How 9-11 changed America

http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/an-america-that-no-longer-knows-itself/2011/09/09/gIQA3ju5FK_story.html

First off, let me say that it is not my intention to re-post other folks opinions as my own.  This is something I have been thinking about for the past week and I know that it will alienate some folks.  So when I read Kathleen Parker's column and saw that I am not the only one who sees the impact of 9-11 in what is not a great patriotic way I decided to use it as a jumping off point for this post. 

Let me say upfront that the acts of heroism that occurred on that day are never to be questioned or challenged.  Selfless people stepped up that day and in the aftermath to reaffirm what makes our country great.  What gave me pause then and continues to do so today is the bile and vitriol that has plagued our country since then.

As Parker states; "Simply put, it damaged our collective soul and seems to have released a free-ranging hysteria that has contaminated our interactions ever since."  The hysteria and the anger we now see in our public discourse has done and continues to do more damage to America than any act Osama bin Lauden and all the twisted terrorists could have imagined.

I would never in my wildest dreams have imagined a time when what have historically been fringe opinions and tactics would litter the mainstream.  In the last ten years rather than seeing America united in a common cause and working together, we have fallen into the gutter where it is de rigor to bash our President personally because you disagree with him politically.  It is fashionable for political leaders to practice the politics of obstruction rather than leadership.  We watch leaders and pundits playing b.s. games while we watch the rich get rich beyond the wildest dreams of Midas while the great American Middle Class is shrinking.  Neither political party is without blame in this.

Much of this madness began to flourish in the aftermath of 9-11.  So while I will honor those innocent souls who perished in the attack and those selfless heroes who freely walk into harms way, I will not look at the event or its aftermath as anything but a tragedy.  Lives were lost that day, but more importantly dangerous forces were unleashed on our country that if not checked could lead us to further ruin.

I would only ask readers to take a moment and think about the events of the last decade before they react to what I have written.  Be objective, and try to set your own bias to the side before you comment.