9/11 Nine Years Later: The New Normal
Nine years, two wars, and one administration later, what is there left to say about 9/11? What should our response be? And is it possible to move forward without growing complacent, without forgetting that we're never free from the threat of terrorism? Here's Ed Morrissey on those questions:
So what do we do now? What do the next nine years look like from this vantage point? Terrorism has ceased being the top priority of Americans, who are more worried now about the economy and jobs — as it should be. We should go about our business, but with the clarity that while we don’t want to arrange our public lives around terrorism forever, we need to keep the danger in mind as we conduct that business. Recent attack attempts remind us of the potential cost of complacency, but we no longer have the luxury of indulging in sheer ignorance as we did through September 10th, 2001.
We may never “stamp it out,” because this kind of lunacy doesn’t take too many people to become a danger to the US and the rest of the free world. We can stamp out the terrorists where we find them, and we can cut off their funding and resources. That will be the new normal, and it will last a long time, and we finally appear to have realized it.
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Jun '10
Re: 9/11 Nine Years Later: The New Normal
Our vigilance, in avoiding terrorist attack, needs to be in proportion to the terrorist's ability to change the subject. That's still huge. If they "succeed" again, like they did nine years ago, nobody will be thinking about the economy that day.
Jun '10
Re: 9/11 Nine Years Later: The New Normal
The idea of a "new normal" can never be static for long. It will continue to shift. In my own reflections and retrospectives, I sometimes have to go back to the video, the speeches and the writings that are closer in time to the event, to ensure the authenticity of my remembrances and to retouch the emotion to a degree. In looking forward, we should recognize that the threat remains real, and cease with the revisionist rationalization that diverts our attention and undermines our resolve.
Future Patriot Days may well be marked by protest/counter-protest and worse. Today has been marred by the circus around the GZM and the threat of burning books to make a statement. The downside is obvious (turmoil), yet the upside may be in keeping 9/11 in the fore of our national consciousness. I would not be surprised if next year's 10th anniversary were less a somber remembrance and memorial to the day's victims and heroes, and instead a day of volatile controversies and worse. This too, may be a part of the "new normal."
Edited on Sep 11, 2010 at 8:58amMay '10
Re: 9/11 Nine Years Later: The New Normal
We should not pretend this struggle is going to be over soon is indeed accurate. Alas, many of the terrorist enemies are ably facilitated by our "friends" in the Middle East; and the economy along with the public remains vulnerable to terrorist attacks.
But all is not bleak, when there are good men and women in the world. As an Aussie, I would like to draw attention to the 20 American and 16 Australian Fire-fighters, Police and Paramedics who have just completed a 7462km (4636m) run across the United States as a commemoration of their colleagues lost in 9/11.
Those interested can see the website detailing the route at http://tourofduty.com.au/ with a link to donation if you feel so inclined.
I also recall how US and Australian fire-fighters mutual supported each other during large scale firestorms in these counties over the last decade. The US does not always stand alone in the fight against terror.
Edited on Sep 11, 2010 at 9:56amSep '10
Re: 9/11 Nine Years Later: The New Normal
Great post. Even tho I'm sure it's purely a political calculation, even BO seems to recognize that the threat is ongoing; witness the regular Predator strikes in Pakistan and elsewhere.
Jul '10
Re: 9/11 Nine Years Later: The New Normal
The new normal is that Muslim "leaders" and the elite call the American people bigots and expect us to grovel.
And, all too often, we do.
Just witness the 6,500 American non-Muslim women who will wear the hijab today.
Aug '10
Re: 9/11 Nine Years Later: The New Normal
That would never work for me, [ed.: user name removed]. Nor will it for most people, I believe. Hate is too blind, and too poisonous for life to exist. How can any love or joy come to you through that wall of hate? The terrorists win if you go down to their level and lose your humanity.
We can beat them six ways from Sunday by maintaining altitude, outmaneuvering them, understanding their primitive calculations, and taking them out. Iraq was a horrific defeat for Al Qaeda, and the world knows it. Don't let the enemy deceive you. It will take a long time, but we win in the end; it's a done deal.
Life is full of seemingly unreasonable tragedy, horrible pain, and suffering. The sensible thing is to challenge God, as Job does in the Old Testament. God answers. Find out why Satan is allowed to run riot through the four corners of the world, wreaking havoc. Wrestle with God, and discover the real meaning of suffering, death, and destruction. There's joy on the other side of the blazing maelstrom of chaos.
[Ed.: The comment River is referring to was in gross violation of our terms and conditions, and has been removed.]
Edited on Sep 11, 2010 at 2:11pmSep '10
Re: 9/11 Nine Years Later: The New Normal
Really?
I have heard that cliche all my life (usually from the Left) and it is nothing but gassy, meaningless blather, totally divorced from reality. If we "sink to the level" of the terrorists, how does that help them? Are they suddenly going to stop fighting, declare victory, and say, "Haha! You're just like us, now! We win!" Ridiculous.
Let me put it to you straight: The terrorists do not care if we become more or less "like" them. All they want is for us to stop breathing. This is an existential struggle for America and Western Civilization. We will not survive unless we are prepared to deal with the enemy in some pretty rugged ways. To quote Mr. Orwell: "People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf."
You will preserve your precious "moral high ground" only because other men will sacrifice their humanity – even their very souls – to keep you safe. And you're right – that is a terrible sacrifice.
But it is a sacrifice that a precious few must make.
Edited on Sep 11, 2010 at 8:21pm