I'm not going to argue the merits of the war or the flaws of our disaster response here, but I do wonder why people choose to focus so much on the negative, no matter how great the cost to civility and progress for the nation. Rather than working together to solve our problems, too many choose to take sides and launch political attacks instead. I suppose it's easier to be negative than to look for the good and try to find solutions and new initiatives. But the fact remains that the unity and focus which made us strong after 9/11 is gone, and in their place we are left with hollow promises and senseless rage.
In my heart I feel as if the spirit of 9/11 should have been reborn and revitalized in the wake of Katrina, but exactly the opposite has happened. Rather than bringing us all together again it's become clear that too many would rather just tear the country apart and Katrina provides the pretext they need.
So it's war overseas and war at home and the innocent victims are forgotten in the madness. If that's going to be the atmosphere, then so be it. I'll make war as well, but my enemies will be intolerance, divisiveness, negativity, political opportunism and mindless partisanship. That's my offering on the graves of those who died on this day four years ago.
Dave
Slightly edited from the original version to make it easier for Shark to understand
Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - John Bil
9/11 families got millions from congress, Katrina families get chump change, whats wrong with this picture?
2 - Dave Nalle
John, Katrina families have gotten 'chump change' within days of the disaster and there's already enormous amounts more money appropriated for them and a lot more to come. It also looks like the '10,000 dead' figure is high by an order of magnitude, so we shoud count our blessings. If I were them I'd be happy that I'm going to get a new house or have mine rebuilt at no expense and that in most cases they aren't waiting around for payment for a loved one whose body was vaporized.
Dave
3 - The Fifth Dentist
"Admittedly, 9/11 was already largely forgotten by those who oppose the War in Iraq because understanding global strategy is politically inconvenient for them ..."
Please explain this "global strategy" to me. Is it to let Bin Laden run around free for four years (and counting) while we do something completely irrelevant and counterproductive? That's a hell of a strategy. Bush appointed unqualified advance men, political hacks, and friends of friends to important disaster relief positions. You think that was a good strategy? You want civility? Don't be so naive. Politics is a dirty game in this country and nobody plays it better than the Karl Rove and the Bushes. That's fine. I just want somebody competent to govern and make sound decisions. Hey, that might be a good strategy.
4 - Dave Nalle
I think you prove my point admirably, Dentist. You neither understand global strategy, nor do you respect the spirit of 9/11 and you manage to do it all in one short paragraph. It's so much easier to blame someone than to take responsibility for making things better, because without the blame you have to face up to the fact that the situation we're in now is largely your fault and the fault of people like you who substitute hate for reason and negativity for action.
Dave
5 - The Kid
Amen Dave. This post exactly describes the feelings I had Thursday evening as I switched back and forth between a 9/11 documentary and coverage of Katrina. I was deeply saddened by the thought of how divided we have become.
I remember how members of all political parties stood together in those dark days; the future and protection of America was all that mattered. Everyone was pulling together.
This is not to say that leadership should not be questioned, or that everyone must always agree. But it is the spirit and intent of the disagrement and questions that matter. If the questions are asked for the purposes of political gain and in a spirit of hate and divisiveness, then they are counter productive.
6 - troll
*I'll make war as well, but my enemies will be intolerance, divisiveness, negativity, political opportunism and mindless partisanship.*
We trolls will watch you implement this resolution with interest - but doubt that you can suppress your inner raging rightist realist raver child
Take your melodrama off my bridge
troll
7 - Georgio
>>>>If I were them I'd be happy that I'm going to get a new house or have mine rebuilt at no expense and that in most cases they aren't waiting around for payment for a loved one whose body was vaporized.<<<<<>>>
Dave I am confused by this statement...are you saying that all those who lost their homes are going to get new ones for free,,even the poor from the 9 ward..if so I would be happy but shocked..
