"We've Come A Long Way, Baby"

Most of the time when we say we have come a long way, it means that we have accomplished something or have improved our status in some sense. But in some rare circumstances it means that we have failed to hold on to the accomplishments we had made in a certain area and have returned to the status quo. 

All of this came to me this past week as I was listening to the radio. Out of the blue I heard Alan Jackson singing his big hit "Where Were You When the World Stopped Turning?" As I listened to the words of his song my thoughts turned back to the day of September 11, 2001 and the ones that immediately followed.

As soon as the two towers were attacked, an instant wave of patriotism swept across the country. It was a feeling of love and pride as strong as any I had ever felt. You could see flags waving from businesses and private dwellings and you liked the way they looked. Different musicians, especially country music singers, recorded songs about freedom, country and pride.

Suddenly religion and beliefs were something you talked about openly without fear of being labeled an extremist. Politicians asked for our prayers and prayed openly themselves. God was mentioned on newscasts and in public conversations and forums.

Even Hollywood got into the act. When they had their massive program a few nights after nine/eleven, Julia Roberts touched everyone with her statement of "God is good." With those three words she spoke to the country and offered hope.

The differences between politicians were not discussed much, and no one attacked the President or questioned his wisdom regarding the path he was taking against the terrorists. We all seemed to be Americans first and Democrats or Republicans to a much larger secondary degree.

But that was then and this is now. We have come along way since those days. We are now back to frowning on any open references to God. The issue of the "Ten Commandments" being on display has been settled and they have been removed from public places.

Politicians have now placed their religious beliefs on the back burner as they deal with more paramount issues. Prayer is no longer encouraged but is now deemed to be politically damaging. And as far as praying for the President, well it is attack time from most fronts. The unity of country has been sacrificed to election year campaigning.

The sweep of patriotism most of us felt has gone with the wind. Some even support the countries that call the US a tyrant and ridicule any efforts for peace, by calling them war mongering. 

The days surrounding September eleventh were days of unity of thought and purpose. Was it extreme? Absolutely. This naturally meant that a balanced view was necessary and had to come. But somehow the scales got more than balanced; they got tipped. We are now as much divided as we once were united.

We still remember where we were on 9/11 but we have forgotten how we felt on that September day. Yes, we have come a long way, baby. Perhaps a little too far.

 

 

 

 

 

©2004 Jackie K. Cooper

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