Wednesday, September 12, 2007

9/11

Oh, was I supposed to write something special for 9/11? Sorry folks, it's really just like any other day for me. I feel for my good friend who was deeply impacted by the events of the day (lost his FDNY brother), but other than that I am pretty detached. If anything, I've been forced by politics of the day into a cynical posture where I just expect hype and bullshit from the Right as they glorify their touchstone, and bad attempts by the left to relate or appropriate some tough stance.

Me? I mostly remember that I was actually boarding a plane to NYC that morning, and that had we not moved to MI the month prior, I would have watched all happen before my eyes from my office in Brooklyn.

I read something fantastic here, and some shit that pissed me off here. You chose.

4 comments:

Toast said...

I was thinking something similar yesterday. In a sane world, 9-11 should be something where every American can quietly reflect on the anniversary of a national tragedy and feel appropriately melancholy. Instead, I feel like I have to protect myself by creating a buffer of cynical distance, because all the date really stands for now is the start of the right wing's final, monstrous push to demonize and scapegoat their fellow citizens on the left.

BTW, on a related note, Atrios dug up that old chestnut from Andy Sullivan yesterday. This was Sully five days after 9-11:

"The middle part of the country - the great red zone that voted for Bush - is clearly ready for war. The decadent Left in its enclaves on the coasts is not dead - and may well mount a fifth column."

And that is why even if he were to morph into the most impassioned voice of justice and reason the media's ever seen, he will always be welcome to eat my shit and die.

Noah said...

It is endlessly sad for me that I can't reflect on 9-11 the way I want to. It has become such an...excuse. Such a hammer. 9-11, 9-11, 9-11, 9-11 beat into our heads so much that I am numb to it. That is heart-breaking.

E. Broderick Photography said...

Hmm...I do hate so much how 9-11 is used/misused by politicians. They let Rudy Guliani speak at Ground Zero the other morning. Puke. But I don't want to say that I am numb to it, either, though I know what you mean. Mr. Furious--I followed your links. First, to salon, Gary Kamiya's article. So good. Printed it and now wish I could hand copies out all over town. Then to crank's post. Oy. I just don't get it. How so many people buy into this shit. But I loved the post at the end--I forget the guy's name (Richard?) The list of what the Clinton Administration DID do to combat terrorism. Not that reason and facts penetrate with these knuckleheads, but...We are fucked. Everything about invading Iraq was wrong and we have sucked all along. But what the hell is gonna take over when we leave? Are Iraqis really "better off" now? What a fucked up mess.

Rickey said...

That Salon article summed things up perfectly:

"The Democrats will flail their puny arms, the zombie Republicans will keep following orders, and the troops will stay."