What's The Most Important "Lesson of September 11"?

[Plaid Adder]

Bush is a little confused about what the lessons of September 11 really are, I think. Help him out by posting what you think is the most important of the REAL lessons of September 11 (as opposed to fake lessons, like, "Hey, let's start a war in Iraq--what could go wrong?").

Here's my Lesson of September 11:

Reason is dead and emotion is ruling this country.

The tremendous emotional impact of September 11 on Americans at all levels has, in my opinion, completely wiped out rational decision-making, not just in the Bush administration but in many of our fellow-Americans. I know how strong my emotional reaction was; I discovered, for the first time, that I am actually susceptible to the emotional appeal of nationalism, something that previously I had always thought I was immune to. And the fear, too, let's not forget the fear; remember the whole anthrax thing? October 2001 was the Attack Of The Unidentified White Powder. And some of it was actually anthrax; but a lot of it was collective paranoia. Mayor Daly actually had to get on TV and tell the people of Chicago that "guacamole is not dangerous." Someone had apparently called in the local first responders after spotting a suspicious green blob on a sidewalk.

Anyway, nobody at the top is operating rationally right now. Everything is about feelings and faith. Even the obvious rampaging greed that is driving so much of this really falls under the category of lust rather than rational desire for material wealth. How many goddamn billion dollars does Halliburton really need? Lust for money, lust for power, lust for proof that we are the chosen, that's what it's all about in Washington these days and that's what's all over our country. We aren't getting out of this morass until we get someone into power who can a) think clearly and b) convince other Americans that they're better off thinking clearly.

OK, what's your lesson?

The Plaid Adder

[LiberalEsto]

1. Don't take what the mass media reports at face value

The mass media distorts news to the advantage of those with wealth and power. It presents only the surface of events, but does not ask probing questions or explore beneath the surface of what appears to be going on.

[Dr.Phool]

2. My motto is "Question Everything"

Which probably falls under "Reason is dead, and emotion is ruling this country". Don't take anything at face value.

It's a rough way to go, but it works for me.

[Individualist]

26. Excellent advice

Learn as much as possible about all the details.

[bryant69]

3. American can come together in times of Crisis

But idiotic leaders (Bush and Cheney) can tear us back apart just as quickly.

Bryant
Check it out --> http://politicalcomment.blogspot.com

[catnhatnh]

4. It's X-Files obvious....

..."Trust No One"....

[Rockholm]

5. My Pet Goat is better read upside down.

[paparush]

32. LMAO!!! n/t

[KlatooBNikto]

6. When you point the finger at someone who looks different from you and

believes in a different religion,you can pretty well dictate what will move the people.Remember the names Charles Stuart and Susan Smith if you doubt the power of prejudice and xenophobia.

Bush and Cheney and Rumsfeld concocted our own version of the Reichstag Fire and blamed it on the Arabs just as Herman Goering got away with it in Germany.They were right in placing their faith on the suspension of disbelief that accompanies the virulent prevalence of prejudice.

[CrispyQ]

7. I realized that fear is an excellent way to incite racism.

I saw this in many good people who prior to 9/11 didn't behave racist. I used to frequent this sandwich shop where someone of middle eastern descent worked. There are always some a-holes who are rude to waitstaff/restaurant workers, but after 9/11, I was stunned how awful people treated this man. I witnessed one customer requesting someone else take his order -- "I'm not giving my order to some raghead that wants to blow us up," he said very loudly & arrogantly to all standing around. However, he would not look the middle eastern man in the eye when he said this.

[Plaid Adder]

30. My mother is another example.

She prides herself on being sensitive, egalitarian, etc. but after 9/11 I started hearing her make these remarks about Muslims that just made me feel like she'd been taken over by a Pod Person. It's freaky.

The Plaid Adder

[grytpype]

8. "Don't trust George W. Bush to keep America safe."

That, and "Condoleeza Rice is the worst NSA of all time."

[leveymg]

9. Don't Install An Unintelligent/Mad Leader Over a One-Party State. Ever.

Criminal negligence, corruption, no accountability. The demonstrated result is disaster. Always.

[indepat]

10. That RW religious fanatics/other ideologues aren't curious

in the least as to the inexplicable events occurring on the watch of a Repug president.

[gratuitous]

11. Ruthless, greedy people will say and do anything

And I'm not talking about the folks who hijacked the planes.

[realFedUp]

12. If you are a sheep, check to see if the sheepherder has a gun.

nt

[Al-CIAda]

13. Agree fully. They rely on and manipulate this emotion

to their advantage. Books have been written on bringing the public to heel using emotion. The 'catalizing event' of 9/11 (PNAC) is being used just as they intended it to be used.

[Javaman]

14. Here's a lesson: Don't use it for political advantage...

colossal jackass loser*

[GeekMonkey]

15. Incompetence is rewarded, Good works are punished

And when Bush Lies - PEOPLE DIE!

[lectrobyte]

16. Once people are afraid, they will accept anything that promises safety.

That about explains it for me: The Patriot Act, a war against an uninvolved country, etc. etc.

[Beetwasher]

17. People Are Fucked Up And Whacky

And the world is run by the most fucked up and whacky people alive.

[BringEmOn]

18. The most sinister plans, such as Operation Northwoods, can be pulled off.

They're not just for "nutjob tinfoil hat conspiracy theorists," anymore

[SomewhereOutThere424]

19. The lesson I learned

Is that the american people are still capable of functioning in times of crisis, despite how stupid our congressman or president may be.

