My friend AC of Fore Left reminded me of how things have changed since September 11, 2001. Americans act and think differently than we did before those attacks on our country. For example, AC says:
Today's breathless stories are fixated on dead birds, odd smells and packages full of sprinkler parts that might have tested positive for C4. Yesterday it was Middle Eastern men driving a cargo truck speaking broken English. I'm not trying to disparage any of these events--matter of fact, I found myself caught up in the Miami drama thinking the damn truck was probably carrying a dirty bomb. And that's the point of the post. [snip]Anyway, in thinking about this today while surfing around it became clear that I'm not alone. LA over at Political Yen/Yang has a post that really summarizes my feelings about this, including this highlight:
What the terrorists of 9-11 did besides kill thousands of innocent people, was place a seed of fear in the psyche of many Americans, by showing that they could beat us from the inside. They showed our vulnerabilities so much that most every time there seems to be an incident like the ones cited here, there is more media spin than is necessary.
Something to think about. AC ends his excellent article (you should go read it all) with this:
... here's a toast to those of you who can truly live life one day at a time and appreciate what you've got. The terror threat is real and our professionals are doing a good job, but it cannot drive our lives. Personally I'm looking forward to some cheese popcorn and a ball game tonight so long as the mystery fart gas cloud doesn't drift over the stadium.
A challenge to all of us, living one day at a time, when there is so much evil in the world. It seems there is something new every day to be concerned about. Our attitudes and actions have certainly changed since 9/11.
Attitudes are changing about several things we never dreamed. One is Keith Ellison, known mostly as the one and only Muslim congressman in the United States. No, we still don't really trust him, but we are challenging him, testing him.
Ellison's Chance to Show What He is Made Of, Wake Up America has a letter written by Gates of Vienna to Congressman Keith Ellison, Fifth District, Minnesota, calling on him to " ... follow through on this symbolism with vital action on behalf of Muslim women everywhere". Dymphna of Gates of Vienna ends her letter with, "With many others, I await your response to your historic calling." Will Ellison respond to the letter? I doubt it.
7.62 Justice discussed this calling out of Jihad Ellison:
Jihad Watch has said the following on the subject…Ellison has associated himself with CAIR, the Muslim American Society, and the Islamic Circle of North America. CAIR’s Omar Ahmed and Ibrahim Hooper have made statements in favor of Sharia in the U.S., and MAS and ICNA are likewise linked to Sharia supremacism.
If there were any fearless or responsible reporters in America, they would be asking Ellison about this, instead of cowering at charges of bigotry — which, of course, are a very effective way to intimidate critics into silence.
Will Representative Jihadi Ellison come clean about his loyalties? It’s doubtful that he will make a statement one way or the other. However his actions will be closely watched by me, and others. The votes he casts, the speeches he makes, and the bill he sponsors will be made known.
If Ellison is a Jihadi in suit, like so many other people in his circles, he will make it known through his actions.
Crossroads has proof that US Attitudes toward Saudi Arabia are changing:
The Canadian polling firm, Angus Reid conducted a poll on American attitudes toward Israel, Saudi Arabia, Iran. and Syria. Not surprisingly, Israel was seen as an Ally or Friendly nation by a total 81% of the audience. Saudi Arabia gathered a score of 58%, somewhat more surprisingly.Following 9/11, American attitudes toward the KSA plummeted, dropping from an approval rating of around 80% to less than 25%. That seems to be reversing at present.
As could be expected, both Iran (77% rating it as Unfriendly or Enemy) and Syria (57% Unfriendly/Enemy) were seen quite darkly.
And so it goes for Americans. Another day, another threat. But also another day, another victory.
We take them any way we can get them.
Related:
Clinton sworn in with Thomas Jefferson’s Necronomicon, The Public Eye
Trackposted to Is It Just Me?, Perri Nelson's Website, Mark My Words, The Random Yak, Don Surber, Adam's Blog, basil's blog, DragonLady's World, Mensa Barbie Welcomes You, Jo's Cafe, Conservative Cat, Pursuing Holiness, Wake Up America, Rightwing Guy, Faultline USA, third world county, The Crazy Rants of Samantha Burns, stikNstein... has no mercy, Pirate's Cove, Renaissance Blogger, The Pink Flamingo, Dumb Ox News, High Desert Wanderer, and Right Voices, thanks to Linkfest Haven Deluxe.
Linked with
123Beta SPAM Breakfast Burritos and Poopatrator
Debbie,
Will send pings as soon as blogger comes back up.
Posted by: Butch | January 09, 2007 at 01:23 PM