Monday, September 24, 2007
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
Thoughts on September 11th
Just a few thoughts that come to mind as I reflect on the events since September 11, six years ago:
I'm realizing that many of my younger friends have lived almost their entire adult lives with the reality of the world after 9-ll -- in other words, ever since theywere old enough to be aware of worldly goings-on. They have heard that "the world changed" on that day, but might not remember what it was really like before it changed.
That morning I was driving to work, for the first time listening to French music instead of NPR on my 20-minute drive. When I got to work, I noticed my answering machine blinking. I played to the recording, to hear my husband's voice shaking as he told me there had been an attack on the World Trade Center. I called him back immediately, and as we were talking the second tower was hit.
We are on the west coast. My first thoughts? Now we won't be able to travel freely around the world. This is the death of freedom as we know it. Honestly, those were my immediate thoughts, at a time before the second plane hit, before the buildings fell, before anyone knew there were four planes of terrorists that day -- and before anyone even began to connect the dots.
Suddenly images of war and soldiers and weaponry and fear reappeared in the American consciousness. Those who are in your late teens or early 20s have never known anything different. Those in my generation have lived through fear overshadowing us during the Cold War, images of death and losing friends to war during Vietnam, and then, miraculously, through more than a decade of relative calm and peace.
But then everything changed. Travel changed. For awhile, flying was cheap uncrowded in the months following 9-11. Even though they took away our scissors and tweezers. I was not afraid to fly after that day. I was afraid of the limits our government would put on our travels and flights. I had recently discovered the thrill of flying to Europe, traveling to other countries where I could speak French with real French people. I was never afraid of other countries, cultures, or people who were different from me. In fact it felt deliriously liberating to be able to travel and explore other countries. Pure joy.
So it made me mad to have that taken away. I don't know if we will ever have that sense of freedom again.
After that day I wasn't afraid to fly, or afraid of being the victim of terrorists. What I am afraid of, and angry about, are the restrictions on the freedoms that so many Americans have died for in numerous wars. The innocent people who have been delayed or jailed, or worse, around the world in the name of "freedom." The loss of habeas corpus, and the threat to our constitution. That doesn't feel like freedom to me.
I'm realizing that many of my younger friends have lived almost their entire adult lives with the reality of the world after 9-ll -- in other words, ever since theywere old enough to be aware of worldly goings-on. They have heard that "the world changed" on that day, but might not remember what it was really like before it changed.
That morning I was driving to work, for the first time listening to French music instead of NPR on my 20-minute drive. When I got to work, I noticed my answering machine blinking. I played to the recording, to hear my husband's voice shaking as he told me there had been an attack on the World Trade Center. I called him back immediately, and as we were talking the second tower was hit.
We are on the west coast. My first thoughts? Now we won't be able to travel freely around the world. This is the death of freedom as we know it. Honestly, those were my immediate thoughts, at a time before the second plane hit, before the buildings fell, before anyone knew there were four planes of terrorists that day -- and before anyone even began to connect the dots.
Suddenly images of war and soldiers and weaponry and fear reappeared in the American consciousness. Those who are in your late teens or early 20s have never known anything different. Those in my generation have lived through fear overshadowing us during the Cold War, images of death and losing friends to war during Vietnam, and then, miraculously, through more than a decade of relative calm and peace.
But then everything changed. Travel changed. For awhile, flying was cheap uncrowded in the months following 9-11. Even though they took away our scissors and tweezers. I was not afraid to fly after that day. I was afraid of the limits our government would put on our travels and flights. I had recently discovered the thrill of flying to Europe, traveling to other countries where I could speak French with real French people. I was never afraid of other countries, cultures, or people who were different from me. In fact it felt deliriously liberating to be able to travel and explore other countries. Pure joy.
So it made me mad to have that taken away. I don't know if we will ever have that sense of freedom again.
After that day I wasn't afraid to fly, or afraid of being the victim of terrorists. What I am afraid of, and angry about, are the restrictions on the freedoms that so many Americans have died for in numerous wars. The innocent people who have been delayed or jailed, or worse, around the world in the name of "freedom." The loss of habeas corpus, and the threat to our constitution. That doesn't feel like freedom to me.
