The Wisdom Deficit

by Steve Barrera

I never realized that I loved my country until I saw the Twin Towers crumble on September 11, 2001. I am comfortable with revealing this fact because I know my experience was shared by many other members of my generation. We are that generation of slackers, who have spent their lives tuned out, distracted by trivia, and caring little for politics or for historic processes unfolding in the world. And we were all, in some way, transformed by 9/11.

I say that many members of my generation shared my experience, and that we were all in some way transformed, because I know that there are differences to tell. Some of us in Generation X were already patriotic, already knew their love of country – they have been partisan Americans since the Reagan days. They’ve joined the Army Reserve and been shot to death in Iraq at 37 years of age, certain to their last breath that they were there for a purpose. And some of us have been transformed in another way – they seem to have grown to dislike their nation ever more. They joined the street protests in New York City during the Republican National Convention, dressed in ridiculous costumes, certain that someone would be impressed.

We find ourselves in a very difficult state, on the eve of a very important election, and in the midst of a very important war – with no light to guide us toward the future we all deeply wish we could find together. We slap bumper stickers on our cars as an act of penance for the sin of our past indifference. See that flag – that means I’m on America’s side, damn it. See that yellow ribbon – that means I care about the suffering. See that look on my face – that means I haven’t the slightest idea what the hell is going on.

There is nothing more dangerous than a wounded animal, which is what Osama bin Laden & Associates understood when they shot an arrow into our heart - that towering financial center which once stood in the midst of our greatest city. They hope that they have sent us crashing through the forest, a lumbering beast in agony, thrashing wildly until we have done so much harm to those around us that a mercy killing is required. You might still wonder if they won’t succeed.

At first I didn’t understand what the big fuss was over the invasion of Iraq. It seemed to me that we had been surrounding that sorry country for over a decade, paying a daily cost to keep its regime contained, constantly witnessing hand-wringing from Democrats and Republicans alike over Saddam Hussein's WMD aspirations, and waiting for the appropriate time to finish an unfinished job. So why not get it over with in March of 2003?

That question looms large as the Presidential election campaign reaches its final, frenzied stage. What problem, exactly, do Senator Kerry and his supporters have with the President’s momentous decision? Is it Mad Cowboy Syndrome – they just don’t like Mr. Bush, the man? Is it Fear of War – they don’t want to be responsible for summoning Mars – and his cruel companion, Chaos – to Earth, for yet another rampage? Is it really Due Process Violation, as Mr. Kerry’s rhetoric suggests – we simply neglected to check all the right boxes on the "Permission to Wage Just War" form we were supposed to pick up at the U.N.?

They must be fools, those Democrats, or possibly even traitors. They don’t put flags on their cars, because they don’t love their country. They don’t understand, as good Americans do, that our mighty bomber fleet gives us the right to do as we damn well please. They’d just as soon roll over as win the War on Terror, so we definitely need to keep them far away from the levers of policymaking. Let them wander the streets in their ridiculous costumes. What good reason could they have to oppose this war?

Continued...

© Steve Barrera and Generation Watch 2004-2007. All rights reserved.