This Hole in the GroundHalf a lifetime ago, I worked in this now-empty space. And for 40 days after the attacks, I worked here again, trying to make sense of what happened, and was yet to happen, as a reporter.
All the time, I knew that the very air I breathed contained the remains of thousands of people, including four of my friends, two in the planes and -- as I discovered from those "missing posters" seared still into my soul -- two more in the Towers.
And I knew too, that this was the pyre for hundreds of New York policemen and firemen, of whom my family can claim half a dozen or more, as our ancestors.
I belabor this to emphasize that, for me this was, and is, and always shall be, personal.
And anyone who claims that I and others like me are "soft,"or have "forgotten" the lessons of what happened here is at best a grasping, opportunistic, dilettante and at worst, an idiot whether he is a commentator, or a Vice President, or a President....
It beats whatever the President could have said tonight, by leaps and bounds.
All the time, I knew that the very air I breathed contained the remains of thousands of people, including four of my friends, two in the planes and -- as I discovered from those "missing posters" seared still into my soul -- two more in the Towers.And I knew too, that this was the pyre for hundreds of New York policemen and firemen, of whom my family can claim half a dozen or more, as our ancestors.
...none of us could have predicted this.Five years later this space is still empty.
Five years later there is no memorial to the dead.
Five years later there is no building rising to show with proud defiance that we would not have our America wrung from us, by cowards and criminals.
Five years later this country's wound is still open.
Five years later this country's mass grave is still unmarked.
Five years later this is still just a background for a photo-op.
It is beyond shameful.
... in a crime against every victim here and every patriotic sentiment you mouthed but did not enact, you have done nothing about it.And there is something worse still than this vast gaping hole in this city, and in the fabric of our nation. There is its symbolism of the promise unfulfilled, the urgent oath, reduced to lazy execution.
The only positive on 9/11 and the days and weeks that so slowly and painfully followed it was the unanimous humanity, here, and throughout the country. The government, the President in particular, was given every possible measure of support.
Those who did not belong to his party -- tabled that.
Those who doubted the mechanics of his election -- ignored that.
Those who wondered of his qualifications -- forgot that.
History teaches us that nearly unanimous support of a government cannot be taken away from that government by its critics. It can only be squandered by those who use it not to heal a nation's wounds, but to take political advantage.
Terrorists did not come and steal our newly-regained sense of being American first, and political, fiftieth. Nor did the Democrats. Nor did the media. Nor did the people.
The President -- and those around him -- did that.
I do find the Bush rhetoric especially frustrating. When I hear Bush speak about terrorism, I'm reminded of that day on 9-11 when he was reading a children's book to kindergarten students. Bush seems to think that he's still in that class room facing an uncritical audience with a knowledge base much narrower than his. When I hear the man talk it's clear that he's absolutely clueless.
I don't think that Bush is dumb, but I do think he's out of his depth. The lesson here is that you really have to look beyond the packaging to a candidate's resume. Bush's resume indicated that he had no real foreign policy background; and now 6 years later, it's clear that he's still struggling to master the basics of world history and current events. In one way or another, we are all paying the price for his incompetence. That's what I find most frustrating. Hopefully we can turn the corner here over the next few years. Our survival as a nation depends on it.
I had the same problem. This link at AlterNet though worked fine. Powerful clip.
That is exactly what the Republicans are telling us to do. Do not speak against the will of this Administration. If you do, you are a traitor.
I fear, this is the first US Government that I do NOT trust. However will I get that trust back?
When I was in Dublin 2 years ago to celebrate getting married to my lover Robert, I went to Joyce Tower in Sandy Cove.
There, I bought a picture of James Joyce and on it was one of his verses. "I will no longer serve that in which I no longer believe."
I have this picture hanging up in my office. It rings so true. Two more years of this Administration; how will I do it? How will WE do it?
Get the House back for starters, and that is just around the corner. As Jim Webb said, he is going to work 24/7 until election day. So am I!!
Thank you sir.