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September 11
Why is it still hard for so many of us to put into words everything we feel about this day?
I've been thinking about it, on and off, especially since a couple of days ago when I came across an lj entry from a Canadian who says will no longer visit the US - not out of antipathy or hatred, but because she just doesn't feel safe or welcome there. And of course I've been thinking about it in relation to Katrina and all that Katrina's tied to - September 11, Iraq, global warming, Dubya, racism, blah blah blah.
And, as always, I've thought about it in relation to the Chilean coup of September 11, 1973. Which certainly changed my life, as we basically went into exile shortly thereafter and I got to grow up in Canada instead of Chile. It also permanently coloured my opinion of America, as the coup was in large part backed by the US. Because Chile was getting uppity and threatening American economic interests, so it had to be brought to heel and taught its proper place, to the tune of roughly 3,000 Chilean citizens tortured, murdered and disappeared and many more exiled.
This day brings out such completely mixed and often contradictory feelings towards America, around the world. Empathy and antipathy, admiration and disgust, hope and fear.
I keep hoping that some day, it'll only mark the day that roughly 3,000 human beings died, and be able to stand as a day of mourning and respect for the dead and their families. I keep hoping that some day it won't also engender anger at what that grief has been perverted into by Bush and his government. So far my hoping isn't bearing much fruit, but then I think of (most of) the Americans I know personally, and hope stays alive.
I've been thinking about it, on and off, especially since a couple of days ago when I came across an lj entry from a Canadian who says will no longer visit the US - not out of antipathy or hatred, but because she just doesn't feel safe or welcome there. And of course I've been thinking about it in relation to Katrina and all that Katrina's tied to - September 11, Iraq, global warming, Dubya, racism, blah blah blah.
And, as always, I've thought about it in relation to the Chilean coup of September 11, 1973. Which certainly changed my life, as we basically went into exile shortly thereafter and I got to grow up in Canada instead of Chile. It also permanently coloured my opinion of America, as the coup was in large part backed by the US. Because Chile was getting uppity and threatening American economic interests, so it had to be brought to heel and taught its proper place, to the tune of roughly 3,000 Chilean citizens tortured, murdered and disappeared and many more exiled.
This day brings out such completely mixed and often contradictory feelings towards America, around the world. Empathy and antipathy, admiration and disgust, hope and fear.
I keep hoping that some day, it'll only mark the day that roughly 3,000 human beings died, and be able to stand as a day of mourning and respect for the dead and their families. I keep hoping that some day it won't also engender anger at what that grief has been perverted into by Bush and his government. So far my hoping isn't bearing much fruit, but then I think of (most of) the Americans I know personally, and hope stays alive.