No joke: An email I received this weekend made it very plain to me the changes in my thinking that have taken place since 9/11. It was from a friend, inviting me to a Fourth of July party. In part, it reads:
It is nearly time again to fan the flames of our patriotic fervor!
There will be fireworks, there will be bahn choux!
There will be tiny George W. Effigies on the barbecue!
The last line disgusted me, but why? It is true that since 9/11 my attitude toward Bush has changed from indifference to admiration, but that is not the reason. In the early years of the Clinton administration I admired Bill but wouldn't have minded seeing little Willies on the fire -- I would have enjoyed seeing him get tweaked a little and celebrated free expression.
But that was the free-wheeling '90s, when there was no real danger to America. The economy was growing, the Soviets were defeated, nothing needed to be taken seriously. That is why burning little George W. effegies is offensive -- because it indicates that people haven't realized that the world changed on 9/11, and it is time to act seriously, to be adults and have larger concerns than sushi, stock options and cell phones. More than others, this July 4th should be a time for each of us to reflect on the best way we each can defend this nation, the best way to apply our individual talents to preserving the freedom of all of us, so this state of war may swiftly pass and security allowing silliness may return.