Monday, September 3, 2007
Quiz for Boomers
If dumb-but-fun quizzes and blogs existed in the 1950s and 60s, some of us wouldn't be born! Our parents, like us, would be busy on the computer, wasting time on MySpace and Found Magazine. There may have been no Baby Boom. Wow. The implications are mind-boggling.
Culture:
1. Mickey Mouse or Donald Duck?
2. Tom or Jerry?
3. Rocky or Bullwinkle?
4. Popeye or Olive?
5. Father Knows Best or Leave it to Beaver?
6. Hardy Boys or Nancy Drew?
7. Superman or Green Hornet?
8. Peanuts or Blondie?
9. Candyland or Chutes and Ladders?
10. Tinker Toys or Lincon Logs?
11. Tiny Tears or Betsy Wetsy?
12. Chatty Cathy - blond or brunette?
13. Mini or Maxi? (skirts, not pads)
14. Ford or Chevy?
15. Beatles or Stones?
16. Munsters or Addams Family?
17. Alley Oop or Flying Purple People Eater?
Names:
1. Pam or Linda?
2. Tammi, Terri, or Toni?
3. Kathy or Cathy?
4. Steve or David?
5. Mike or Jeff?
6. Kip or Kim?
Food:
1. Meatloaf or Spaghetti?
2. Snickerdoodles or Peanut Butter Cookies?
3. Coke or RC?
4. Fanta or Nehi? Orange or strawberry?
Fears:
1. Atom Bombs or Dirty Commies?
2. Bogeyman or Bears?
3. In the closet or Under the bed?
4. Spanking or Grounding?
School, Playground, Neighborhood:
1. Hopscotch or Jacks?
2. Kickball or Tether ball?
3. Boys' germs or Girls' germs?
4. Cowboys or Indians?
5. Sally, Dick, or Jane?
6. Puff or Spot?
7. Red Rover or Gunny Sacks?
8. Writing or 'Rithmatic?
9. Sidewalks or mud puddles?
10. Bikes or roller skates?
Vices:
1. Pixie Stix or Candy Cigarettes?
2. Salem or Lucky Strike?
Culture:
1. Mickey Mouse or Donald Duck?
2. Tom or Jerry?
3. Rocky or Bullwinkle?
4. Popeye or Olive?
5. Father Knows Best or Leave it to Beaver?
6. Hardy Boys or Nancy Drew?
7. Superman or Green Hornet?
8. Peanuts or Blondie?
9. Candyland or Chutes and Ladders?
10. Tinker Toys or Lincon Logs?
11. Tiny Tears or Betsy Wetsy?
12. Chatty Cathy - blond or brunette?
13. Mini or Maxi? (skirts, not pads)
14. Ford or Chevy?
15. Beatles or Stones?
16. Munsters or Addams Family?
17. Alley Oop or Flying Purple People Eater?
Names:
1. Pam or Linda?
2. Tammi, Terri, or Toni?
3. Kathy or Cathy?
4. Steve or David?
5. Mike or Jeff?
6. Kip or Kim?
Food:
1. Meatloaf or Spaghetti?
2. Snickerdoodles or Peanut Butter Cookies?
3. Coke or RC?
4. Fanta or Nehi? Orange or strawberry?
Fears:
1. Atom Bombs or Dirty Commies?
2. Bogeyman or Bears?
3. In the closet or Under the bed?
4. Spanking or Grounding?
School, Playground, Neighborhood:
1. Hopscotch or Jacks?
2. Kickball or Tether ball?
3. Boys' germs or Girls' germs?
4. Cowboys or Indians?
5. Sally, Dick, or Jane?
6. Puff or Spot?
7. Red Rover or Gunny Sacks?
8. Writing or 'Rithmatic?
9. Sidewalks or mud puddles?
10. Bikes or roller skates?
Vices:
1. Pixie Stix or Candy Cigarettes?
2. Salem or Lucky Strike?
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