Ham Smothered in Gravitas

The closer we approach the one year anniversary of the atrocities of September 11, 2001, it becomes more and more clear that the popular culture and its icons simply don't know how to respond. It seems that almost since that fateful day itself, both prominent individuals and institutions have been making plans about how to properly commemorate what happened. Yet it's all still developing clumsily and piecemeal and most talking heads (particularly from the Left) still aren't sure what they're actually supposed to do or say, despite their often bold and always self-reverential comments to the contrary.

I get the sense that this stems from, in part, the modern generations' lack of experience with widespread tragedy. But I suspect it originates with how these generations have been conditioned to respond to episodes of tragedy or sadness or even mild discomfort. (and of course I blame the Liberal, therapeutic, egocentric culture for this). Typically anyone under 40 will respond to tragedy by: 1) being oblivious, because they're not paying attention; 2) laughing it off because they don't understand it or think that it must be somehow ironic; or 3) ruminating on how if affects them personally, followed by the drawing up of a list of grievances and reparations to be paid.

The events of 9/11/01 are of a scale that most aren't sure how to respond, in that their normal patterns of action don't quite fit anymore. You can't ignore it, you can't laugh it off, and there's no one to blame. (That is, besides the radical Islamicists. But since public schooling and a steady diet of cultural relativism don't equip one with critical thinking skills, and since they can't reasonably connect the Republican Party or Big Business to these events, the Left really has no worthy villains). So most blindly grope forward, trying to do what makes them personally feel good.

For example, TV news departments--instead of simply reporting on the facts of what occurred and what has transpired since, they're caught up in debating what video footage will be "appropriate" for the audience to see (that is, when they're not consumed by the decision of what earth tone Peter Jennings' suit should be so as to simultaneously communicate pathos as well as his fierce, Canadian resolve). The management of broadcast networks aren't sure whether or not they should be running advertisements at all. The MLPA (and its local mouthpiece, the proto-human Denny Hocking) consider their petty labor-management squabble as something that will be fighting for attention with our remembrances of this infamous day.

And now, for whatever reasons, Democratic and Republican candidates running for office around the country have agreed to stop campaigning for several days surrounding Sept. 11 - because it wouldn't be in the spirit of the day. Is it just me, or does this feel like some kind of admission that the reality of running for public office in 2002 is in itself offensive to American ideals. As if whatever they say in their ads and campaign appearances is necessarily disingenuous and crass and wince worthy during this small window of cultural sanity and sobriety.

And come to think of it, I think they may be right. Can you imagine, right after watching a replay of those gruesome fireballs rising above the Manhattan skyline, jumping into an ad featuring the simpering voice of Paul Wellstone complaining about American businesses not paying their fair share of taxes, or claiming that he'll pull us out of the "Bush recession" by raising your taxes? Yes, these ads would indeed be deceptive, patronizing, and vile.

But, I dare say, these ads would be deceptive, patronizing, and vile even if 19 murderous Arabic savages hadn't slaughtered 3,000 innocents a year ago. It's just that nobody would notice or nobody would care--least of all the politicians responsible for putting these ads out. Yes, they should be ashamed of those ads and their rhetoric--but equally so on September 12.

Reasonably speaking, the anniversary of 9/11/01 should be the ideal time for politicians to be speaking to the American people. They'll have our attention like never before. And our interest will be properly framed by the brutal results of an appeasing, morally relativistic foreign policy. In fact, forget the ads, its the perfect time for a debate. Sit Wellstone and Coleman down for a 2 hour conversation on foreign policy. The topics would be 1) What were the causes of 9/11 and 2) how do we proceed in making sure it never happens again.

Given the fact that Wellstone believes 1) it was our fault it happened and 2) we should do nothing but apologize, redistribute wealth, and hope it won't happen again - there's no chance he wins that debate. This is the reason politicians like him will be silent on this day--because they have nothing worthwhile to say, and for at least one day, they know it.