Standing up with pride and doing the right thing when no one is looking! Ethics! Being kind because it is just right. This negative man lies and is not fit to lead.
I watched the memorials today: at Ground Zero in NYC, in Shanksville, PA and at the Pentagon. I sobbed at relatives of those who were killed at Ground Zero read the nmes. I was awe truck thinking of the courage of those who took down the plane near Shanksville, PA so that it wouldn't attack the Capitol. I watched solemnly as Pres Biden and VP Harris played a wreath at the Pentagon. 9/11/2001 was 1 of the darkest days in America. Yet, at the same time, as you said, it showed what we can do as Americans when we value unity and caring for each other. We must never forget the tragedy of 9/11; and we must never forget the unity than we have within us. We must choose that unity. We must choose kindness. We must choose truth. God Bless America🇺🇸
I appreciate the sentiment of unity expressed by you, Harris and Walz. I do worry, however, that the yearning for unity too often makes us too willing to turn the page and move on from painful moments in our history, and to "forgive and forget" those who caused that pain and suffering. It happened after the Civil War, and we got 100 years of Jim Crow as a result. We tried to do so after the civil rights upheaval of the 1960s, and systemic racism continues to this day. Joe Biden tried to offer an olive branch to the other side after the bitter, contentious 2020 election and talked about unity, treating one another again as fellow Americans, and how did that side respond? Four years of "Let's Go Brandon," election denials, voter suppression, attacks on the LGBTQ+ community and minority groups.
I don't know what the answer is, but too often "unity" in our country seems to equate with a "civility" that seeks to sweep our political differences under the rug. But, as we've seen during the Trump years, lives and freedoms depend on those political differences, including democracy itself. If MAGA were just a fringe movement like the fringe movements of old, I might have more hope. But they managed to take over an entire political party and threaten the survival of our democracy like at no time since the Civil War. And given the fact that tens of millions of Americans both support this movement, and are willing to tolerate it, I don't think unity is in the cards anytime in the near future, and if we try too hard to achieve it, it may only embolden the forces of hate and division to try again to trample on our fundamental rights and freedoms.
I understand the political value of Harris and Walz playing up "unity" in their campaign, playing the part of happy warriors and trying to distinguish Trump the man from Trump the movement. But in my opinion, there really is no distinction. Trump never would have been possible without the millions who supported his corruption and criminality, and millions of others who sat silently by and left the hard work of saving our democracy to the rest of us, and they don't deserve a free pass here in the name of unity. I think that's something we'll have to continue to reckon with long after Nov. 5. I don't think these people can or will change, and so unity may have to wait until we can stamp out this insidious movement once and for all and another generation of Americans comes along that chooses to again act in good faith, respect our differences, and respect the guardrails of democracy.
I agree that there is an unreachable segment of the voters who are too steeped in anger and resentment as represented by MAGA. But in order to function as a nation in a more optimal way, we need to keep trying to convince at least some of them to see the value of unity and tolerance, to see the greater good, and to realize that the idea of bettering their lives is a progressive idea. That the conservatives have convinced those struggling economically to vote Republican is one of the biggest political con jobs ever. MAGA will not be easily disposed of. It must be chipped away incrementally.
I'd like to think that's possible. But if what happened on Jan. 6 wasn't enough to change their minds, I don't see anything we say or do now having that effect. The problem is not just Trump's base. The problem is that most Americans are clearly more concerned about the fate of their favorite football team or what happens on "The Bachelor" than the survival of democracy and restoring decency to politics. If that weren't the case, Trump would have been sitting in a jail cell last night and not standing on a debate stage competing to lead a democracy he tried to destroy.
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar had some interesting thoughts on the topic in his own Substack today. Here's what he said.
"Even if Trump loses this election, his candidacy has lifted the rock that reveals the zombie-like mob that longs for the overturning of democracy, the exploitation of the marginalized, their children dumbed down in schools, their religion ruling all others, the removal of consumer safeguards, an economy that favors the wealthy while draining the middle class, and so on.