8 - The Fifth Dentist
Alright Dave, I've taken your advice. I've cleansed the hate from my being. I am prepared to respect the spirit of 9/11. Now, can you please, as one pal to another, explain to me this "global strategy." Because to me, buddy, and I say this with the utmost respect and civility, it doesn't seem to be going very well. Now, I don't mean to pry, because that would be unneighborly. I realize that questioning our leaders is counterproductive to the mission and I am now prepared to follow them no matter what. But first Dave, I need to know, what is the strategy?
9 - Victor Lana
Dave,
I agree with you that 9/11 has been forgotten. I am fairly liberal (but was much more so that way before 9/11). 19 bastards flew planes into the Twin Towers, Pentagon, and a field in PA, and that changed the way I felt about certain things (since I lost people that day).
The thing is that even the comments to your post can't shy away from what you're suggesting. In my own recent post (9/10/2005) I didn't get into any politics because the issue is NOT political. It's ethical.
How can any American forget 9/11? That's like people forgetting what the Nazis did, Stalin's purges, and slavery. These things need to be remembered to honor those lost and their families. The "lost" are especially in need of respect and remembering. There should be no politics involved.
Sadly, I know that is impossible in these divided and strangely apathetic times.
10 - steve
how could you call Katrina aid "chump change" this is so untrue. what congress is providing these people is more money than they have ever had to their name. you can't even compare Katrina to 9-11. Katrina was a natural disaster, whereas 9-11 was a terrorist attack. I would be much more concerned of a terrorist attack than a natural disaster. with a natural disaster of this magnitude...these people had fair warning that that hurricane was going to hit them. in terrorism...there is no warning.
I could go on and on comparing the two but most people will get the point.
11 - gonzo marx
waitaminnit...here we go again with the spin cycle from Mr Nalle...
NO ONE has "forgotten" 9/11...far from it
many folks are way fucking tired of GOP hacks yanking out the Tragedy that occured that day in an effort to get the US population to "rally around the President" and to "not ask Questions" or to be "not partisan"
fuck that
we are in 2 ground Wars...one makes sense in the shadow of 9/11, the other doesn't
Mr Nalle and i have done this dance a few times here on BC..i do understand a bit about "strategy", and totally disagree on the premise behind any kind of pre-emptive War in Iraq...but am/was totally behind the Conflict in Afghanistan...so much so that i am VERY upset, and think that the WH made huge errors in NOT committing more resources to Afghanistan, then choking off the men and supplies for the Iraq misadventure...
now.,.ask yourself..what the fuck does a hurricane have to do with a terrorist attack?
answer-nothing
why link the two...?
ever watch a stage magician..he distracts you , making you look where he wants you too, but NOT at what he is doing?
same thing here kiddies...
distract,distort,destroy and deny...
that's the avowed Policy of Rove and the GOP for the last five years...
take a look around, and honestly ask yourself if the totalitarian Regime of this WH,Senate and Congress has looked out for your best interests...
bah...enuff outta me fer now...
Excelsior!
12 - Shark
Some things that are astonishing in their WRONGNESS:
1) "Real concern for the victims of Katrina was shoved aside in the rush to see who could score the most political points."
I think real concern for the victims was behind most of the criticism of the bungled local, state, and federal response.
2) "The real faults... pale in comparison to the widely spread conspiracy theories and manufactured outrage...of partisan hate and spite."
Tell me how "pale" they are if we don't fix 'em and we get a traumatic terrorist attack on a major city.
3) "The problem for many with 9/11 was not the death toll so much as the fact that it was caused by a clearly identified outside enemy who could be targeted for attack, making it difficult to turn the tragedy into a political witchhunt."
This is so sick and disengenous it's pathetic. You should be ashamed.
The problem for probably 99.9% of Americans was that we were attacked and 3000 people lost their lives, you fucking [self-deleted epithet]
3) "...So those who missed their chance to make a political profit from 9/11 have gone wild, with no regard for the truth or respect for the dead."
Most Americans of all political persuasions are concerned that our Homeland Security/FEMA isn't prepared for a major disaster. They would like a bi-partisan investigation into WHAT WENT WRONG -- so we can fix it.
