Thomas Friedman Plays Catch-up: "9/11 Is Over"

[Hissyspit]

It was over about, oh, eleven 6-month increments ago.

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/30/opinion/30friedman.html?ref=opinion

Op-Ed Columnist
9/11 Is Over

By THOMAS L. FRIEDMAN
Published: September 30, 2007
Not long ago, the satirical newspaper The Onion ran a fake news story that began like this:

“At a well-attended rally in front of his new ground zero headquarters Monday, former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani officially announced his plan to run for president of 9/11. ‘My fellow citizens of 9/11, today I will make you a promise,’ said Giuliani during his 18-minute announcement speech in front of a charred and torn American flag. ‘As president of 9/11, I will usher in a bold new 9/11 for all.’ If elected, Giuliani would inherit the duties of current 9/11 President George W. Bush, including making grim facial expressions, seeing the world’s conflicts in terms of good and evil, and carrying a bullhorn at all state functions.”

Like all good satire, the story made me both laugh and cry, because it reflected something so true — how much, since 9/11, we’ve become “The United States of Fighting Terrorism.” Times columnists are not allowed to endorse candidates, but there’s no rule against saying who will not get my vote: I will not vote for any candidate running on 9/11. We don’t need another president of 9/11. We need a president for 9/12. I will only vote for the 9/12 candidate.

What does that mean? This: 9/11 has made us stupid. I honor, and weep for, all those murdered on that day. But our reaction to 9/11 — mine included — has knocked America completely out of balance, and it is time to get things right again. It is not that I thought we had new enemies that day and now I don’t. Yes, in the wake of 9/11, we need new precautions, new barriers. But we also need our old habits and sense of openness. For me, the candidate of 9/12 is the one who will not only understand who our enemies are, but who we are.

Before 9/11, the world thought America’s slogan was: “Where anything is possible for anybody.” But that is not our global brand anymore. Our government has been exporting fear, not hope: “Give me your tired, your poor and your fingerprints.”

You may think Guantánamo Bay is a prison camp in Cuba for Al Qaeda terrorists. A lot of the world thinks it’s a place we send visitors who don’t give the right answers at immigration. I will not vote for any candidate who is not committed to dismantling Guantánamo Bay and replacing it with a free field hospital for poor Cubans. Guantánamo Bay is the anti-Statue of Liberty.

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[CaliforniaPeggy]

1. Mr. Friedman has expressed my thoughts perfectly...

I too plan to vote for the 9/12 candidate...

I especially appreciate his ideas for the dismantling of Guantanamo Bay prison, and the hospital which Cuba needs going there instead...

K&R

:patriot:

[charlie]

2. Who is this impostor?

Where's the Friedman Method of Truth Discovery -- an offhand remark from a cabbie in Bangalore ferments in his subconscious for a week, then an eureka explosion splatters Novelty and Insight all over his hotel room:

MY GOD, HE'S TELLING ME 9-11 IS OVER!!!

There are no bellhops or baggage handlers in this story. No shepherds with GPS plotters, no iPhones in rice paddies. Who are they trying to fool? Bring back our Friedman, our loopy ADD-afflicted gadfly. When I go for my weekly dose of horseshit, I expect them road apples to be authentic, by God.

[alittlelark]

3. He finally figured out 9-11 is OVER!!!!

....took him long enough.

[ikojo]

4. Thomas Friedman wrote that?

Wow, it took six years but he has at least come around regarding the exploitation of 9/11.