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9/11 Plus 22 — Whither America?
Or has America withered?
Twenty-two years ago today, I taught an ethics class.
One never learns more than when one is teaching, and that morning, very early in my professorial career, was quite the learning experience. I was so impressed by these young students, barely younger than me, who showed resilience and optimism in the midst of this world-shattering event. They deserved better than what they got.
I lived in the U.S. then, and I remember that sense of grim solidarity, not just in the U.S. I remember people in other countries saying “we are all Americans now.”
The whole world, even supposed enemies, responded with support. It was an opportunity for the U.S. to reach out to the rest of the world and build bridges.
The U.S. threw away that opportunity. The U.S. government ordered an invasion of Afghanistan, making a strained argument that…