"I am cautiously hopeful that if Trump, who has never won the popular vote, is so overwhelmingly defeated in November his minions will go back to hiding their contempt for the Constitution and America, and keep their irrational thoughts to themselves. Harris’ debate victory slightly moved the needle in that direction so I’m allowing myself to feel better about the election. For now."
I've also been giving this topic of unity some thought over the past few days and shared them here:
We live in a world with many shallow and easily cowed people. But many more are uninformed frustrated “low information” people. We don’t change that by saying it will never change. I live in a state with a 2nd term incumbent Democratic Gov. He & the Lt Gov are the only Dems elected to statewide offices. The legislature is veto proof.
The governor is pro-choice, anti-public money for private schools & vetoed anti-trans bills, etc. He won the first time (by about 5,000 votes) because as AG he was known (his father had been governor) and was not obnoxious like the incumbent gov he ran against. He won the 2nd time by a 12x greater margin because of how he did the job. How he stepped up after natural disasters and yes, how he handled Covid all without consideration of politics. AND he won as a person and a parent sharing their core values, who cares and does not denigrate voters or litigate grievances like being hung in effigy outside the mansion by a “militia”. He was visible taking care of the needs of Kentuckians.
He did not divorce most of the state. He criticized bad policies that harmed people including the state abortion ban.
As for Americans and their disconnect from politics:
• They are also disconnected from history including US history, how governments works & what our Constitution actually says.
• 54% of American adults have a literacy level below 6th grade.
• The average attention span by age group:
“… average attention span of a human adult is only 8.25 seconds, which surprisingly, is less than a goldfish's 9-second attention span …”
Group Average Attention Span
Children 29.61 seconds
Teenagers (14 years old) 28 - 42 minutes
Teenagers (16 years old) 32 - 48 minutes
Adults 8.25 seconds
Americans won the trifecta for well situated to accept disinformation.
Agree. We are a shallow society with a short attention span. Those old Jay Walking segments that Leno did showed that disturbingly well. One good byproduct of these Constitutionally challenging times may be more engagement of those awake enough to care. The young people seem to be coming around.
Funny you should mention shallow & short attention span. I included those in my comment not far from yours. (Also 54% of adults are below 6th grade literacy level. )
“… average attention span of a human adult is only 8.25 seconds, which surprisingly, is less than a goldfish's 9-second attention span …”
As we pause to reflect on the horrors of that dreadful day twenty-three years ago, it is worth reminding ourselves that truth and love are the qualities that ennoble us and set us free. Hatred and lies, on the other hand, keep us chained to the crimes of the past by keeping us superstitious and fearful.
To my mind, one of the most insidious aims of Project 2025 is to get rid of the Department of Education. For it is education that allows us to shrug off ignorance and pursue truth. (Yes, that pursuit will always be an eternal quest.)
It should come as no surprise, therefore, that the agenda of the fascist, rightwing Republicans is to control the process of education in order to ensure that there is a barely literate workforce of people who are only able to work in their factories and fight in their wars. The excuse of waging war in Iraq and Afghanistan - raining death and havoc upon untold millions - as a justifiable response for the horrors of 9/11 is proof if any was needed. And so, of course, is the barbaric reaction of the Netanyahu government to another horrible act of terrorism.
If our reflections on this solemn anniversary are to have any relevance for us at this precarious time, may they lead us to finding unity of purpose. It is time we realize that education is a birthright - not a commodity for sale.
A hallmark of authoritarianism is to suppress education and awareness, which are threats to oppression. Then the control of the flow of information is next. Not coincidentally, the more educated here tend to be more liberal and the less educated are more likely to go MAGA
Many states are trying to battle back from low literacy levels. 54% of American adults are at less than a 6th grade level. (Changing how reading & literacy are taught is crucial. Ending the contractors who disparage phonics. Replacing them with teachers properly trained as part of their certification / licensing is necessary.)
My daughter survived that terrible day, but at a price for our family. She got off the train in a lower level of WTC1 just as the first plane hit. When she went outside, she saw things she won’t talk about. We didn’t know she was alive until late that night when she finally reached her oldest daughter via someone’s landline. She walked from her office in a building across the street from WTC, across the Brooklyn bridge, and found a woman who allowed her to use her phone. I still feel the anxiety and worry every year. I am so very blessed to have her.