4) "...today's anniversary of the destruction of the World Trade Center seems to have essentially been marginalized."
By assholes who USE IT to browbeat their political opponents with opportunistic, insane, distorted bullshit accusations. You're the one usin' 9/11s dead for your own agenda, Nalle.
5) "...Admittedly, 9/11 was already largely forgotten by those who oppose the War in Iraq..."
No one I know who opposes the war in Iraq has "forgotten" 9/11. The insults from Nalle escalate.
6) "...I do wonder why people choose to focus so much on the negative, no matter how great the cost to civility and progress for the nation."
Do the words IRONY and HYPOCRITE ring a fuckin' bell? Jeesus. How can you write this shit with a straight face?
7) "...my enemies will be intolerance, divisiveness, negativity, political opportunism and mindless partisanship. That's my offering on the graves of those who died on this day four years ago."
FUCKING UNBELIEVABLE!
DaveNalle, seriously, this is the most heinous, opportunistic, fucked up, manipulative, blantantly transparent bullshit you're ever written on Blogcritics.
I don't see how anyone can parse your words and conclude that you're anything other than a fucking [self-deleted].
You really should hang your fucking head and apologize to everyone who reads this shit.
13 - Shark
And you owe an apology to the families of 3000 dead people in NYC -- for invoking their deaths as an emotional sleight-of-hand in one of your sick diatribes against the dreaded "leftists".
14 - gonzo marx
heh
don't hold back Shark..tell us how ya really feel
Excelsior!
15 - Shark
Gonzo, I wish I hadn't read this. I've always had a smidgen of respect for Nalle, despite our battles.
I've been on BC for almost 2 years, and this is the most OBSCENE, hate-filled thing I've ever read.
The implicit disrespect for dead is so over the top that it makes me sick.
My respect for Nalle is ZERO. He's a sick opportunistic dude.
16 - Bob A. Booey
Is everything alright at home with the family and friends and stuff, Dave?
Just checking.
That is all.
17 - The Fifth Dentist
Dave, a distant, repressed, part of my mind thinks that what Shark just wrote was right on point. And I might have appreciated his skewering of you more had I not stopped hating and learned to love the Leader and Jesus. But Dave, I'm still waiting for you to elucidate me about the "global strategy" you speak of ... so I can further it in my own humble unquestioning way. Does it have something to do with Intelligent Design or gay marriage or the Blame Game? Oh I hope it does. I'm so anxious to do my part ... I want so badly to give my life for the Leader. Please tell me about the strategy before I have an accident in pants.
18 - John Bil
Hey did you notice this post is showing twice? BC may be having some tech problems with the editors.
19 - Temple Stark
>>yet despite the hope which so many had that the tragedy would bring the nation together, we seem to be more divided and contentious than ever.
IMHO, You're doing your part every single day.
20 - RogerMDillion
"Nothing shows this more than the eagerness of all sides to find someone to blame in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina."
You forgot to include "myself included" because you are constantly placing blame at the local and state level in every post that puts the blame on the feds. I'm not saying you shouldn't, but in the interest of full disclosure, print all the facts or you become no better than a music PR hack "reviewing" a band.
You try to act like the voice of reason above it all yet are down there in the mud swinging wildly with the rest of them. Why? You know full well you aren't going to change anyone's opinion with the "facts" you choose to use.
If there's any day that somone can't excercise their constitutional rights in this country, then the terroists win. Unless you can show me that these protests were in front of the house of a 9/11 family, I stand behind their right to do regardless of whether or not I agree with their message. Turn in your libertarian card.
21 - Dave Nalle
>>NO ONE has "forgotten" 9/11...far from it<<
Of course they haen't literally forgotten 9/11, but they've certainly forgotten the spirit of 9/11. That's the point.
>>many folks are way fucking tired of GOP hacks yanking out the Tragedy that occured that day in an effort to get the US population to "rally around the President" and to "not ask Questions" or to be "not partisan"<<
Ok, so what can those of us who are concerned and not just flacking for the GOP do instead to make people put aside their partisanship and work for the good of the nation instead of its destruction?
