Quote from: Cassie on September 10, 2011, 09:24:47 AM
In the UK we still celebrate a failed terrorist attack after 406 years... we light fires and set off fireworks every 5th November to recall an attempt to blow up parliament in 1605. It's a celebratory atmosphere because the attack was foiled; but society doesn't forget such monumental events in a hurry.
This is my greatest fear for the US and the world.
A bit of background, to set the comparison.
The Gunpowder Plot was a failed terrorist attack. There are a number of serious questions open about many of the details and the conclusion of those who have looked at it and the available claims is that it was either heavily embellished or didn't happen at all.
It was marked by a public festival, initially in every town and Parrish, every year on 5th November, to light a large bonfire. The custom, at least until the early part of the 20th century, was for older people to ask youngsters what it was all about. They would reply, referring to how the Catholic Guy Fawkes, tried to blow up Parliament, killing the King, to re-establish popery. For that answer, they would, customarily, be given small amounts of money.
Now this was relevant because even in the 19th century, attempts to re-examine the claims were invariably dismissed.
It was used as justification for persecution of Catholics, in England and eventually Scotland and Ireland, which continued in earnest, until the 19th century and in part, gave rise to the establishment of the Orange Order in Scotland and Ireland. Even more significant, especially in relation to 9/11, is that there is absolutely no evidence of any widespread support or even knowledge of the plot or its aims, by any significant section of the Catholic community at the time, nor the Roman Church.
Even today, the term Gunpowder Plot, or even November 5th are taken as a reference to the entire event.
9/11 has already entered common speech. All of the details are inferred. Attempts to claim that all Muslims, or even all Arabs were not sympathetic are treated with little more than a tolerance. Claims that Iraq and Afghanistan were directly involved are still believed by many. An iconic piece of film, of a group of Palestinian women apparently cheering on the news of the attacks, was subsequently discovered to be a group of Palestinian women celebrating a wedding. The film was made and publicised by a journalist with obvious intent.
But more importantly, 9/11 has and is still used to justify the legalisation of torture, by the US. The acceptance of detention without trial, for non-Americans. But also, in special cases, for Americans. The beginning of the destruction of individual freedom in the US. The heavy monitoring of US citizens, taken as being temporary. Yet no time period or plan to dismantle the apparatus, including yet another, quasi autonomous, armed, judicial agency, with heavy armaments and even its own prisons and effective courts. (The NSA).
Even more important, the destruction of Iraq and Afghanistan. The establishment, without any mandate, of America as the world's policeman. Young American men and women, being sent to put their lives on the line, to impose ideals in overseas areas, that they have no knowledge of or any interest in.
However tragic 9/11 was, and it was, the consequences of it were that it has been milked by power mad politicians for their benefit. The biggest losers here are the American people.
