After the events of 9/11, I would listen to radio callers screaming for blood. They equated the ol’ eye for an eye strategy with being an American and patriotism.
Screaming for blood suddenly became the next “new” tradition which was embraced and worn proudly. But for some of us, it felt like a lynching.
People wanted to fly flags on car antennae, flag poles and any available flat surface.
Today, acts of road rage, domestic/gang/class/race violence, sexual harassment and substance abuse continue on as though 9/11 never happened.
The first lesson in conflict management: do not respond in a predictable manner! The predictable manner is layered with emotion, against a backdrop of screams and rants about violence, allowing for the surrender of the collective moral center, aka the soul.
What is most devastating and frightening to the children? Not the acts of terrorism, but that they had been forced to witness their parents transform into haters.
Janet Cormier is a painter, writes prose and poetry, and performs comedy. JC prefers different and original over pretty. She loves collecting stuff, but cleaning not so much. Janet also talks to strangers…a lot. Her column appears regularly in Oddball Magazine.
Funny you should mention 9/11. Just saw an interesting bumper sticker: ” Science flies you to the moon. Religion flies you into buildings.” I said to Cheryl, “we should get one of those.” She replied, “Down here? You want to pay for the broken windows?” Free speech. What a concept.