Soap Box

[angelchicken]

First and foremost, my heart goes out to everyone who was affected-- both directly and indirectly-- by the September 11th attacks. It is not something anyone is just going to "get over" and I hope that two years later you are able to find some peace.


In remembrance of the 9/11 terrorist attacks and the gross loss of life in New York, Washington DC and Pennsylvania, they are holding a memorial service at Ground Zero where children whose families were directly effected by the terrorists are going to read the names of the people who died two years ago today.

I do not like this. I really don't. And here is why:

I think it trivializes the event. I loathe that the media keeps pushing the fact that the children are reading the names as opposed to the mayor, or the wives and husbands or parents of the victims. To me, it seems so incredibly crass and, well, spun, for lack of a better word.

I am incredibly lucky in that I didn't really know anyone who died. I know people who worked in the Twin Towers and either weren't in yet or did not go to work that day.

But I saw what happened. And I have to say, nothing needs to be done to make this tragedy any more horrible than it already is. I feel that the children are a deliberate manipulation by the city or the state or whomever organized the memorial to tug at the heartstrings of America.



I have AOL. I know, I know. But whatever I have, I live with it, not the point.

The point is, yesterday (or the day before. They are all running together) there was a poll (AOL loved their polls) and the question was along the lines of "Do you think Sadaam Hussein had anything to do with the September 11th Attacks?

And something like 50% of the people voted "yes, despite the complete lack of supporting evidence" (only worded a bit less er, abruptly). The other 50% were split between flat out "no" and "I don't think so but I wouldn't be surprised if evidence showed up that said he had a hand".

Spin Doctors of America Rejoice!! For your job is now and shall always be secure!

I can hear teachers in 100 years talking about the worst terror attack on America perpetrated by Sadaam Hussein who was later run out of town on a rail because of the great and glorious President George W. Bush!! Let there be fanfare and streamers. Osama bin Whaten? Taliban? Oh! That oppressive Afghanistan regime that America squashed on the way to taking down the Infamous Symbol of Every Evil the World has Every Known, Saadam Hussein! Did you know that both Hitler and Pontius Pilate were his ancestors? And he ate babies! While twirling his mustache and chortling maniacally! Thank Heaveeeeeeen for President Bush, the greatest President in the history of the world!

Maybe Hussein had something to do with it. Maybe not. Maybe he was just a nice distraction when we couldn't find bin Lauden. But my point is, how did this happen.

We could not have more evidence that it was Osama if the planes were painted with his picture and there were flags trailing them with the words "This plane has been taken over by Osama bin Lauden's flunkies". There are tapes! There are confessions (I think). There is nothing to do with Hussein!!

Am I missing something? Seriously. Is there some connection that I haven't seen? Because I have to say, this is really and truly something I have been wondering since Bush first announced that Iraq was our new target.

And I really don't like this "distract them with shiny baubles" plan that the government seems to have perfected. We can't get Osama? We'll get Iraq. We know for a fact that N. Korea had nuclear weapons? Iraq probably, er maybe, does, could have 'em, too.

*sigh* I am just tired and freaked out and annoyed. And it makes me wonder. Because if this spinning is actually happening and the government is going to find a way to pin 9/11 on Hussein without concrete evidence, how many pieces of history do you think have been fucked with in the same way?


Sorry. I'm just rambling.

Comments

[sunbrae.livejournal.com]

Using children like that is sick and wrong. I'm sure they need one more reminder of what happened two years ago. That's...I can't be logical about that right now.

And I don't know anything about Iraq & their involvement (except, as you said, not really any proof). I don't think it's beyond our government to tweak history, however.

*hugs*

[angelchicken.livejournal.com]

*hugs* to you, too.

[reginaspina.livejournal.com]

Oh, GAH! I had an enormous argument with my father-in-law last time we visited because he was SURE Saddam Hussein was involved in the WTC attacks. NO, NO HE WASN'T. And the other day, I was startled to hear that someone actually thought that both Osama bin Laden and Saddam Hussein were being sheltered by IRAN - I was all, dude, bin Laden and the Iranians HATE EACH OTHER - the Taliban was fighting the Iranian-backed Tajik militias in Afghanistan, and yes, they're fundamentalist Muslims, but bin Laden is a Sunni and the Iranian regime is Shi'a. And there is no way on EARTH that Iran is going to shelter Saddam Hussein seeing as he started a war against their country that killed a million people and the very first people who got a taste of the Weapons of Mass Destruction back in the early '80s were IRANIANS! GAH! (Err, sorry 'bout the tirade. And I totally agree about the manipulativeness of so much of the commemoration.)

[angelchicken.livejournal.com]

I hate the selective amnesia that seems to blanket the world. It drives me mad. And the worst part? If "The Man" wants to manipulate the events and change history? It'll probably happen.

Grr.

And by all means, rant away. I open my journal to ranting. Especially today (well, especially every day. But especially, especially today).

