Time to leave 9/11 behind

[kpete]

E.J. Dionne Jr.
Opinion Writer


Time to leave 9/11 behind

.......................

In the flood of anniversary commentary, notice how often the term “the lost decade” has been invoked. We know now, as we should have known all along, that American strength always depends first on our strength at home — on a vibrant, innovative and sensibly regulated economy, on levelheaded fiscal policies, on the ability of our citizens to find useful work, on the justice of our social arrangements.

This is not “isolationism.” It is a common sense that was pushed aside by the talk of “glory” and “honor,” by utopian schemes to transform the world by abruptly reordering the Middle East — and by our fears. While we worried that we would be destroyed by terrorists, we ignored the larger danger of weakening ourselves by forgetting what made us great.

We have no alternative from now on but to look forward and not back. This does not dishonor the fallen heroes, and Lincoln explained why at Gettysburg. “We can not dedicate — we can not consecrate — we can not hallow this ground,” he said. “The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract.” The best we could do, Lincoln declared, was to commit ourselves to “a new birth of freedom.” This is still our calling.

the rest:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/time-to-leave-911-behind/2011/09/07/gIQA0dpUAK_story.html

[agincourt]

1. I couldn't agree more

New York responded with courage and dignity to the atrocity, the rest of the country just seemed to want feed the political system that got us there in the first place.

[MadHound]

2. Excellent piece, thank you n/t

[malaise]

3. To the greatest page for thee

Rec

[SoCalDem]

4. Public Griefgasms are the thing these days..

and we do it better than anyone on earth..

9-11 should be remembered for what it was..

a LUCKY strike by some loonies whose warnings were roundly ignored by an administration that was totally inept..top to bottom...putting a big ole period to any real investigation of that super-sketchy "election" we had had a months earlier, and an ushering in of a new quasi-police state set on never letting that one particular thing happen again (even though the "bad guys" were probably as startled as we were that it had actually worked)

[RC]

6. It only worked because Cheney and Rumsfeld needed their Pearl Harbor

as an excuse to attack Iraq to steal their oil and make lots of money from the war.

When you knowingly aid war criminals from escaping prosecution, is that not in itself a crime?

[Divine Discontent]

11. that's where the complicity question comes into play - PNAC wanted this type of event, then,

there people got into power thanks to the Supreme Court, and voila!


http://www.zazzle.com/republicans_2012_keeping_millions_out_of_work_bumper_sticker-128002960205017719

[Lorien]

21. All of these calls to "Never forget", as if anyone has that luxury! Hey, if you

were to be killed in a terrorist attack would you want to be remembered for how you lived your life, or how you died?

What the MSM and politicians really mean when when they say "Remember 9/11"; "Keep being afraid, don't ask questions, submit."

[Lydia Leftcoast]

5. For anyone who didn't lose a love one on 9/11, all this wallowing seems adolescent

If you know your history, you know that during World War II, countless European and Asian cities suffered the equivalent of several 9/11s, losing up to 100,000 people in a single conventional air raid, not to mention Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

When I look at the way some Americans treat 9/11 as the greatest tragedy ever, I can only think of them as being like adolescents who wail loudly and long over a prominent pimple when someone else they know has skin cancer.

[RC]

7. +1000

[Poiuyt]

12. Excellent post

[Johonny]

13. yeah but these people died on TV

and that makes a huge difference.

From Roger Waters "Watching TV"

And she is different from Cro-Magnon man
She's different from Anne Boleyn
She is different from the Rosenbergs
And from the unknown Jew
She is different from the unknown Nicaraguan
Half superstar half victim
She's a victor star conceptually new
And she is different from the Dodo
And from the Kankabono
She is different from the Aztec
And from the Cherokee
She's everybody's sister
She's a symbolic of our failure
She's the one in fifty million
Who can help us to be free
Because she died on TV

[leftstreet]

17. +1

[lpbk2713]

8. Jingoistic Kabuki Theater shows no respect.

It's a shame but that is what it has all devolved into. I flew my flag for about a week after it happened and then on the yearly anniversary for a year or two after that but then it became obvious BushCo and their fellow travelers sought to capitalize on others grief. Many people today are sincere in their commemoration and I empathize with them but many others have no shame.

[A wise Man]

9. On the contrary....

my biggest concern is why wasn't there a real investigation on 9/11? Why did Bush use 9/11 for an excuse to go and invade Iraq? Why was Dick asshole in hiding? Why was Condi so incense on threowing fear with Mushroom clouds? What did they know...when did they know it....why did they let it happen???????????? Bush said he was going to get the one that did this....but when when asked about OBL Bush said he doesn't waste time thinking of OBL and he doesn't know where he is. One week later they knew everyone of the terrorist...names and all the activities prior to the attack. I don't Celebrating the death of those killed.....I want to know the WHYS ANS MORE WHYS!!! WHY WHY WHY WHY WHY WHY WHY????????????????????????????????????????????????

[upi402]

10. agree. there was never an investigation. they died for war profiteers, lies, and high crimes. n/t

[Loge23]

14. It's a day for the families, friends of the victims.

It's their grief and we should all respect that without co-opting it in some pseudo-patriotic gesture.
This has become yet another media event and enough is enough.
Let these people rest in peace and let their loved ones survive their loss in their own way.
If someone wants to wave the flag over this then they should also hold those accountable for exploiting the event for their own selfish purposes - governments and individuals alike.

[theaocp]

15. The Norwegians could teach us a thing or three about democracy. n/t

[texpatriot2004]

16. Wow. I love the quote from Lincoln that he uses here. I have

always liked Dionne. I think his articles are insightful and wise.

I seem to find myself thinking the same thing although not in the words he used. For years I was a glass is less than half empty kind of person; constantly focusing on what was wrong and how bad things are. Today, thankfully, I am more inclined to focus on the good. It is a work in progress for me no doubt. I think it is important to look forward and not stay stuck in the past. I don't need to be reminded of what happened on 9-11-01, none of us do as it is etched in our very being. However, if we focus on the events of that day and not the future, the possibilities, the hope we will never move forward. I mean to say that it is good and honorable to sincerely remember and not forget 9-11-01 but we have to stop looking back and dwelling. We have to go on. I'm not sure I can articulate accurately what I am getting at. I hope it makes sense.

[in_cog_ni_to]

18. Had I lost a loved one on 911, I would HATE having to relive it like this every damn year.

I find this whole 911 remembrance thing obscene and I feel for the families who have to endure it.

[bbgrunt]

19. I would agree, but I still want to know the truth!

[treestar]

20. How does that go along with the idea of prosecuting Bushco?

I notice often the sentiment that it is wrong to move on when it comes to that.