I had luncheon recently with a Canadian friend who was a native Pakistani. We were talking earnestly and honestly about politics when he leveled his sights at me and asked softly: “Do you think that 9/11 ended US supremacy? Without hesitation, I said “yes.” Of course I had to answer the why question and that is where I felt like a deer in the headlights – things no longer felt just right in the homeland but I didn’t know where to go with it.
In my own mind, 9/11 was a moment that struck at the soul of this country in such a way that none of us could ever be the same that watched it. But just this year the talking heads all reported – “it’s 9 years out and people are already beginning to forget.” Well, maybe. Those born on or after 9/11 or those only 9 years old are excused from the “forgetters” group. But all others – deep down in the subconscious it’s still there somewhere. Does it help explain some of what has happened to our “character” since that time?
When something that traumatic occurs, so many of us are dazed and wondering when the other shoe will drop. For Al Quaeda, that shoe drop may not happen for another 10 years. But we were not just waiting for that. We saw first hand how unstrung our communications system was, our helplessness as the planes flew confidently out of bounds, our military’s slow scramble, the ATM’s down on many east coast locations and people in lines at the grocery store and gas stations.
We are unused to seeing our daily lives disrupted nation-wide. Our disasters are localized and primarily weather or geology sourced. We had been awakened from the American dream. Now we knew life in the US was not totally safe and it had nothing to do with a crime wave. Not even during WWII with German U Boats patrolling off our shores – occasionally torpedoing a ship – did we feel helpless. This left us feeling helpless in some strange way.
So awake, we went stumbling forward year by year but the landscape had changed. Everything had an edge to it. Suddenly we were not as forgiving of each other. We were clawing our way to the top at work more feverishly, we spent money as if there were no tomorrow. We were on a national buying binge – on a larger scale of the type women are known to take on when things turn sour in their lives. We bought homes beyond our ability to pay for them. Financial types whom we were used to trusting pushed us in front of the fiscal dining table and encouraged us to partake.
Of course much of the greed and criminal behaviors were well under way before 9/11 but afterward, it was pull out the stops. It was the old eat, drink and be merry ’cause we don’t know when the next attack will be coming. That in itself was telling. We had been so transfixed on the event and how it had been planned (and played out by only a small group of people) we were in shock. How could something so simple take down something so complex – huge buildings – an entire country? We have stopped looking for earthquakes, locusts or invading armies. We don’t fear them half so much as we do a small band of competent terrorists.
My real fear is that we do not have the fervor the terrorists brought with them. How can a people used to fast food and other immediate pleasures take on people who know how to sacrifice and are filled with religious zeal? So I am focusing on my own place here in the sun. Trying to find common ground with my neighbors of differing faiths, politics and ethnic origins. I wallow in the diversity this country provides. It makes us strong. This may just be the thing we will be called on to protect and preserve – diversity – when overwhelmed by a culture that seeks sameness. Until that time arrives, it is an exercise that not only creates good neighbors but a camaraderie missing in our society since WWII. 9/11 may in the end have been just the beginning of discovering our own national passions and resolving to defend them.
arlenearmy
September 17, 2009
But it seems that Americans are becoming complacent. They treat 911 as though its ancient history.
Part of reason why I say this is because the memorial still has not been built. And I fear that if its not built in the next 2 yrs. (or before Obama leave office), it will not be built.
samhenry
September 17, 2009
Arlene – thanks for stopping by. I really think there is a lot of foot dragging on that memorial because no one is really certain that someone will not just take it down again. For my money, just leave it a park. Why thumb your nose at terrorists by putting things back the way they were. Things will never be back to what they were.
My thesis was really that we may forget consciously about it but it will remain somewhere in our sub-conscience and that it is the thing that kind of influences our actions. I hope that makes sense. The day will come when no one will know because there are short memories these days- lousy education system. I guess in the end it is just one woman’s journey to self-help about it.
Hey, did you get those eggs pickled????