tp28.xml
Title
tp28.xml
Source
born-digital
Media Type
story
Date Entered
2003-02-24
TomPaine Story: Story
I know this is late. I wanted to share it with you anyway:
9/11 affected me deeply enough to change my political behaviors. Since 9/11, I no longer just use my talents just for my political party. More than ever I am aware how our political parties divide us when we should be most connected. I feel more comfortable with bipartisanship standards because they conform to the Jeffersonian ideal of Democracy: hear all sides before deciding. It is my duty to use my talents wisely, in memory of all of those who died on 9/11. I no longer pull my punches, either--the pain in my chest when I recall the sound of those firemen's suit alarms in the dust, won't let me say less than I should say. That sound hurts so much that I must be brave. I must be. 9/11 made me see the forest instead of the trees.
The terrible event also opened up my compassion for others in another way: I see a responsibility to reach out to a brave younger peopleóboth city and county officials as well as a new crop of volunteers and state assemblymen, who work against great odds for a better world here in Reno, Nevada. (The gambling syndicate long has canceled any tax benefit we gain because they drown our social services and justice system with addicted people.)
9/11 made me aware that there is no such thing as an intelligent or justified war, that the word 'war' itself implies schoolyard immaturity and old fashioned wrong-headedness. Now more attentive to alternative and foreign press, I understand now how our hegemonic moves into the Middle East give us control of offshore oil. I understand that the proposed war on Iraq is merely a feint to secure Saudi Arabia.
9/11 made me seek to better understand things.
9/11 affected me deeply enough to change my political behaviors. Since 9/11, I no longer just use my talents just for my political party. More than ever I am aware how our political parties divide us when we should be most connected. I feel more comfortable with bipartisanship standards because they conform to the Jeffersonian ideal of Democracy: hear all sides before deciding. It is my duty to use my talents wisely, in memory of all of those who died on 9/11. I no longer pull my punches, either--the pain in my chest when I recall the sound of those firemen's suit alarms in the dust, won't let me say less than I should say. That sound hurts so much that I must be brave. I must be. 9/11 made me see the forest instead of the trees.
The terrible event also opened up my compassion for others in another way: I see a responsibility to reach out to a brave younger peopleóboth city and county officials as well as a new crop of volunteers and state assemblymen, who work against great odds for a better world here in Reno, Nevada. (The gambling syndicate long has canceled any tax benefit we gain because they drown our social services and justice system with addicted people.)
9/11 made me aware that there is no such thing as an intelligent or justified war, that the word 'war' itself implies schoolyard immaturity and old fashioned wrong-headedness. Now more attentive to alternative and foreign press, I understand now how our hegemonic moves into the Middle East give us control of offshore oil. I understand that the proposed war on Iraq is merely a feint to secure Saudi Arabia.
9/11 made me seek to better understand things.
Collection
Citation
“tp28.xml,” September 11 Digital Archive, accessed October 7, 2024, https://911digitalarchive.org/items/show/765.