens. I refuse to see others as 'THEM' because I have been told to do so. I live in hope that there are others who refuse to see me as the enemy, simply because some political agenda dictated such division.

We keep hearing about the importance of learning the 'lessons of 9/11'. I HAVE learned the obvious lesson: When we stood as one, we were the best we could ever hope to be.

[Sparkly]

12. I've got to parse the word "we."....

Who stood "together" after 9/11 and after Katrina?

I agree that there's a part of human nature that's ethical and moral, that reaches out toward commonality. But it's higher up on the scale. Beneath it is a part of human nature that's motivated by fear -- and that part is capable of things we'd like to consider sub-human.

Fear (fear of loss of ANYthing) brings out anger, hostility, scapegoating, cowardice, and eager desperation to follow a leader as part of a group, putting faith in a show of strength and courage, etc. to protect themselves.

So I think there is a "Them" out there -- a "them" afraid of losing everything they consider "just how it oughta be." (They're afraid to think about why things "oughta be" that way. Their whole worlds, their self-identities, the structures on which they feel their fragile lives exist, would fall apart if they gave too much thought to things like love, sex and gender; gender, race and equality; equality, religion, and region; region, nationality, and language; language, immigration, and family; family, children, and defense; defense, violence, and peace; peace, love, and sex; etc....)

I want to believe what you do, but I can't anymore. I don't believe the "Them" in my country today will be rendered irrelevent in my lifetime.

I don't believe they are capable of standing with anybody but those who assuage their own animal-level fears.

I don't believe they stood with victims on 9/11, and I don't believe they stand with those victims, or the city, now.

I don't believe they cared about victims of Katrina, and don't believe they care about them now.

I don't believe they cared about "The Troops" unless "troops" involved them personally, and I don't believe the administration, or any of their rhetoric or policies, reflect a shred of caring about them now.

I don't believe they cared about the anthrax that went through the post office that handles the mail for my workplace, nor about the "snipers" in our area that same year, nor about urban violence in general. (But any story of a young white woman in danger touches their fears -- this is an old, OLD hot-button in our country's history.)

I don't believe they care about Yankees, liberals, or "feminazi's," "hippies," "peace-niks," "Dummiecrats," etc. And you know what? I believe if an attack occurred where "THEY" were in the majority, it wouldn't be like NYC on 9/11. I don't have that much faith in them. I think they'd run for cover, grab their guns, get out duct tape and plastic sheeting and hide under their beds. IF they had the guts to help someone else, I DO believe they'd be selective depending on "profiling." Absolutely.

Again -- I want to believe what you do. But I now believe there IS a "THEM," and they NEVER stood with "US," and they never, ever, would. They are too driven by fear. They've made me their enemy, and I see no way for that to change.

[glitch]

20. I believe that "THEM" is a small loud minority. They seem bigger because

they are running the country (government and media) right now, but most Americans are "US".

Be prepared: as their base continues to erode they will ramp up the propaganda and other actions. If they were truly winning hearts and minds these actions would not be necessary.

If "THEY" were a majority they wouldn't need all the measures they are taking to hold onto the power they've stolen.

edit: don't forget COINTELPRO is legal again under the Patriot Act and it is some people's job to get people fighting each other and not the source of their problem.

[Redstone]

5. No, I'm afraid we can't go back. That was our moment to seize, and

we (meaning our government) blew the opportunity.

That kind of chance doesn't come twice.

Redstone

[NanceGreggs]

10. Not talking about the government ...

... talking about We The People.

Two totally different things these days.

[ladym55]

7. We had it -- and we blew it

Yes, we did pull together. We cared about the families, we raised funds to replace fire equipment--you name it.

But then the "Uniter" and all his merry hench-people exploited the tragedy. It became a handy excuse to invade a country that had NOTHING to do with 9/11, a handy excuse to dismantle the Constitution, a handy excuse to abuse power in any way possible.

The entire world was with us. Now the entire world is against us. Do I blame them? No. We are a threat to their well-being. Who knows what the crazies in power will do next?

