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Melvin's blog
Nshima & Curry
Melvin's Blog
Nshima & Curry
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THE LOST LESSONS OF SEPT. 11
Two years have passed and we're still learning lessons from
Sept. 11. The tragedy enrolled us in a rigorous Ph.D.
program, with courses in grieving, anger, and resentment, to
mention just a few. Some of us are earning straight A's, the
lessons etched on our brains forever. But many of us dozed
off in the middle of the first class, as soon as the
professor turned her back. We're now floating blithely in
our own little dream world, where everybody loves America,
and George W. Bush, much to our delight, has been nominated
for sainthood. There's already a halo around his head -- or
is that a zero?
The professor describes the hatred that produced Sept. 11,
but in our dream, such hatred has disappeared. Just melted
away. It's amazing what a couple of wars can achieve.
President Bush has sent the world a clear message: Love
America or else.
They love America in Afghanistan and Iraq -- yes, they do.
Just ask them yourself. You don't speak their language? No
problem. Here's a translator, courtesy of the State
Department.
Iraqi man (speaking Arabic): "You want to know how much I
love America? Let me tell you. Every day, I get on my knees
and pray to God to take care of America."
Translator: "He prays every day for America's safety."
Iraqi man: "I pray America will pay for what it has done to
my country."
Translator: "He prays that America will finance the
reconstruction."
The professor remembers the thousands killed on Sept. 11,
how innocent they were, how horrible their deaths. Tears
come to her eyes. Then she recalls other civilians, the
anonymous ones in Afghanistan and Iraq, and asks if their
deaths were just as terrible, just as unfair. This question
does not trouble us, because we don't permit hard questions
in our dreams. The questions we like are simple: How dare
they attack America? Did we kick their butts or what? When
will J.Lo finally marry Ben?
The professor remembers the outpouring of sympathy around
the world following Sept. 11, including the headline in a
French newspaper: "We are all Americans now." She asks
another question: Did America squander all that sympathy in
its propensity for war? This question does not trouble us,
because we don't know the meaning of "propensity." The words
we like are simple: Work. Sleep. Beer.
The professor discusses the backlash against Muslims, how
all of them were vilified for the actions of a few. Isn't
that as unfair, she asks, as blaming all Christians for
Bush's deeds? This question does not trouble us, because
we're proud of President Bush, proud that we were able to
buy his military action figure. He wears his uniform well,
unlike that rascal Clinton, who was ready to take his off
every time he spotted an intern.
The professor goes back to the people killed on Sept. 11.
She describes them as fathers, mothers, sons, daughters,
brothers and sisters, each of their deaths ripping a hole
into a family. She recalls the debates about how to replace
the twin towers and how to compensate the survivors. Human
lives, she says, are impossible to replace, yet we find
ourselves obsessed with money and possessions.
Her point is lost on us, of course. President Bush has just
sent us a tax refund. Everything is right with the world.
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