My cousin was on that same train, Sharon. He was rushed out of the building and ran as fast as he could. Somehow, he found a pay telephone that worked and called his parents to let them know he was okay. His parents were watching the towers burn and well, you know the rest…
My heart goes out to you Sharon. My daughter had just transferred from Reed to NYU and her dorm was a few blocks away. She went down to give blood that day.
If you want to be unsettled about one more thing watch “Special Ops: Lioness”, from Taylor Sheridan yanks you straight into the high-stakes world of covert military operations. The story follows Joe, played by the fierce Zoe Saldaña, a CIA officer leading a top-secret program called "Lioness." This isn’t just another mission; the program's purpose is to embed female operatives into terrorist organizations, using their ability to fly under the radar and get close to the targets no one else can reach.
Cruz, a young Marine portrayed by Laysla De Oliveira, is brought into the Lioness program for a mission that’s as dangerous as it is personal. She’s tasked with infiltrating a terrorist’s family, getting so close that trust turns into intel. But it’s not just about the action—this series digs into the emotional cost, the sacrifices these women make, and the way their personal lives bleed into their professional ones. The tension in every scene is signature Sheridan: raw, intense, and always with that emotional undercurrent that makes his characters feel real.
What sets “Lioness” apart is its focus on female operatives—women who are navigating the male-dominated world of special ops while carrying the weight of their own moral dilemmas. It’s a powerful look at the psychological toll this kind of work takes, with loyalty and sacrifice constantly at war with the human need for connection.
The government is not portrayed in a flattering way. It’s raw and gritty and bloodied—just like in real life.
While I felt that moment of unity on 9/11, I couldn't help but wonder what exactly prompted that horror--why was someone so determined to harm US? Then the acts of Bush/Cheney/War on Terror made it clear why. Being a bully doesn't justify a terrorist attack, but it does help EXPLAIN why it happened. I feel the same way about the Gaza war. That doesn't make one "pro-terrorist" but it SHOULD make use think about how we respond: healing or more bullying?
A lot of people go on about "an eye for an eye" without realizing that this idea is a LIMITING idea--you can see this in the Code of Hammurabi. Rather than chaos and revenge, punishment is intended to match the crime, and then society goes back, in theory, to being more or less stable. The phrase is not in fact "thousands of eyes for one eye."
Last night I was imbued with hope that these dark decades of war and division truly can be ended. And a new era of connection and caring for all our fellow Americans can ensue. It’s time to bring the divisiveness and demonization of people and beliefs to a close. I have felt the downward slide ever since Bush was anointed the winner in 2000.
You are so right Steven, you are so right. The country here and many other places and countries are so eager for unity, everywhere. There is chaos and some somber maneuvers as in the implications of foreign countries in our election, but against that there is a strong global majority aspiring at the same things, to live in peace and unity within both one's country and with other countries. I am sure that most of Ukrainians and Russians would like to live in peace with each others.
But one has to leave behind fears to move forwards towards hope, trust and love, not an easy thing when someone is blinded by fear and the ideas of a doomed future which Donald Trump is so trying to sell.
Kamala is such a symbol of all that hope we have which is why she gets such a response.
“Their success means that the goals of those 9/11 terrorists to tear us apart and break our way of life can still fail. It’s not too late to prove we are stronger together.”
Standing up with pride and doing the right thing when no one is looking! Ethics! Being kind because it is just right. This negative man lies and is not fit to lead.