Our country is badly divided. We can't even carry on a reasonable conversation. I ignored all the hoopla surrounding the anniversary yesterday. All I know is that close to 3,000 people went to work one morning and ended up dead. We have not honored their lives or their memories. We have called their widows "harpies" to advance political agendas, we have done nothing to implement the suggestions of the 9/11 Commission--and now we "remember" 9/11 with a hate-filled movie and hate-filled political posturing.

George Bush's America--all fear-mongering, anger, distrust. So many more lives lost since. We had the chance to make something meaningful from that great loss, but we blew it. And all we have is a big hole in Manhattan. And terrorism is alive and well because we do such a fine job of feeding the fires.

[rnisson]

8. This fight for unity of man has much history...

Just listen to Pink Floyd's 'us and them'. Mankind has been fighting to unite despite the efforts of those who stand to gain from division. It is of utmost importance that us as a nation, no, humanity in general unite to deal with the countless dangers mankind now faces.

heres the lyrics =p

Us, and them
And after all were only ordinary men.
Me, and you.
God only knows its not what we would choose to do.
Forward he cried from the rear
And the front rank died.
And the general sat and the lines on the map
Moved from side to side.
Black and blue
And who knows which is which and who is who.
Up and down.
But in the end its only round and round.
Haven't you heard its a battle of words
The poster bearer cried.
Listen son, said the man with the gun
Theres room for you inside.

I mean, they're not gunna kill ya, so if you give em a quick short,
Sharp, shock, they wont do it again. dig it? I mean he get off
Lightly, cos I would've given him a thrashing - I only hit him once!
It was only a difference of opinion, but really...i mean good manners
Don't cost nothing do they, eh?

Down and out
It cant be helped but theres a lot of it about.
With, without.
And who'll deny its what the fightings all about?
Out of the way, its a busy day
Ive got things on my mind.
For the want of the price of tea and a slice
The old man died.

[NanceGreggs]

11. Well, you said it: "George Bush's America" ...

I don't live in George Bush's America, or Dick Cheney's America, or Don Rumsfeld's America.

I live in the America that belongs to me and my fellow citizens. It's the same America they hijacked through a stolen election, lied into a senseless war, and continue to divide at every opprotunity.

THEY are not Americans - we are. Let's starting acting like it, and stop allowing them to define us.

Just sayin' ...

[ladym55]

26. I live in Ohio ....

I do live in George Bush's America. Hate to say it. I am who am and I understand all that you are saying--but I am surrounded by George's folks. They look me in the eye and tell me abortion is murder--but universal health care is bad ("Why should I be responsible for a bunch of pill-popping baby machines?"). The death penalty is great (and we should eliminate those pesky trials--waste good tax payers' money!)We need to be more biblical (discriminate against gays).

I am surrounded by self-centered "Christians," driving expensive SUVs, talking on cell phones, flicking off their neighbors. I teach their children--who have been brainwashed so that they are unable to process any new information or ask real questions.

Let me tell, it's pretty damned creepy. The people who lined up to help buy the folks in NY a new fire truck in 2001 have changed. They are suspicious, angry, and watching out for No. 1.

[DallasNE]

9. Well Said, As Far As It Goes

Indeed there were thousands of heros 5 years ago and I salute each and every one of them. Yes, they do deserve to be honored. But it is hard not to have bitterness over how they were "honored" Both Senators from New York were banned from official ceremonies. That stunk!

President Bush went on national television on 9/11 and wrapped the current mess in Iraq around the 9/11 tragedy. That stunk even more. Locally two American flags, 7 stories tall hang from a downtown office building. Other flags are at half-staff. And two powerful spotlights shine beams straight into the air as though Omaha lost twin towers. Think back to November 22, 1968 and how much more dignified that day was. But bank then an election had just concluded rather than an election 7 weeks away. Consider too that the President's brother and Dr. Martin Luther King had been assassinated earlier that year. But not this time. It was 4 parts politics and 1 part honoring those murdered.

Keith Olbermann spoke for me on 9/11. Why does that open sore still stare at us in lower Manhattan 5 years after the fact? Why was phase II of the Senate Intelligence Committee delay for over two years. How can we learn from the past when polotical stonewalling prevents us from knowing what that past was. The American people have been ill-served these last 5 years by lies, cover-ups and an optional war that would not have happened without the deliberate lies by Bush, Cheney and all of the rest. Perhaps by the time 10 years have past we can honor those heros properly. It sure as hell didn't happen yesterday.

