9/11 Misused

I am a New Yorker, and an American. I care about 9/11. I was on the first plane out of Amsterdam to New York, six days after the attack. I had to be with the people I care about during that horrible moment.

I understand the pain and suffering the attack caused. I share the horror of witnessing thousands of innocent people die brutally and for no reason, leaving struggling families behind. I honor the brave firemen and police who struggled to rescue as many people as possible. I feel the shock of my country who, until 9/11, viewed its borders as secure. I have deep respect for those who rebuilt their lives after the attack.

But… we also have to acknowledge just how the Bush administration misused 9/11 for its own ends.
- The “Patriots” Act,
- the lies told to justify the invasion of Iraq,
- the infringements on Americans’ civil liberties,
- the introduction of torture as a legitimate government function,
- the institution of government by fear – codes blue, green and yellow in public places, side-by-side with the exhortation “go on with your lives”.

The forces surrounding the Bush Administration misused the fear following 9/11 to re-order our society, politics and values. Fear and unwarranted trust in the government made people accept things they would never have accepted if they had their wits about them.

9/11 matters profoundly. It matters most in HOW you remember it, and the lessons that we will take from it.

Thus far, it seems we have not done too well.

Bob

Conservative Intelligence

See how appalled The Economist Magazine is about John McCain's choice of Sarah Palin.

The September 4 article starts with the headline:

"John McCain’s choice of running-mate raises serious questions about his judgment"

and goes on to:

"The moose in the room, of course, is her lack of experience. When Geraldine Ferraro was picked as Walter Mondale’s running-mate, she had served in the House for three terms. Even the hapless Dan Quayle, George Bush senior’s sidekick, had served in the House and Senate for 12 years. Mrs Palin, who has been the governor of a state with a population of 670,000 for less than two years, is the most inexperienced candidate for a mainstream party in modern history.

"Inexperienced and Bush-level incurious. She has no record of interest in foreign policy, let alone expertise. She once told an Alaskan magazine: “I’ve been so focused on state government; I haven’t really focused much on the war in Iraq.” She obtained an American passport only last summer to visit Alaskan troops in Germany and Kuwait. This not only blunts Mr McCain’s most powerful criticism of Mr Obama. It also raises serious questions about the way he makes decisions."

and ends with

"One of the biggest problems with the Bush administration is that it appointed so many incompetents because they were sound on Roe v Wade. Mrs Palin’s elevation suggests that, far from breaking with Mr Bush, Mr McCain is repeating his mistakes."

Let's hope the American public does not buy this irresponsible maneuver.