>>we are in 2 ground Wars...one makes sense in the shadow of 9/11, the other doesn't<<
To both you and Dentist, I'm not going to discuss that again here. The logic of the global strategy in invading Iraq is IMO utterly undeniable. I'll post another article explaining it, but it's off topic here. Maybe eventually you'll get it.
>>now.,.ask yourself..what the fuck does a hurricane have to do with a terrorist attack?
answer-nothing
why link the two...?<<
Exactly, gonzo. Exactly. This is my complaint. That 9/11 was used as a pretext yesterday for more biased attacks on the administration over the Katrina response. People were carrying Katrina related signs at 9/11 memorials and scheduled marches against the war on the anniversary. They're now willing to use both to advance their political goals, so the spirit of unity is truly dead.
>>ever watch a stage magician..he distracts you , making you look where he wants you too, but NOT at what he is doing?
same thing here kiddies...
distract,distort,destroy and deny...
that's the avowed Policy of Rove and the GOP for the last five years...<<
That may be, Gonzo. But it's not my policy, so kindly stop trying to label me with this ludicrous crap.
Dave
22 - Dave Nalle
I try to avoid responding to Shark, but his first response did at least use sentences, so I'll give it a try.
>>Some things that are astonishing in their WRONGNESS:<<
Exactly. That's what this post is about. It's about how wrong it is to use the suffering of Americans to advance a political agenda that does nothing to benefit them or the country.
>>I think real concern for the victims was behind most of the criticism of the bungled local, state, and federal response.<<
Patently and inherently untrue. If you're concerned about the problems with the response, then your concern should be for the victims of the next crisis. If you start crying racism over the response to Katrina, all you're interested in is scoring political points. That kind of accusation is so ridiculous and offensive that it can't possibly be genuinely motivated by anythng but partisanship.
>>Tell me how "pale" they are if we don't fix 'em and we get a traumatic terrorist attack on a major city.<<
Shark, that's the REAL concern. You're on the right page here. The same page I am. We do need to fix the problems. But that cause isn't advanced by attacking false problems and making up conspiracy theories. The issues of racism or who Bush appointed to head FEMA or whether he was on the spot soon enough or how the levee money was spent are essentially irrelevant and making them the subject of investigation and concern merely distracts from the real problems.
>>3) "The problem for many with 9/11 was not the death toll so much as the fact that it was caused by a clearly identified outside enemy who could be targeted for attack, making it difficult to turn the tragedy into a political witchhunt."
This is so sick and disengenous it's pathetic. You should be ashamed. <<
You just don't get it, do you. The sickening part is the deaths and the twisted way that they've been used for partisan advantage and I certainly don't leave Republicans out of that.
>>The problem for probably 99.9% of Americans was that we were attacked and 3000 people lost their lives, you fucking [self-deleted epithet]<<
Except that this is clearly no longer true. With Katrina the death toll is no longer the issue, and helping the victims has taken a backseat to partisanship, and that's what sickens me.
>>Most Americans of all political persuasions are concerned that our Homeland Security/FEMA isn't prepared for a major disaster. They would like a bi-partisan investigation into WHAT WENT WRONG -- so we can fix it.<<
Shark, I'd like that to be true, but this constant focusing on the wrong aspects of the problem says that the issue isn't being looked at the way that you and I think it should be. I hope that once we get to a congressional investigation the focus will be on the basic structure of FEMA and the concept of the DHS rather than all the partisan issues that are being pushed now, but I won't hold my breath.
>>By assholes who USE IT to browbeat their political opponents with opportunistic, insane, distorted bullshit accusations. You're the one usin' 9/11s dead for your own agenda, Nalle.<<
Who did I accuse of anything here, Shark? I merely observed what's going on.
>>No one I know who opposes the war in Iraq has "forgotten" 9/11. The insults from Nalle escalate.<<
This is so obviously untrue I don't even know how to respond. They may have a general memory of the event, but they've certainly forgotten the spirit of the aftermath.