[Change has come]

13. Beautiful NanceGreggs.

Gladly recommended.

[danhan]

14. Indeed

Well put Nance. Throughout our history we have always been at our best when things are at their worst.

Your post today reminds me of an analogy I heard somwhere a long time ago that I use from time to time when I speak. It addresses the fact that racism, hatred and prejudice of any kind is a learned thing and if you don't believe me, go to the playground at a pre-school. They all play together. Black, white, yellow, brown, rich, poor,christian, jew, muslim, or whatever...they don't care who's who. They just want to play. As long as they get their turn on the swing, they are happy with eachother.

For a time after 9/11 not many people cared who was who. We were, in that sense, back on the pre-school playground but it was deadly serious and instead of only desiring to play, we only wanted to help one another.

It didn't take long for somebody to start hogging the swing.

[NanceGreggs]

16. Beautifully said, danhan ...

It's time for us to remind our fellow citizens that playing on the swing is much more fun when we all give each other a turn - and a push!

[Divine Discontent]

15. nicely done Nance

I usually don't respond to your posts, but I read more than half, and that's quite a following considering all the posts on DU! :) I wanted to commend you on this one. I'm sure you understand why.

God bless...



www.cafepress.com/warisprofitable <<- 100's of new stickers

[aquart]

17. Thank you for this.

Most of my pictures of the aftermath were lost to a bad disk, but I do have one of writing on purple paper spread on the ground in Union Square, comments in so many languages, offerings on them, including one white rose.

Like you, I saw not one person with any other desire but to help. When Giuliani called for blood, it was something to see people pouring out of their homes, lining up in the street next to Saint Vincent's. As if we'd been waiting for word of what we could do.

But from Bush's first words, when he finally deigned to speak, I knew everything he said was wrong, and there was nothing I could do.

[The Wizard]

18. I seem to recall

shortly after the attacks Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson using the attacks as a wedge issue, blaming everyone but White Anglo Saxon Protestant Bush supporters for what happened. Rush Limbaugh led the charge on right wing hate radio casting blame on Bill Clinton. The right wing started using that tragedy immediately. They have no shame. They appeal to people's worst fears and lowest instincts.
Most of us stood together, but the Republicult leadership saw an opportunity to divide and conquer using its minions in the media more effectively than Joesph Goebbels could ever dream. They capitalize on Americans squabbling over the crumbs while they steal the entire loaf of bread, because we're too busy with the trivia to realize our pockets are being picked and our Constitution shredded.
The lack of critical thinking in this country is astonishing. Thirty years ago right wing pundits like O'Reilly, Limbaugh, et al would have been ignored or hit with tranquilizer darts. Today they're seen by a large part of the population as the oracles of knowledge.
The great dumbing down has worked. Look no farther than 1600 Pennsylvania Ave.

[JeffR]

19. As much as anything, this captures the stakes involved in

... taking America back. Unless some sort of balance and transparency (however frail, however imperfect) is restored to government and to the way society functions generally, the commonality of Americans is irretrievable. Certainly it begins with getting these monsters out of power, but it has to go much deeper.

Jesse Jackson's "Common Ground" speech at the 1988 Democratic Convention rings even more vital and true now:

Progress will not come through boundless liberalism nor static conservatism, but at the critical mass of mutual survival -- not at boundless liberalism nor static conservatism, but at the critical mass of mutual survival. It takes two wings to fly. Whether you're a hawk or a dove, you're just a bird living in the same environment, in the same world.

The Bible teaches that when lions and lambs lie down together, none will be afraid, and there will be peace in the valley. It sounds impossible. Lions eat lambs. Lambs sensibly flee from lions. Yet even lions and lambs find common ground. Why? Because neither lions nor lambs want the forest to catch on fire. Neither lions nor lambs want acid rain to fall. Neither lions nor lambs can survive nuclear war. If lions and lambs can find common ground, surely we can as well -- as civilized people.

...

The good of our Nation is at stake. Its commitment to working men and women, to the poor and the vulnerable, to the many in the world.

