In the Seventh Year - a powerful column by Roger Cohen

And in the seventh year after the fall, the dust and debris of the towers cleared. And it became plain at last what had been wrought.

For the wreckage begat greed; and it came to pass that while America's young men and women fought, other Americans enriched themselves. Beguiling the innocent, they did backdate options, and they did package toxic mortgage securities and they did reprice risk on the basis that it no more existed than famine in a fertile land.

So beginneth the powerful word of the day, as expresseth by Roger Cohen in this column in today's New York Times.

He use of pseudo-biblical methods of expression might seemeth corny, although he dost present it far more effectively than one perceiveth in my poor imitation to illustrate, which is why thou should read his words, and not mine.  Still, I beseech thee to keep reading.
Please allow me to offer a few brief snippets that illustrate why Cohen's use of such a style of writing works, even if my own is more than awkward:

For Bush ruled over the whole nation and so sure was he of his righteousness that he did neglect husbandry.

And it came to pass that the nation fell into debt as boundless as the wickedness of Sodom. For everyone, Lehman not least, was maxed out.

So it was in the seventh year after the fall of the towers. And still Bush did raise his hands to the Lord and proclaim: "I will be proved right in the end!"

Wherefore the balance of power in the world was altered in grievous ways, and new centers of authority arose, and they were no more persuaded by democracy than was the Pharaoh.

The use of a biblical style of reference seems so very appropriate.  Even the metaphor of 7 years works - I think of the dream of the Pharoah that Joseph interpreted, the 7 fat years followed by the 7 leans year, only perhaps in our case we have seen the two inflated, for in our span of 7 under Bush the rich have indeed gotten much fatter economically while for most of the rest of uswe have been devouring our seed corn and soon may face incredible difficulties, for we have had no Joseph to whom Pharoah President Bush hath been willing to listen.

Perhaps you might findeth the expressions of Cohen somewhat offensive on this 7th anniversary.  Last night Keith Olbermann reminded us in his Special Comment about how some, especially in the "Republican" party would use the events we remember today not to heal, but to divide, not to remember but to scare and seek power.  Thus I find it not offensive when Cohen rights

Therefore, in the seventh year after the fall, with 1,126 of the slain still unidentified, their very beings rendered unto dust, their souls inhabiting the air of New York, it seemed that one nation had become two; and loss, far from unifying the people, had sundered the nation.

Today most of us will have more than one occasion during which we remember, we reflect.  In my school there will be a moment of silence during the morning announcements.  Perhaps I will take a few minutes in each class to ask my students what they recall, although since most are 15-16 years old their memories will not be a large a part of their lives as it will be for those of us who were adults.  Still, some of my students will know because of family members at the Pentagon, or who had trouble getting home because of the disruption, or because someone with whom they have connection was in one of the towers in NY.  

As a nation we are again confronted with a choice.  How we will govern ourselves, whom we will choose to lead us, why, and to what end.  For a moment today the politics may cease, even though some do not understand the importance of that.  Thus while McCain and Obama will come together for the Memorial in New York, Congressman Virgil Goode has a major fundraiser, despite what should be the near-sacredness of this occasion.  Not surprising given he is of the party of a President whose principal reactions to the events we commemorate this day were to attack a country that had nothing to do with 9/11, to restrict the liberties and freedoms he claimed were the reason we were attacked, and to tell us to go shopping.  

Each of us will respond to this day as we deem appropriate.  Some may find Cohen's words offensive - I do not, because I think they remind us of the dimension of what we have lost, which one could appropriately describe as being of biblical proportion, whether in loss of liberty sy homr or of the respect towards our nation by other countries.  Having just taught the period that leads to the development of our government I cannot help but remember that Jefferson wrote in the Declaration about "a decent respect to the opinions of mankind."  

I urge you to read Cohen's entire piece.  If you deem it appropriate, perhaps offer some thoughts of your own in the thread below.

The prophet is often without honor in his own land: Cohen now lives overseas which makes me think of that phrase.  Perhaps he is merely a clear-sighted individual who can express cogently the thoughts we see only through a glass darkly.

But since he does this so much better than do I, let me end as he does:  

For Bush ruled over the whole nation and so sure was he of his righteousness that he did foster division until it raged like a plague. Each tribe sent pestilence on the other.

And in the seventh year after the fall, the dust and debris of the towers cleared. And it became plain at last what had been wrought - but not how the damage would be undone.

Peace?

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