Society Culture Politics

Understanding 911 and the Politics of Blame

These 911 Commission hearings are fascinating. But lurking beneath the surface is something that really bothers me.

They don't get it.

Then again, we don't, either. It's not enough to point the finger at those who did it. No, our blood lust demands more. So our "unbiased" bi-partisan surrogates are looking under every rock for someone else to blame.

But they're looking in the wrong place. They should start with us.

Now, don't think for a second that I want to give us some giant guilt complex. That monkey's on our backs already. Here we are, the nation of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, standing before the world as a beacon of light. And somehow we've misplaced our torch.

Let's face it. We're confused, stumbling around in the dark.

We delude ourselves into thinking we're a bastion of freedom. Perhaps in a sense we are, at least to the extent we haven't traded it for a false sense of self-righteousness. But as far as lighting the way for others to follow, we've got a long way to go.

We pray not to the God that speaks to us from the silence within, but to the god of comfort, acquisition, and preservation of our over-indulgent lifestyles. While much of the world is experiencing the stirrings of awakening consciousness, we're content to sit back and tell them, "Sorry, guys. You're on your own."

And while many struggle to claim their own right of self-determination, our demand for more, bigger, better spurs our leaders to ride out on our nation's technological steed, wielding a sword of righteous indignation. And if they don't keep the heathens from the gates of our magnificent creation, we'll get someone who will.

With that perspective, the 911 commission is doing us a big favor. They're wielding the broom so we can pretend we're sweeping out all the cobwebs that contributed to this horrible event. But when they're done, we'll still have our heads in the sand.

And the wounds that give rise to terrorism and conflict between cultures will continue to fester.

So what are we doing to combat the root causes that led to this mess in the first place? Do we ask our leaders to address the underlying problems of religious conflict, nationalism, hunger, and political oppression? No, we put them on the hot seat to explain how they let some third-world terrorists awaken us from our reverie. While we sit back wringing our hands, demanding they build our walls a little higher. We arm ourselves even more, hoarding the spoils of our conquests. Thomas Jefferson would have been proud.

Can I let you in on a secret?

Some of us want more of our nation. More than a safe place to live, more than a reasonable income to feed our families, and even more than sand in which to stick our heads.

In fact, we want more from ourselves. We want to stand up and be counted, to make a difference and this world a better place. But those desires stem not from a reaction to protect our way of life, but from the inner whispers of our souls. Perhaps the 911 tragedy was a wake up call for some, but for most it only accelerated what was already happening inside.

Many are beginning to wonder where our great experiment of democracy is headed. What is our role in the world?

Sure, we need to protect ourselves from wanton destruction. But we are so much more than a loud mouth carrying a big stick, threatening to swing it at anyone who so much as gives us a dirty look.

We're supposed to be a nation of vision, where inner guided principles and individual rights take precedence over everything else. Isn't it time we walk the walk, and demand our leaders put that vision before commercial interests, or the most recent blip in the economy? Or will we keep letting them buy us off through entitlements and pork-barrel benefits?

Some say we should go beyond our role of world cop to one of true leader, not by force, but by love and patient guidance. That doesn't mean rolling over and playing dead. But it does mean putting our actions where our principles are, and not simply reaching to protect our wallets.

Our technology has created the means to draw this world together into one big society. Yet sometimes it seems we stand in the way of that happening, even as the downtrodden of the world demand a piece of the pie of abundance.

If you're a parent, you know there comes a time to let our kids grow up. And when they do, we have to let them stand, and fall, on their own. And hopefully we'll be there to help them up when they do.

The rest of the world is much like our children, and we're the parents. We've fed it these values for 200+ years. Now it's growing up, and wants to be treated as an adult, not someone to forever be bullied and controlled. How will we respond?

Will we beat them into submission? Or let them choose their own way while holding out the vision of a way to peace and happiness that they, too, may find of value?

Maybe we can drag them out behind the woodshed for a while longer. Eventually, though, what goes around comes around. They'll grow up, and the beating will be on us.

In the meantime, we know what we have to do. We've got to throw the bums out. Because if we don't, we may be forced to look at the ones who are really to blame.

And that's one the 911 commission wouldn't touch with a 10 foot pole.