I watched the memorials today: at Ground Zero in NYC, in Shanksville, PA and at the Pentagon. I sobbed at relatives of those who were killed at Ground Zero read the nmes. I was awe truck thinking of the courage of those who took down the plane near Shanksville, PA so that it wouldn't attack the Capitol. I watched solemnly as Pres Biden and VP Harris played a wreath at the Pentagon. 9/11/2001 was 1 of the darkest days in America. Yet, at the same time, as you said, it showed what we can do as Americans when we value unity and caring for each other. We must never forget the tragedy of 9/11; and we must never forget the unity than we have within us. We must choose that unity. We must choose kindness. We must choose truth. God Bless America🇺🇸
I appreciate the sentiment of unity expressed by you, Harris and Walz. I do worry, however, that the yearning for unity too often makes us too willing to turn the page and move on from painful moments in our history, and to "forgive and forget" those who caused that pain and suffering. It happened after the Civil War, and we got 100 years of Jim Crow as a result. We tried to do so after the civil rights upheaval of the 1960s, and systemic racism continues to this day. Joe Biden tried to offer an olive branch to the other side after the bitter, contentious 2020 election and talked about unity, treating one another again as fellow Americans, and how did that side respond? Four years of "Let's Go Brandon," election denials, voter suppression, attacks on the LGBTQ+ community and minority groups.
I don't know what the answer is, but too often "unity" in our country seems to equate with a "civility" that seeks to sweep our political differences under the rug. But, as we've seen during the Trump years, lives and freedoms depend on those political differences, including democracy itself. If MAGA were just a fringe movement like the fringe movements of old, I might have more hope. But they managed to take over an entire political party and threaten the survival of our democracy like at no time since the Civil War. And given the fact that tens of millions of Americans both support this movement, and are willing to tolerate it, I don't think unity is in the cards anytime in the near future, and if we try too hard to achieve it, it may only embolden the forces of hate and division to try again to trample on our fundamental rights and freedoms.
I understand the political value of Harris and Walz playing up "unity" in their campaign, playing the part of happy warriors and trying to distinguish Trump the man from Trump the movement. But in my opinion, there really is no distinction. Trump never would have been possible without the millions who supported his corruption and criminality, and millions of others who sat silently by and left the hard work of saving our democracy to the rest of us, and they don't deserve a free pass here in the name of unity. I think that's something we'll have to continue to reckon with long after Nov. 5. I don't think these people can or will change, and so unity may have to wait until we can stamp out this insidious movement once and for all and another generation of Americans comes along that chooses to again act in good faith, respect our differences, and respect the guardrails of democracy.
I think the path to unity or at least the beginning of repair with the MAGA cult will depend on their overwhelming defeat first.
I agree that there is an unreachable segment of the voters who are too steeped in anger and resentment as represented by MAGA. But in order to function as a nation in a more optimal way, we need to keep trying to convince at least some of them to see the value of unity and tolerance, to see the greater good, and to realize that the idea of bettering their lives is a progressive idea. That the conservatives have convinced those struggling economically to vote Republican is one of the biggest political con jobs ever. MAGA will not be easily disposed of. It must be chipped away incrementally.
I'd like to think that's possible. But if what happened on Jan. 6 wasn't enough to change their minds, I don't see anything we say or do now having that effect. The problem is not just Trump's base. The problem is that most Americans are clearly more concerned about the fate of their favorite football team or what happens on "The Bachelor" than the survival of democracy and restoring decency to politics. If that weren't the case, Trump would have been sitting in a jail cell last night and not standing on a debate stage competing to lead a democracy he tried to destroy.
MAGA minds will change after an overwhelming defeat.
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar had some interesting thoughts on the topic in his own Substack today. Here's what he said.
"Even if Trump loses this election, his candidacy has lifted the rock that reveals the zombie-like mob that longs for the overturning of democracy, the exploitation of the marginalized, their children dumbed down in schools, their religion ruling all others, the removal of consumer safeguards, an economy that favors the wealthy while draining the middle class, and so on.
"I am cautiously hopeful that if Trump, who has never won the popular vote, is so overwhelmingly defeated in November his minions will go back to hiding their contempt for the Constitution and America, and keep their irrational thoughts to themselves. Harris’ debate victory slightly moved the needle in that direction so I’m allowing myself to feel better about the election. For now."
I've also been giving this topic of unity some thought over the past few days and shared them here:
https://craiglazzeretti.substack.com/p/twenty-three-years-after-911-its?r=tm6pf
We live in a world with many shallow and easily cowed people. But many more are uninformed frustrated “low information” people. We don’t change that by saying it will never change. I live in a state with a 2nd term incumbent Democratic Gov. He & the Lt Gov are the only Dems elected to statewide offices. The legislature is veto proof.
