The United States has a chance today, in a split second, to change the way the entire planet sees it. What a divine opportunity. After 9/11, the U.S. found itself wrapped in the sympathy of the world. Vigils were held all over the globe. People went from disbelief to numbness to searing pain in unison. All colours, religions, ages, nationalities.
And then, in a move that can only be described as the single biggest piece of arrogance I've ever seen, the country that had just been brought to its knees spat on the affection of the world. They had a perfect moment, to say thank you, to finally tell other countries who live the reality of terrorism on a daily basis that "we now understand your pain, we realize we are not invincible, and we wish to build a more compassionate planet with you". But instead, good ol' Georgy decided to make a speech about the Axis of Evil and declared "You're either with us or against us" - basically calling anyone who didn't support U.S. actions an enemy. Then in a blatant attempt to seize oil wells, and win his daddy's approval by finally getting Saddam Hussein (which daddy didn't do during the Gulf War), W decided to make up some lame excuses for invading the wrong country. "There are WMDs! Really! They're just, uh, invisible!" Meanwhile, far too few troops were sent to the RIGHT country, allowing the actual perpetrators of 9/11 to not only thrive, but embolden and multiply.
A full SEVEN years later, Bin Laden still frolics happily. And who says he's even IN Afghanistan or Pakistan? Why would this man still be wearing the turban and robe and the same getup that we've seen him in on videotape for 7 years? Has Bush ever stopped to think that dear ol' Osama could be walking around unrecognizable, sans headpiece, clean shaven, in trousers and a shirt somewhere? Somewhere thousands of miles away from where they're looking? I have no idea what this administration has been doing other than blowing billions of dollars in Iraq while not dismantling Al-Qaida, creating a larger gap between rich and poor, and allowing the economy to literally implode.
But despite the war and the economy, I consider neither of these Bush's darkest hour. I give that honour - with reservation - to the horror that was Hurricane Katrina. I will never forget the images of those tens of thousands of people on the road, in the Superdome, desperate and hungry. No help, no water, for THREE FREAKIN' DAYS. I'll never forget the shots of dead people on the road. The city of New Orleans literally drowned as this administration watched. Then when the finally flew there, they flew overhead and never landed. Wow. It is one thing - heinous as it is - to mistreat the people of another nation during a conflict. But to turn your back on your OWN, to call American citizens "refugees" - what the hell was that??? Absolutely disgusting and the lowest display of humanity.., to mostly poor people, mostly black people. To even pretend for a moment that that would've been allowed to happen in Malibu or Santa Barbara is an insult to every realist's intelligence. What a terrible display of the American hierarchy - plain as day.
That is why this day is so pregnant with promise. In a country where only 50 years ago interracial couples were terrorized for loving each other, the son of a black Muslim man from Kenya and a white Christian woman from Kansas can become President. The U.S. could actually have a leader that cares about ALL people equally and identifies with more than one face. Little African-American boys and girls could see themselves not as a story on the evening news, but in the highest office in the land. And when a young black child asks "Mom, can I be President?", the parent could say "Yes", without secretly wondering if it could ever really be true. Imagine how the view of the U.S. would change if the leader of the free world actually looked like and identified with more of the world. How will Africa, so long ignored, but treated by a American leader with an African father? How will Asia we be treated by a man who spent part of his life in Indonesia? More compassion from the U.S. globally will bring more goodwill and more trust the other way, instantly.
Today is the day that America can truly live up to its promise - the promise of the American dream that the rest of the world has believed in but whose belief is waning. This is not only the day when a black man could become President - as momentous as that is. This is the day when the U.S. has the opportunity to finally, FINALLY, live up to its own reputation.
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