A solemn day.

A day to recall how, in our time, like that of the population of the US did on 12/7/1941, everything changed in moments.

A time to reflect on what has happened along the road, historically, politically and personally.

A well written essay discusses what I have felt for some years, yet never fully formed the thoughts, nor took the time to write, in any form, some of my perceptions.

From the blog Sigmund, Carl and Alfred, “In Search of a Nation’s Soul:”

September 11, 2008
The emperor has no clothes. The events of 9/11 exposed a terrible truth: As a nation, we have lost our national soul.

The nation’s struggle with the war on terror and the partisan political bickering that has reached hysterical proportions, is the result of a few fundamental truths, not the least of which is that as a nation, we cannot and will not define what it is to be an American and what it is we stand for.

In order to find moral clarity, nations and individuals must have insight.

Dr Sanity:

There is an inner courage required to look at one’s self in the mirror of insight and truly know the person looking back. All of us are capable of the most horrible behavior; just as we are capable of finding ways to rationalize it and cover it up or blame others for it. Psychological health requires that we look into that mirror frequently and understand our own motivations and behaviors and not flinch in recognizing the truth about ourselves.

…individuals and societies go off careening off in all the wrong directions–directions that will never lead to the recognition or acceptance of reality, and so can never lead to effective solutions.

It does take courage to look into oneself or a nation’s psyche, because, inevitably, imperfections are made clear and the need for change becomes not only evident, but pressing.

Aldous Huxley noted that “Facts do not cease to exist because they are ignored.”

As a nation, we have reached a point where many would sooner believe absurd conspiracy theories or flights of fancy, rather than face the facts that would upend their perceptions of what reality must be, so as to validate their beliefs and biases. In other words, make the facts fit to support bias and even outright hate- no matter how many lies, distortions or reinterpretations of reality there needs to be.
The mythology must be dispelled- we are not all equal. Aldous Huxley, once more:

That all men are equal is a proposition which, at ordinary times, no sane individual has ever given his assent.
[…]

The post over there goes on, drawing from other well spoken blogs, with those comments being interlaced among the words of the blogger(s) of the main post.

Many years ago, I developed an understanding that politicians seem to have forgotten all they learned in Kindegarten. They fight, they squabble, they take from each other (and us) for personal gain, bend the rules, sometimes beyond the breaking point. In many cases, we then send them back to do it to us more and harder, but if someone, not of the political stripe, performed the same type of behaivor(s), our remedy would be running them out of town, at the least, or send them to a penitenary, at the worst, and be proud of ourselves for doing seeing “justice” served.

Last night, and on ethe way to work this AM, I pondered how the 2008 Presidential Campaign has devolved to petty name calling. You could rightfully, the astute political followers among you, that there is, in fact, substance to this political race, and I concur with this modifer added: For those who seek it out and will not rely on the MSM to bring it to you.

For the majority of the populace, enmeshed in their personal issues so tightly they cannot look outwards for a few moments to help decide where we should take this nation, for a perspective of coherent consideration.

Left to the talking heads, we are doomed to listen to Joy Behar and Anderson Cooper blame John McCain Sarah Palin for abusing Obama for using the lipstick reference in the first place. In the first place. This sort of logic fails me. In the larger picture, the MSM has, pick your word here: tabloidized or E!ed this race and neglects to cover the issues of substance regarding the plans each side has for the country, if elected.

In the meantime, a Democratically controlled congress actively supports the transfer of wealth out of this nation, while demonizing the President for wrecking the economy. Neither the President, nor Congress run the economy (don’t get me started on the failed (yes, past tense) “educational” system), but certainly the regulations or laws set or passed by each branch has a bearing on what happens in the business world. I dunno, just a dumb bitter guy here, but I figure $700B/year sure may improve our lot in life at many levels, providing relief for our tired checkbooks, as well as jobs for those who want them.

Toss in a variety of players who all want to be able to make the decisons of the Commander-in-Chief (including pols and retired Flag and General Officers), without a) working to get the title and authority granted by The Constitution and b) without the accountability. Add to that, actors with maybe even high school educations being given worldwide stages to publically explain how they know it’s the wrong thing. Notice the lack of “and here’s my idea on how it should have been done” in more detail than “FIND BIN LADEN!” You know, a comprehensive, multi-agency approach, to include every single department of the Federal Government, if need be.

So, a day when we should bow our heads and wonder what life would have been like with 2996 other people, from several countries besides our own, had they lived and contributed to society. To know they left family and friends behind asking “Why?”

And just about now, 7 years ago, how life changed for the world community.

And to maybe spend some time figuring how to build the World up, rather than to tear it down.

Said xformed @ 8:33 am | Permalink   

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