The governor is pro-choice, anti-public money for private schools & vetoed anti-trans bills, etc. He won the first time (by about 5,000 votes) because as AG he was known (his father had been governor) and was not obnoxious like the incumbent gov he ran against. He won the 2nd time by a 12x greater margin because of how he did the job. How he stepped up after natural disasters and yes, how he handled Covid all without consideration of politics. AND he won as a person and a parent sharing their core values, who cares and does not denigrate voters or litigate grievances like being hung in effigy outside the mansion by a “militia”. He was visible taking care of the needs of Kentuckians.
He did not divorce most of the state. He criticized bad policies that harmed people including the state abortion ban.
As for Americans and their disconnect from politics:
• They are also disconnected from history including US history, how governments works & what our Constitution actually says.
• 54% of American adults have a literacy level below 6th grade.
• The average attention span by age group:
“… average attention span of a human adult is only 8.25 seconds, which surprisingly, is less than a goldfish's 9-second attention span …”
Group Average Attention Span
Children 29.61 seconds
Teenagers (14 years old) 28 - 42 minutes
Teenagers (16 years old) 32 - 48 minutes
Adults 8.25 seconds
Americans won the trifecta for well situated to accept disinformation.
https://www.sambarecovery.com/rehab-blog/average-human-attention-span-statistics
We won! We're Number One! (MAGA pride)
🤦♀️
Agree. We are a shallow society with a short attention span. Those old Jay Walking segments that Leno did showed that disturbingly well. One good byproduct of these Constitutionally challenging times may be more engagement of those awake enough to care. The young people seem to be coming around.
Funny you should mention shallow & short attention span. I included those in my comment not far from yours. (Also 54% of adults are below 6th grade literacy level. )
“… average attention span of a human adult is only 8.25 seconds, which surprisingly, is less than a goldfish's 9-second attention span …”
Group Average Attention Span
Children 29.61 seconds
Teenagers (14 years old) 28 - 42 minutes
Teenagers (16 years old) 32 - 48 minutes
Adults 8.25 seconds
A wonderful reflection, Steven, thank you.
As we pause to reflect on the horrors of that dreadful day twenty-three years ago, it is worth reminding ourselves that truth and love are the qualities that ennoble us and set us free. Hatred and lies, on the other hand, keep us chained to the crimes of the past by keeping us superstitious and fearful.
To my mind, one of the most insidious aims of Project 2025 is to get rid of the Department of Education. For it is education that allows us to shrug off ignorance and pursue truth. (Yes, that pursuit will always be an eternal quest.)
It should come as no surprise, therefore, that the agenda of the fascist, rightwing Republicans is to control the process of education in order to ensure that there is a barely literate workforce of people who are only able to work in their factories and fight in their wars. The excuse of waging war in Iraq and Afghanistan - raining death and havoc upon untold millions - as a justifiable response for the horrors of 9/11 is proof if any was needed. And so, of course, is the barbaric reaction of the Netanyahu government to another horrible act of terrorism.
If our reflections on this solemn anniversary are to have any relevance for us at this precarious time, may they lead us to finding unity of purpose. It is time we realize that education is a birthright - not a commodity for sale.
A hallmark of authoritarianism is to suppress education and awareness, which are threats to oppression. Then the control of the flow of information is next. Not coincidentally, the more educated here tend to be more liberal and the less educated are more likely to go MAGA
No surprise whatsoever!
Many states are trying to battle back from low literacy levels. 54% of American adults are at less than a 6th grade level. (Changing how reading & literacy are taught is crucial. Ending the contractors who disparage phonics. Replacing them with teachers properly trained as part of their certification / licensing is necessary.)
My daughter survived that terrible day, but at a price for our family. She got off the train in a lower level of WTC1 just as the first plane hit. When she went outside, she saw things she won’t talk about. We didn’t know she was alive until late that night when she finally reached her oldest daughter via someone’s landline. She walked from her office in a building across the street from WTC, across the Brooklyn bridge, and found a woman who allowed her to use her phone. I still feel the anxiety and worry every year. I am so very blessed to have her.
