America’s greatest enemy is America

As Americans commemorated another anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks, there are lots of things I remember about that day, and the days that followed.

I was working at a small daily newspaper at the time, one with the Associated Press service. I remember the first advisory that came in simply stating in about 12 words that a plane crashed into the World Trade Center. I recalled a story a few weeks earlier about a small commuter plane crashing into a New York City apartment building, and thought the same thing happened.

I went back to work on the day’s paper when I got a phone call from a pressman who had taken the day off work.
He told me another plane had flown into the other tower. I asked if it was a commuter plane as well. He simply responded I needed to get to a television.

Like many other Americans, I remember bits and pieces of that day and its immediate aftermath.
I also remember political unity unseen in this country since the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor.

There was nearly unanimous support in the House and Senate for an invasion of Iraq and even the Patriot Act, a piece of legislation that has done more to take American freedoms than any invading army could ever dream.
This country had never been so politically and socially united for nearly six decades.

I can remember then-Attorney-General John Ashcroft singing on national television. And as Americans, I can remember we even acted like it sounded good, that’s how united we were.

There are still lots of remnants of the 9-11 attacks. The Patriot Act is still stripping Americans of their freedom, and airport security has never been the same.

A link, or lack thereof, to terrorism is reported in every single large scale act of violence committed in the country, ranging from guys lighting their feet on fire to shootings in movie theaters.

But that sense of unity and political cohesiveness is as absent from the social skyline as the twin towers.

Blame it on the Democrats. Blame it on the Republicans. Blame it on talk radio, Fox “News” or CNN. Whom-ever or whatever you want to blame, Amer-icans are at each other’s throats today unlike any time I have ever seen.

While I having nothing more than anecdotal evidence to substantiate my claim, it seems political rhetoric has reached a new polarizing level.

It’s either black or white. Conservative or liberal. Republican or Democrat. Right or wrong.

Common civility and compromise have been replaced by outlandish exaggerations and malicious attacks.
Whether it’s the Democrats or Republicans, fear is being sold to the American public faster than ice cold water in the pits of Haedes.

And more and more, I see Americans gobbling up this fear and extremism. And just to make sure the hatred and intolerance that always accompanies fear is fully exploited, technology is here to lend a helping hand.
Primarily through Facebook, but also through countless websites and other social media like Twitter, Americans now have an instant platform to share with the world their “ideologies,” if that’s what you dare call the regurgitated rhetoric they learn from television advertisements, direct mailers, and talk show radio disguised as news.

On top of this discourse is the ever running stream of presidential ads, which through evolving advertising techniques, can even more effectively portray anyone as a demon, and you have the backdrop of arguably America’s most contentious political drama since the American Civil War.

What’s most disconcerting though is looking back at what we were 11 years ago and the tragedy that spawned that national unity. That kind of cooperation could have been a lasting legacy of that horrific event.

Instead, our society has digressed. And with every negative ad, with every snide, hateful and sarcastic facebook comment or vindictive commentary, we seemingly turn our backs on the memory of all those people whose lives were lost on Sept. 11.

And that might be the biggest tragedy of them all.

Gregory Orear is the General Manager/Editor of the Red Oak Express and Glenwood Opinion-Tribune. He can be contacted at publisher@redoakexpress.com.