With so many guided missiles, and so much misguided leadership, the stakes are exceedingly high. Our choice? Full participation in a democratic government, or more abandonment and neglect. And so this night, we choose not a false sense of independence, not our capacity to survive and endure. Tonight we choose interdependency, and our capacity to act and unite for the greater good.

...

Common ground. America is not a blanket woven from one thread, one color, one cloth. When I was a child growing up in Greenville, South Carolina and grandmama could not afford a blanket, she didn't complain and we did not freeze. Instead she took pieces of old cloth -- patches, wool, silk, gabardine, crockersack -- only patches, barely good enough to wipe off your shoes with. But they didn't stay that way very long. With sturdy hands and a strong cord, she sewed them together into a quilt, a thing of beauty and power and culture. Now, Democrats, we must build such a quilt.

Farmers, you seek fair prices and you are right -- but you cannot stand alone. Your patch is not big enough.

Workers, you fight for fair wages, you are right -- but your patch labor is not big enough.

Women, you seek comparable worth and pay equity, you are right -- but your patch is not big enough.

Women, mothers, who seek Head Start, and day care and prenatal care on the front side of life, relevant jail care and welfare on the back side of life, you are right -- but your patch is not big enough.

Students, you seek scholarships, you are right -- but your patch is not big enough.

Blacks and Hispanics, when we fight for civil rights, we are right -- but our patch is not big enough.

Gays and lesbians, when you fight against discrimination and a cure for AIDS, you are right -- but your patch is not big enough.

Conservatives and progressives, when you fight for what you believe, right wing, left wing, hawk, dove, you are right from your point of view, but your point of view is not enough.

But don't despair. Be as wise as my grandmama. Pull the patches and the pieces together, bound by a common thread. When we form a great quilt of unity and common ground, we'll have the power to bring about health care and housing and jobs and education and hope to our Nation.

We, the people, can win.

...

You must never stop dreaming. Face reality, yes, but don't stop with the way things are. Dream of things as they ought to be. Dream. Face pain, but love, hope, faith and dreams will help you rise above the pain. Use hope and imagination as weapons of survival and progress, but you keep on dreaming, young America. Dream of peace. Peace is rational and reasonable. War is irrational in this age, and unwinnable.

...

I was born in the slum, but the slum was not born in me. And it wasn't born in you, and you can make it.

Wherever you are tonight, you can make it. Hold your head high; stick your chest out. You can make it. It gets dark sometimes, but the morning comes. Don't you surrender!

Suffering breeds character, character breeds faith. In the end faith will not disappoint.

You must not surrender! You may or may not get there but just know that you're qualified! And you hold on, and hold out! We must never surrender!! America will get better and better.

Keep hope alive. Keep hope alive! Keep hope alive! On tomorrow night and beyond, keep hope alive!

I love you very much. I love you very much.

We do not have time for cynicism and anger now. We must keep hope alive, and begin to mend America.

[glitch]

22. "Save Despair for Better Times"

I saw a picture of that graffiti written on a wall in a horrific scene. I can't remember if it was a refugee camp or a war zone, but the words stuck.

[IWantAChange]

21. I forwarded NG's post to the DNC......

because yet again NG has written an eloquent statement for what I believe to be fundamental stanchions of the Democratic Party - Hope not Fear and Unity versus Divisiveness.

[Strebeck]

23. Cool Icon

Hey ? How much money will it cost me to get my own icon here ? And how do you work this crazy website stuff ? I'm a web wizard without a clue ? I seem to have to post so many times to make a new topic ? Shoot ! I need a web book about online nincompoopery to figure this madness out

[JeffR]

24. Welcome to DU, Strebeck

You can use a custom avatar once you've donated. There's no minimum donation. More info here: http://www.democraticunderground.com/donate.html

You have to respond to a number of existing threads before you can create your own. The actual number of responses needed is not announced, but I think 25 or so should do it.

You should be able to add a pic in your sig line just be pasting in a link to the absolute URL of whatever you want to use. The image must be no larger than 500 pixels wide & 200 tall, and must be 20k or smaller.

That's some far-out artwork on your site!

[JeffR]

25. Kick for the afternoon

:kick:

[sundancekid]

27. A BIG AMEN to that ... regrettably even some DUers showed ugly colors