While bush was off in florida reading pet my goat or whatever it was, my best friend was, after the initial attacks searching the debree for survivors, even just one. Days, weeks, and he never found a single survivor. But you know? He, and many other new yorkers and americans, got together and tried to do what was right, and got together putting aside their differences for a change, even in such a gun ho angry place like the city.

I too live in new york, but more to the country. Yet, I still see people who were directly involved, shaken by it. It's hard to lose a loved one, regardless if it was an attack on a country. The good new yorkers who in some way helped during that disaster really shined at that time, and what I learned from it is that, no matter what your political view, no matter how stupid bush may be, the people can still get together and help themselves when the government won't be there for them, or their president is too busy reading children's stories to future republican voters.

I also learned a lot of hypocricy. Sure, 9/11 effected the united states. parts of its economy, parts of its heart. Yet, the people who use it to tote their little ammendments and wars...it's apalling. Some random person in some random state in no way effected, just because they saw it on tv, will say 'I believe our children should die in iraq because of that'. How did this effect said person? It may be their country, but outside of the individuals who really care about the incident that happened, I think it was new york's tragedy, not the entire country's.

When someone stands up and cares that people died, they have every right to be involved in the rebuilding and reshaping of the lives that were effected, regardless what state they're in. Yet when someone stands up and says 'flag burning should be banned because the workers of 9/11 would like it that way'...it really makes me question if humanity has been evolving in the right direction lately.

[ksilvas]

20. The seeds of Sept.11 were sown in the 80's

Reason is not dead, the question is who is doing the reasoning and
manipulating the emotions. The neo-cons have a lot of reasons for doing
what they're doing. Thinking rationally?, they so far, have achieved everything that they
have planned, according to their rational. The neo-cons and the PNAC didn't just
pop-up out of nowhere during Bush's "election".

The event of Sept. 11 itself was merely a step to the next level of a process,
that a small group within the Right Wing has been building since the placing of Reagan in
the White house in the 80's. This group gained strength in the
90's by using Clinton as a foil. By 2000 the "new american century",
all the pieces fell into place. The battle against the Right was lost in the "election" of 2000. Sept. 11 is not a singular event, but a part of and unfolding process.

I think that what we teach each other and discuss in this site makes
it obvious, that in our hearts we know the truth.
Eventually, if we want to save this country and the myth that it
has created for itself, It's going to take much more personal
sacrifice to bring down this Regime. E-mails and letters of indignation
will not effect a group that would willfully dismantle the very
foundations of the Republic.
In the end I think the left, are the ones that
are a bit confused, overwhelmed and maybe a bit self-deceived.

[Solly Mack]

21. Great piece!

I agree.

[sakabatou]

22. Make multiple exit strategies before going to war

[Just Me]

23. Those who exploit human tragedy for personal/political purposes,...

,...should be sent directly to jail. :grr:

[Stirk]

24. The real lesson of 9-11 was "US foreign policy needs to be changed".

We need to stop using our military and CIA as arms of corporate America. We need to stop undermining foreign governments that refuse to do business with US corporations, and we need to stop installing dictators wherever corporate America thinks it might get them better a deal.

We need greater cooperation between international law enforcement agencies.

We need to really join the world community- particularly on issues like international law.

We need to do everything we can to get rid of poverty around the globe- not *use* it as a tool of control.

Those were the biggest lessons I saw in 9-11, and I was naive enough to assume that everyone else saw them, too. When I heard the talking heads saying things like "this changes everything", I actually believed that we were thinking the same things.

I'm stupid that way.

[maxsolomon]

25. Hoc sustinete, majus ne veniat malum

from Phaedrus:

"Endure this evil, lest a greater come upon you"

[Monkie]

27. Americans will believe ANYTHING you tell them,no facts needed

since learning this i have set up a successful bridge selling business (send me $50 and you too can learn how to sell bridges to Americans in 10 easy lessons)

[tenshi816]

28. What I learned: That if you can scare people enough

they'll let you get away with murder.

[NJmaverick]

29. We couldn't trust george bush to keep us safe from terrorists

That is the number one lesson.

[Cleita]

31. Many believe in LIHOP and MIHPOP. But for those who don't,

the fact is you, Mr. Prezidunce dropped the ball. All the warnings President Clinton gave you about possible imminent attacks from Osama Bin Laden weren't even looked at. The Hart Rudman Act for a homeland security to prevent attacks like 911 ended up in a waste basket. Your security advisor Condaleeza Rice didn't want to bother you on vacation with intelligence in August of 2001 that such an attack was going to occur.

Why anyone considers you a hero or that you make them feel secure is due to a very slick propaganda machine in place, not because you are competent to do the job your brother stole for you in Florida.

[paparush]

33. People will Believe ANYTHING they See on Television.

[IrateCitizen]

34. The rest of the world does not buy American exceptionalism

We've behaved like hypocrites for a good part of our history as a nation, and it was bound to finally come back to bite us in the ass.

I also realized how spoiled and coddled we are as a nation, because not to minimize it, but the damage inflicted on 9/11/01 was rather insignificant compared to the damage inflicted on most of Europe and Japan during WWII, or the damage inflicted on Vietnam during their war of liberation.

I also learned that people are basically good in times of crisis, but that it is incredibly easy for those of malevolent intent to hijack that goodwill and unity toward sinister objectives.

[Frederik]

35. The true lesson: Fear works.

[Junkdrawer]

36. Allowing the Saudis to buy everything in sight may not have been...

a good idea.