Thoughts on September 11

[source: Hypertext Bazaar]

Exactly nine years ago this Saturday, a horrific attack was perpetrated against the U.S., resulting in thousands of lives being snuffed out and millions more living in the wake of the tragedy. It was a time of cooperation and help, of grief and sorrow, and above all, of a strive to improve.

So, naturally, what resulted from this in the long run was two misleading wars that sucked (and continue to suck) the economy and people’s patience dry, endless demagogy over who has the right to do what in relation to the “hallowed ground” where the attacks took place (in lower Manhattan, that is, apparently forgetting about the Pentagon and that field in Pennsylvania), a thorough raping of the Fourth Amendment under pretext of ensuring national security, and a pervasive climate of fear, mistrust and racism-laced paranoia that persists in strength to this day – all over an enemy that we were warned was on the verge of taking over, when in reality it has difficultly sustaining itself and poses about as much of a threat as being hit by lightning.

And now, to truly commemorate the 9^th anniversary of 9/11, we have a Christian group declaring an “International Burn a Koran Day”, which, in addition to being pointlessly vile, already promises to further heighten international tensions, particularly in combat zones, as if conflicts weren’t heated enough already. And then, to crown it all, we have the increasingly likely possibility that the two most dishonest talking heads in an industry of far-Right bullshitters, Sarah Palin and Glenn Beck, could announce their partnering for the 2012 presidential elections.

The U.S. sure has a funny way of honoring its own tragedies, doesn’t it?

Tags: September 11 • 9-11 • 911 • United States • USA • Americans • Glenn Beck • Sarah Palin •