Here are some more links to articles I've found on the Internet that I thought said something about the 9/11 tragedies that needed to be said. I don't agree with every word of them but I respect the thought processes and the attempt to do something constructive.
- Don't Go Overboard by Joe Conason, Salon
- An Afghan-American Speaks by Tamim Ansary, Salon
- Bush's Faustian Deal With the Taliban by Robert Scheer, Los Angeles Times (Note the date on this: 5/22/2001)
- Paying the Price by Paul Krugman, New York Times
- How Terror Could Break Through by Gilbert M. Gaul, James V. Grimaldi, and Joby Warrick, Washington Post
- A Wake-Up Call for the Media Oligarchy? by Arianna Huffington, Los Angeles Times Syndicate
I would also recommend keeping an eye on Slate, which has had some truly brilliant articles, and Joshua Micah Marshall's Talking Points. In his latest outing, he makes a point that no one else reporting bin Laden's denials is noting…mainly, that the man is not saying he had nothing to do with the attacks; he's merely saying he didn't plan them.
In the meantime, I have some additional thoughts, which I offer here for whatever they may be worth…
- There's something strangely comforting about Jerry Falwell saying something really stupid and hate-filled. It reminds us that, even in times of tragedy, some things never change.
- I understand why everyone from Ed Koch to Donald Trump is saying that the World Trade Center must be rebuilt. And as long as it's important to the American spirit to not admit weakness, they will and should continue to say it. But here, on a website where it doesn't matter, let's admit that it probably won't be. Would you lease a suite in such a place? More to the point, if you were the head of a large company, would you assume the responsibility of moving all your employees into such a place? Could you get any kind of insurance? The trend towards home officing — folks working at home and sending it in via e-mail — already promised to make structures like the W.T.C. obsolete to some extent and this will probably hasten the trend. I think folks should go on saying that the complex will rise again and perhaps something with the name "World Trade Center" will. But I doubt we'll see Mr. Trump put any of his own money into an attempt to build anything as large and expensive as what was there before Tuesday morn.
- Inasmuch as I have had great reservations about the experience, integrity and legitimacy of George W. Bush, I am not thrilled to find him even technically in command at this time. Nevertheless, I think we have to pray for his success and not spread negatives over silly things like bad public syntax and the route he took back to Washington. On the other hand, I think that to question the patriotism of those who do criticize our leaders is even worse. We are all "real Americans" and it is an act of hatred to try and say that another American is not one, just because you don't like the opinions being expressed.
- I have long had mixed feelings about New York mayor Rudy Giuliani. I think he's done some wonderful things to make Manhattan safer and saner, while also infringing on civil liberties and waging childish wars against his critics. However, in this disaster, he has written the book about how a public official should act in time of crisis. And I don't say that, as some do, just to imply that Mr. Bush has not.
- A prediction: The first three TV-movies about the disasters will be — not necessarily in this order — the tale of the passengers of Flight 93, the story of some person who led the evacuations of one tower of the World Trade Center, and a portrait (with John Wayne-style sensibilities) of the fire fighters or rescue crews. I also predict that within two weeks, one or more of the tabloids will find some ex-C.I.A. yahoo who will swear that our government knew in advance, every detail of the attacks on the World Trade Center, though probably not those on Washington. And within a month, someone will find some stupid-ass way to connect the disasters to O.J. Simpson and/or The Kennedy Assassination.
I have absolutely nothing to report or recommend in the worlds of comic books, animation, TV, any of that. When I do, you'll see it here. I can hardly wait.