>>6) "...I do wonder why people choose to focus so much on the negative, no matter how great the cost to civility and progress for the nation."
Do the words IRONY and HYPOCRITE ring a fuckin' bell? Jeesus. How can you write this shit with a straight face?<<
Because I don't like the direction the country is taking and the increasing polarization and straight out craziness on both sides, Shark.
>>7) "...my enemies will be intolerance, divisiveness, negativity, political opportunism and mindless partisanship. That's my offering on the graves of those who died on this day four years ago."
FUCKING UNBELIEVABLE!
DaveNalle, seriously, this is the most heinous, opportunistic, fucked up, manipulative, blantantly transparent bullshit you're ever written on Blogcritics.<<
Why, Shark? You think there's something wrong with opposing irrational extremism? You think we should give in to the Tom Delays and Pat Robertsons of the world and let them continue to set policy?
>>I don't see how anyone can parse your words and conclude that you're anything other than a fucking [self-deleted].
You really should hang your fucking head and apologize to everyone who reads this shit.<<
Why, Shark? I have a hope that some people will go beyond being blinded by their assumptions and actually read what I wrote.
Dave
23 - Shark
"The problem for many with 9/11 was not the death toll so much as the fact that it was caused by a clearly identified outside enemy who could be targeted for attack, making it difficult to turn the tragedy into a political witchhunt."
"Admittedly, 9/11 was already largely forgotten by those who oppose the War in Iraq..."
Dave,
You should apologize.
Say that you wrote it at 4 AM and were delirious.
That you didn't mean it.
That you really wouldn't stoop to exploiting the 9/11 tragedy for a little mindless jab at 'leftists'.
Apologize, Dave.
There is nothing left to say.
Apologize.
24 - Dave Nalle
>>You forgot to include "myself included" because you are constantly placing blame at the local and state level in every post that puts the blame on the feds. I'm not saying you shouldn't, but in the interest of full disclosure, print all the facts or you become no better than a music PR hack "reviewing" a band. <<
If there were posts placing blame on the locals I'd be defending the feds, Roger. The blame goes both ways. You'll notice that I have yet to write an actual article placing blame on anyone. What we write in comments is colored by the fact that it's a reaction to what has gone before. When what has gone before is crazed, irrational accusations I tend to counter them no matter who the targets happen to be.
>>You try to act like the voice of reason above it all yet are down there in the mud swinging wildly with the rest of them. Why? You know full well you aren't going to change anyone's opinion with the "facts" you choose to use.<<
Because if I stay above it all in the lofty tower of reason then those who want to spread hate and deception only get opposed by those who want to do the same thing from the other side.
>>If there's any day that somone can't excercise their constitutional rights in this country, then the terroists win.<<
Absolutely true. You can read my numerous posts on the excesses of the Patriot Act and its aftermath for my take on that.
>> Unless you can show me that these protests were in front of the house of a 9/11 family, I stand behind their right to do regardless of whether or not I agree with their message. Turn in your libertarian card.<<
Did I ever say I didn't support their right to protest or to say any damned crazy thing they want? Those rights are absolute. But even so I can still point out that they're deluded and appeal to those who still hold on to reason to not get dragged down with them.
Dave
25 - Shark
"The problem for many with 9/11 was not the death toll so much as the fact that it was caused by a clearly identified outside enemy who could be targeted for attack, making it difficult to turn the tragedy into a political witchhunt."
"Admittedly, 9/11 was... forgotten by those who oppose the War in Iraq..."
Dave,
You should apologize, especially to the families who share opposition to the "war" in Iraq AND the deaths of friends and family members in the Twin Towers.
Seriously, Dave,
is gettin' in a cheap shot against the dreaded 'leftists' on some marginal blog WORTH INSULTING AND DISRESPECTING THOSE PEOPLE?
Have you no shame?
Seriously, Dave, apologize -- and gain some respect among BC readers.
Just stop, Dave. Stop.