A common purpose, not a common enemy

Now I don't know if Thomas Friedman has suddenly become enlightened or if he just sees which way the wind is blowing, but he is for once on the right track and even admits that he not always was. In essence what he is saying in 9/11 Is Over is that thanks to the fear mongering of the Bush administration, the neocons and the Republican Party al-Qaeda was successful on 9/11 - they made us forget who we are.

Not long ago, the satirical newspaper The Onion ran a fake news story that began like this:

“At a well-attended rally in front of his new ground zero headquarters Monday, former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani officially announced his plan to run for president of 9/11. ‘My fellow citizens of 9/11, today I will make you a promise,’ said Giuliani during his 18-minute announcement speech in front of a charred and torn American flag. ‘As president of 9/11, I will usher in a bold new 9/11 for all.’ If elected, Giuliani would inherit the duties of current 9/11 President George W. Bush, including making grim facial expressions, seeing the world’s conflicts in terms of good and evil, and carrying a bullhorn at all state functions.”

Like all good satire, the story made me both laugh and cry, because it reflected something so true — how much, since 9/11, we’ve become “The United States of Fighting Terrorism.” Times columnists are not allowed to endorse candidates, but there’s no rule against saying who will not get my vote: I will not vote for any candidate running on 9/11. We don’t need another president of 9/11. We need a president for 9/12. I will only vote for the 9/12 candidate.

What does that mean? This: 9/11 has made us stupid. I honor, and weep for, all those murdered on that day. But our reaction to 9/11 — mine included — has knocked America completely out of balance, and it is time to get things right again.

While this was a direct hit at Rudy Giuliani the sad truth is it could apply to Hillary Clinton and nearly everyone else seeking the presidential nomination. The two possible exceptions are Ron Paul and Dennis Kucinich.

Of course Tom Friedman's 9/12 is not my 9/12 - his concern is largely about the impact on his absurd "flat earth". But his basic observations are correct, we have lost sight of who and what America represents.

Update
As one would expect the wingers are outraged and even more outraged.

Many on the left are not as willing to forgive as Libby and I.