I've seen, around the various hospitals I frequent, posters telling of plans to commemorate "the events of Septmber 11th." And I wonder why the need for euphemism. I'm sure that we won't be remembering all the events of that day, but rather and specifically, the terrorist attacks on New York and Washington. It's as if to admit to terrorist attacks would be giving credence to the idea of our vulnerability. But guess what!. . . we have always been vulnerable.

When I remember where I was at the time of the attacks, it seems emblematic of the nation: I was asleep. I had stayed up late the night before and slept late. It was only after a telephone call from my daughter's mother that I heard. While others died, I slept. And when I awoke the world was a different place before I knew what had happened.

But isn't that the way it usually goes? The world changes around us, in spite of us, and we are usually asleep at the time. I keep hoping that, as a country, we will wake up and face the hard questions that have remained like a wart on our notion of civilization. We need, as a country, to realize that we are hated in much of the world and realize why. It is not, as we would be pleased to think, out of jealousy - at least, not that simply. We value American lives more than those of any other country. It is too easy to dismiss the war dead of other countries with a shrug and an "Oh well . . ."

The target is not American freedom, but American arrogance. Our inability as a nation to see that keeps us in the bulls-eye. The "President's" eagerness to commit American resources and lives to the detsabilization of the Arab world will assure that the bulls-eye gets larger and more attractive. The dead of September 11th are not to blame for their own deaths. The blame belongs to the twisted, sick minds who carried the day. But the policies this country has pursued have a part, a significant part, in where we are today.
3:59:46 AM    Comments?()