[ghoulchick.livejournal.com]

Yes, yes, and more yes. I swear, I'm thisclose to moving to some other country. Somewhere that isn't America.

[angelchicken.livejournal.com]

Right there with you, chiquita.

[thesaucyone.livejournal.com]

I understand the rage, but do you really think it's that much better elsewhere? I used to believe the same thing, then I started traveling a lot and lived in another country. Now when I realistically look at the state of other nations, I feel pretty lucky I live in the US.

[angelchicken.livejournal.com]

I do feel lucky to be an American. I mean, I can sit and post shit about the President in my LJ and I am protected by the Constitution. I know it isn't any better elsewhere. And after the attacks happened when people were freaking out and wanting to turn tail and run and were talking about how horrible it was to live here I was one of the people who was saying, it's ain't no better anywhere else.

It's just nice to think that if I went to Greenland or Canada or Grand Cayman (mmmmmmGrand Cayman) then everything would be peaches and roses. It's a nice little fantasy.

But, from what I have heard, I would rather live here than anywhere else in the world. Except maybe England, but that is only based on the fact that I am far more likely to meet a guy with an English accent if I live in England. :)

I am just venting at everything today. And Bush still scares the crap out of me.

[thesaucyone.livejournal.com]

I hope that didn't come off as superior or preachy. It wasn't intended that way! By all means, rant away!

One thing I try to keep reminding myself every day is that I can make a difference in this world on a very local level. If I can teach my immigrant students to look at one small thing in a way that they have never considered before, be it politics, social issues or environmental issues, then I have made a change in the world.

I have to remind myself that it's all small steps, baby! I do understand the urge to flee, but feel much braver having decided to stay. If we don't fight the power, who will! Fight the powers that be, girl! Hee hee hee. Go Public Enemy #1

[angelchicken.livejournal.com]

I hope that didn't come off as superior or preachy. It wasn't intended that way! By all means, rant away!

Not even the littlest bit, I promise! One of the problems with chatting over the 'puter. I was afraid of sounding defensive. :)

And I agree. One person making one small difference is still making a difference. It all starts there.

[sarah-p.livejournal.com]

To me, it seems so incredibly crass and, well, spun, for lack of a better word.

Thank you. I was just talking to a group of friends this morning about this same thing, and that's EXACTLY what I said ('crass' was my word! And I told them it trivialized everything. Weird... ;)). Here in the PCland that is college, though, *I* was the crass and unfeeling one.

What happened two years was horrific, but we can't change the past, and exercises like this accomplish nothing. All we can do is take what we learned from the tragedy and apply it to the future...

And yeah. I pretty much wanted to give you a big hug for saying exactly what I feel.

*hug*

:)

[angelchicken.livejournal.com]

Well, you know, great minds . . .

*hugs*

[adjrun.livejournal.com]

Go you. Just... Dude. Word word wordypants word.

I get so amazingly pissed about the bin Laden/Hussein conflation.

[angelchicken.livejournal.com]

I get so amazingly pissed about the bin Laden/Hussein conflation.

I am right there with you. How does this happen? How? It makes no sense. And the fact that it is happening and people are starting to believe and people en masse are stupid! And can be played like a whistle. No craft needed.

Stupid "Hey! Look over there!" mentality.

Spin doctors and snake oil

[dry-witha-twist.livejournal.com]

I can't tell you how cool it is to see and hear Americans thinking critically about what's goin' down. I spend my life immersed in the details of international politics, and I read everything I can get my hands on from media outlets all over the world. Not only are you not missing anything, you're seeing things most people don't. Don't apologize by any means - it is so heartening to hear from people like you.

On the subject of "no better elsewhere", though, I have to disagree. I'm Canadian, and while there are plenty of problems with my country, there is a much wider range of perspectives in the media, and in general it is much more questioning here than in the States (obviously, I see plenty of American TV/newspapers, etc.). And not just in Canada - the BBC is embroiled in a serious brawl with Tony Blair over allegations that his office seriously manipulated the intelligence that was made public. The European media is generally more than willing to hang their own leaders out to dry.

Every country has terrible episodes in its past; the question is whether it is willing to go back and disassemble the lies and spin and confront the reality. France and Algeria, Britain and its colonial legacies, Canada and the interment of Japanese during WW2 - all vile periods, but ones which are now recognized as such. It doesn't seem to me that America (for the most part) hasn't really taken that same journey, and if you don't learn from history. . .

At the same time as we all grieve for the innocent life lost 9/11/2001, we might also spare a thought for the horror that occurred on the same day thirty years before - the CIA sponsored coup in Chile that overthrew a democratically elected gov't and replaced it with a brutal dictator. More than 3000 people were killed by Pinochet's regime, and some of the people in the Bush administration still think it was a legitimate tactic in the 'war on Communism'. I think we're right to be afraid of where these people will lead.