tp77.xml
Title
tp77.xml
Source
born-digital
Media Type
story
Date Entered
2003-02-28
TomPaine Story: Story
September 11, 2001 could have been a wake up call on a global scale. Unfortunately, it wasnt.
Instead, the status quo is still being maintained, and in some cases even amplified.
On 9-11 and afterwards, we were all bombarded with corporate-influenced media. Less noticeable was the increase in the amount of corporate influence on the Bush administrations actions, ranging from a rise in military spending ($346,500,000,000 in 2002) to large concessions regarding the environment (weakening of air conditioner efficiency standards, permission for mining companies to dump waste throughout the U.S., endorsement of the proposal to store 77,000 tons of nuclear waste at Yucca Mountain, and the list goes on). And even less noticeable to the public was the
Orwellian-like encroachment on civil liberties (Homeland Security Act and the U.S.A. P.A.T.R.I.O.T. Act).
And for those whose eyes were opened, perhaps the greatest shock was the realization that the United States has never been the most beloved country in the world. Noam Chomsky stated it most eloquently when hesaid, "the U.S. is the only country that was condemned for international terrorism by the World Court and that rejected a Security Council resolution calling on states to observe international law." Years of hypocrisy, unilateralism, and covert agendas regarding foreign policy culminated in 9-11.
But can we salvage anything good from 9-11? The answer is: yes. We must recognize the fact that our country needs to improve its position with the rest of the world; we must demonstrate respect for the victims by acknowledging the real causes behind the attacks; and lastly, we must act with compassion, not senseless retaliation.
9-11 was not a wake up call for most. Instead, this tragedy was a nudge- in which direction, good or bad, only time and the manner in which we act will tell.
Instead, the status quo is still being maintained, and in some cases even amplified.
On 9-11 and afterwards, we were all bombarded with corporate-influenced media. Less noticeable was the increase in the amount of corporate influence on the Bush administrations actions, ranging from a rise in military spending ($346,500,000,000 in 2002) to large concessions regarding the environment (weakening of air conditioner efficiency standards, permission for mining companies to dump waste throughout the U.S., endorsement of the proposal to store 77,000 tons of nuclear waste at Yucca Mountain, and the list goes on). And even less noticeable to the public was the
Orwellian-like encroachment on civil liberties (Homeland Security Act and the U.S.A. P.A.T.R.I.O.T. Act).
And for those whose eyes were opened, perhaps the greatest shock was the realization that the United States has never been the most beloved country in the world. Noam Chomsky stated it most eloquently when hesaid, "the U.S. is the only country that was condemned for international terrorism by the World Court and that rejected a Security Council resolution calling on states to observe international law." Years of hypocrisy, unilateralism, and covert agendas regarding foreign policy culminated in 9-11.
But can we salvage anything good from 9-11? The answer is: yes. We must recognize the fact that our country needs to improve its position with the rest of the world; we must demonstrate respect for the victims by acknowledging the real causes behind the attacks; and lastly, we must act with compassion, not senseless retaliation.
9-11 was not a wake up call for most. Instead, this tragedy was a nudge- in which direction, good or bad, only time and the manner in which we act will tell.
Collection
Citation
“tp77.xml,” September 11 Digital Archive, accessed November 15, 2024, https://911digitalarchive.org/items/show/730.