Glad you had a positive outcome.
My cousin was on that same train, Sharon. He was rushed out of the building and ran as fast as he could. Somehow, he found a pay telephone that worked and called his parents to let them know he was okay. His parents were watching the towers burn and well, you know the rest…
My heart goes out to you Sharon. My daughter had just transferred from Reed to NYU and her dorm was a few blocks away. She went down to give blood that day.
You’ve raised your daughter to care about others. That’s good parenting.
Yes.
One hand in unity, one heart in compassion, one vote for change, one world healed.
This has been a difficult day to
process. The jubilation I feel at
Vice President Harris' performance
at last night's debate against the
profound grief that still surrounds
September 11. I still remember
sitting in my office here in Aiken,
SC when my Dad called me from
Columbus to break the news. He
and I were on the phone as the
tragedy unfolded. This was a man
who had fought in WWIl. He was
deeply affected by what happened on September 11, 2001.
If you want to be unsettled about one more thing watch “Special Ops: Lioness”, from Taylor Sheridan yanks you straight into the high-stakes world of covert military operations. The story follows Joe, played by the fierce Zoe Saldaña, a CIA officer leading a top-secret program called "Lioness." This isn’t just another mission; the program's purpose is to embed female operatives into terrorist organizations, using their ability to fly under the radar and get close to the targets no one else can reach.
Cruz, a young Marine portrayed by Laysla De Oliveira, is brought into the Lioness program for a mission that’s as dangerous as it is personal. She’s tasked with infiltrating a terrorist’s family, getting so close that trust turns into intel. But it’s not just about the action—this series digs into the emotional cost, the sacrifices these women make, and the way their personal lives bleed into their professional ones. The tension in every scene is signature Sheridan: raw, intense, and always with that emotional undercurrent that makes his characters feel real.
What sets “Lioness” apart is its focus on female operatives—women who are navigating the male-dominated world of special ops while carrying the weight of their own moral dilemmas. It’s a powerful look at the psychological toll this kind of work takes, with loyalty and sacrifice constantly at war with the human need for connection.
The government is not portrayed in a flattering way. It’s raw and gritty and bloodied—just like in real life.
An excellent post, Steven. I have nothing to add
Is there a typo - should it be September 12, 2011? One needs to always remember, never forget and we need to elect VP Harris President.
Thx for flagging. Should have been 2001.
Thank you so much for pointing these things out.
While I felt that moment of unity on 9/11, I couldn't help but wonder what exactly prompted that horror--why was someone so determined to harm US? Then the acts of Bush/Cheney/War on Terror made it clear why. Being a bully doesn't justify a terrorist attack, but it does help EXPLAIN why it happened. I feel the same way about the Gaza war. That doesn't make one "pro-terrorist" but it SHOULD make use think about how we respond: healing or more bullying?
A lot of people go on about "an eye for an eye" without realizing that this idea is a LIMITING idea--you can see this in the Code of Hammurabi. Rather than chaos and revenge, punishment is intended to match the crime, and then society goes back, in theory, to being more or less stable. The phrase is not in fact "thousands of eyes for one eye."
Last night I was imbued with hope that these dark decades of war and division truly can be ended. And a new era of connection and caring for all our fellow Americans can ensue. It’s time to bring the divisiveness and demonization of people and beliefs to a close. I have felt the downward slide ever since Bush was anointed the winner in 2000.
You are so right Steven, you are so right. The country here and many other places and countries are so eager for unity, everywhere. There is chaos and some somber maneuvers as in the implications of foreign countries in our election, but against that there is a strong global majority aspiring at the same things, to live in peace and unity within both one's country and with other countries. I am sure that most of Ukrainians and Russians would like to live in peace with each others.
But one has to leave behind fears to move forwards towards hope, trust and love, not an easy thing when someone is blinded by fear and the ideas of a doomed future which Donald Trump is so trying to sell.
Kamala is such a symbol of all that hope we have which is why she gets such a response.
I agree with you:
“Their success means that the goals of those 9/11 terrorists to tear us apart and break our way of life can still fail. It’s not too late to prove we are stronger together.”