Copyright 2004 by John Dennison. John is a voice for those who do not hear or know they have an inner voice. Author of Whispers in the Silence: Living by the Light of Your Soul, he can be reached at john@WhisperZone.org or visit him at WhisperZone.org, home for those who know their own way.

MORE ARTICLES:

Shimano Calcutta: The Politics of Award-winning Shimano Reels
It is undeniable that Shimano is aware that the demands of the times have changed'from technology advancement to evolution of techniques and styles However, the objectives remain the same: to catch for fish, commune with nature, and enjoy fishing as a sport with a Shimano Calcutta

The Human Role of Politics
It is commonly accepted that the project of sustainable development is conceptually composed of three constituent parts These parts are (1) environmental sustainability, (2) economic sustainability, and (3) social-political sustainability

Usher Tickets - Usher's New Music Tackles Politics
Straying from his usual soulful crooning about ladies and love, Usher is tackling politics in his new music The R&B singer attended President Barack Obama's inauguration and told

Speech Training Specialist Offers Tips for Getting Your Message Heard in Business, Sales and Politics
Executives, sales people, politicos and others who live and die by the spoken work learn that effective speech training is the first step towards getting their message heard, says speech coach Sandra McKnight who points to 'performance-oriented' speech training as a critical first step for anyone seeking to project a dynamic and charismatic public persona.

The Future of Debate and Politics has Changed Forever
Debate.com, the first online debate community, changes the art of debate with the successful launch of version 3.0. This release includes a laundry list of new features including new voting technology, debate and member ranking, photo albums, messaging, advanced searching, video integration and a friend system.

The Politics Of The American Dream
The American Dream is the promise to have it all and enjoy it all. It's been glorified and sentimentalized as a utopian goal not just by the media and Hollywood stars, but also by businesses and politicians, including the President of the United States.

World Politics Review Named Top 5 International News Site by Real Clear Politics
World Politics Review was recently named by Real Clear Politics as one of the Top 5 International News Sites.

Online Politics 101 E-Book Provides Free Advocacy Guide for Political Campaigns and Citizen Activists
"Online Politics 101: The Tools and Tactics of Online Advocacy," looks comprehensively at the Internet political organizing methods that work today, with new sections on cutting-edge tools such as Facebook, Twitter and online advertising. Expanded chapters explore topics including online video, viral marketing and online fundraising. The 52-page, free handbook also discusses topics ranging from the essentials of building an effective campaign website to the use of blogs to promote candidates and issues.

Understanding 911 and the Politics of Blame
These 911 Commission hearings are fascinating. But lurking beneath the surface is something that really bothers me.

Economics and Politics of Regional Droughts
It cities across America water is an issue, the flow is sporadic, either too much or too little. We must stabilize the flow, so businesses can plan, people can feel secure and we will not be caught with our pants down during the next drought.

Football and Politics One Side and the Same As Cyprus Revives Reunification Attempts
Football is one of those things that is far more important that the immediate sum of its parts - the twenty-two men, ninety minutes and two goals This is especially true in times of crises, where the sporting conflict serves as metonym for the wider political or humanitarian reality

Don't Play Around With Politics
Politics is a dirty thing no matter how noble intentions are If you are a considerate citizen you will find here a lot of things that may interest you

Vocus Recognized as Exceptional Business by Gazette of Politics and Business
Vocus, Inc., (NASDAQ: VOCS) a leading provider of on-demand software for public relations management, today announced that the company has received the Exceptional Business Award by The Gazette of Politics and Business.

Internal Politics Is The Cause Of Why People Are Buying Investment Property In Coqueirinho, Brazil
Over 1 million new jobs are predicted to be created in Brazil by the end of 2008, according to the tourism department in Brazil as a result of increased holiday makers. Walfrido doe Mares Guia, the minister of the tourist board, says that 575,000 jobs have been created as a result of tourists and subsequent 500,000 jobs are to be created before the end of 2008'. Praise should be given to to the Brazilian government who have forked out money into improving existing infrastructure around Brazil for tourists, this programme is known as PRODETUR'.

Lead Generation and the Politics of Spite
If you have been studying Internet marketing for a while (and I mean for even a short while), you've undoubtedly heard the phrase, "The money's in the list." And you may not get it. You may hear it, but just ignore it. But believe me, that's the most important asset your business will ever have, and it's so important that you can't afford to ignore it. You should be concentrating on lead generation from the day you came online.