All day we've been hearing about the terrorist attacks that took place
on 9/11/2002. We've heard especially from the families of
victims, and from the workers who continue to have health problems.
Some of you probably even listened to our President talk
about 9/11.
Often we hear that 9/11 changed everything. Personally, I do
not think it is true. Yes, it changed everything for the
families of the victims, and for the workers who are having health
problems. But I don't think it changed the course of history.
We were going to attack Iraq regardless. We were going to see
a shift in the political power structure in the country, toward system
with a unitary executive. We were going to see a shift in the
Supreme Court. We were going to see systematic degradation of
the environment. We were going to see massive budgetary
deficits. We were going to see an unhealthy degree of cooperation
between government and industry. We were going to see a
massive propaganda effort. We were going to see a deadlock
in the Palestinian-Israeli peace process. We were going to
see the price of petroleum-based fuels increase. We were
going to see the housing market slump.
Those are the things that will change the course of history.
9/11 may have accelerated some of these things, but
it did not cause any of them.
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Great knowledge dude.
It changed nothing for me.
Having lived in NYC for 6 years, (97-03) I have to say that it change my life profoundly, psychologically. Like a scar on our city that hasn't yet healed. Life came to a standstill for half a year, and it took another year just to get going again. Then the stupid war. We took to the streets.
Before Sept 11th life was normal, running smoothly along. After, it was just one crazy thing after another. With lunatics (and there supporters on both sides) wanting to bomb each other. And us New Yorkers caught in the middle.
Alex,
You are correct.It was not just the victims, and loved ones who sufered. Others have suffered too. I was nuts about the President's posturing, and shot from the hip on that one. I will try to be more thoughtful in my rants.
Your first commenter was giving you a little crap because you typed the wrong year, btw...
Dubbie decided to attack Iraq before he even became President. 9/11 didn't change how things were going to change, it just accelerated the change. (Follow that?)
Mixter
Mixter: thanks for pointingthat out. Just a dumb typo. But I must say, one thing that I like about posting on ScienceBlogs, is that if I say something dumb or make a weak argument, someone calls me on it. It's a little annoying sometimes, but hey, if I make a mistake, I deserve it.