Sparkling Diversity

Archie Whitehill, a Norfolk resident since 1977, takes a look at people some may consider to be living “outside the norm,” and the issues that affect them.

Category: Culture

9-11: Let's Get Over It

Sep 08

2:35 PM

I hope this 9-11 cowtowing does not continue for as long as Pearl Harbor Day hung on as a "special day." Let the dead lie in peace. Let's move on. Let's do what we can to prevent loss of life, and, more importantly, prevent further loss of liberty in the future.

The 9-11 incidents have lead to nothing but heartach, but it is not the kind of heartach from losing a loved one. It is the heartach one gets as it is realized that we are using such tragedies as excuses to stifle diversity, to become racial bigots, to enhance a non-existing god's powers, and to steal what liberties are left to us.

Other than spend money on a memorial and plant more flags, what has our government done for us since 9-11-01? Stolen our money, stolen our liberties, placed us in a virtual prison in our own nation, at our own expense, and continued to dishonor the founding fathers' vision for how are nation should be governed. That is not a reason for celebration, it is a cvall to action.

Our time for action is coming up in November, and we must all realize that Obama and McCain are not answers, they are catalysts to further disaster. Vote for a candidate of your choice who is neither Democrat nor Republican, if you have the moral courage to do so.

Remembrance of 9-11-01 has become a caricature of our government.

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Ira

Submitted by TR on Tue, 09/16/2008 at 6:15 pm.

Demanding that they end their nuke program before we talk to them about ending their nuke program is getting less backing. Another BO v. JM diff.
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Five former U.S. secretaries of state said Monday the next administration should talk to Iran [The Shrub admin has even got on board recently]

Engaging Iran is important because Washington's military options against Tehran are unsatisfactory, said the diplomats, who worked for Republican & Dem admins.

The five -- Colin Powell, Madeleine Albright, Warren Christopher, James Baker and Henry Kissinger -- all said they favored talking to Iran as part of a strategy to stop Tehran's development of a nuclear weapons program.

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Good piece Archie. Yours

Submitted by keithh41833 on Mon, 09/15/2008 at 8:41 pm.

Good piece Archie. Yours truly was in the Pentagon on that day and had been in one of the spaces 1 hour before it was destroyed. Two of my friends died that day. However, I agree that we have been forced to give up our liberties for security. We citizens are now potential criminals even though those attacks were perpetuated by foreigners (Saudi citizens) (with box cutters no less)and not American citizens. To quote Barry Goldwater "Remember that a government big enough to give you everything you want is also big enough to take away everything you have.” It was true then and it is also true now.

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It must be contagious

Submitted by Ira Tateu on Mon, 09/15/2008 at 3:06 pm.

"Has no problem with trying diplomacy with Iran."

How exactly do you have diplomacy w/ Iran? Their country is based on religion. Their interpretation calls for our deaths. But before us they want Israel "wiped off of the globe." Why would you have talks w/ a country who's president makes these types of remarks?

What would you sugsest? Let them bomb Israel? Second holocaust? What exactly?

This is yet another display where Obama shows he has no clue what he is speaking about. Or he does and is taking advantage of the fact many of his listeners do not.

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Gosh, that’s a bit harsh

Submitted by Dead Head on Fri, 09/12/2008 at 8:22 am.

Archie, you’re a smart guy, but I think it’s a little ham-handed to suggest that 9-11 is an example of the fact that we’ve been imprisoned by our government. That said, I agree that the enormous national sigh each year is a bit much. Individuals should decide how much he or she will morn, not the media or government. Plus, events like this always bring out the nut-bags that try and politicize it.

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Interesting Archie

Submitted by TR on Thu, 09/11/2008 at 3:57 pm.

and we must all realize that Obama and McCain are not answers,

Not to kick dead horses, but 911 happened on the GOP watch 9 months after Shrub's swearing in. McCain was saying in October of '01 that Iraq was next. McCain was saying that the anthrax probably came from Iraq. He said the war would be easy. He said we could "muddle through" in Afghanistan. He thought warrantless wiretapping was breaking the law before he thought it was OK. He pressed Bush to veto a ban-on-torture bill. BO was against going into Iraq when it was a very unpopular ("unpatriotic" even) position. BO has been right on Afghanistan, calling for more troops. Has no problem with trying diplomacy with Iran.

These 2 candidates ARE the choices. Voting for another is a wasted vote. The decisions made by these 2 candidates is striking. Should be easy for you based on your lamentations.

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WOW!

Submitted by MadwomanBloggin on Thu, 09/11/2008 at 3:56 pm.

Wow! is about all I can say. I agree with you. I just can't help but wonder how many won't. As for what your other commentor said, I may not agree with your other views but I defend your right to them. Like the post (thought I might be the only one in the world feeling that way.)

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Disgraceful Political Stunt

Submitted by carole59449 on Thu, 09/11/2008 at 3:48 pm.

You are so right, Archie. I consider the continued observances of 9-11 a production of the Republican political machine--a way to keep the "threat of terrorism" fear front and center in the American psyche as a justification for committing the domestic acts of terrorism on our civil liberties that you cited. Whenever I use the international phone lines to call my daughter overseas, I always make sure to tell the entity that is eavesdropping which part of my anatomy they can kiss. How long is it necessary to observe a moment of silence? I think we ought to observe a moment of silence marking the day the Supreme Court stole the 2000 election. I don't share your political views, but I sure do defend them.

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