Not Your Sweetie

911 Revealed the Beauty in Us that makes Democracy Possible

From Bill Moyers commentary on NOW


They win only if we let them; only if we become like them: vengeful,
imperious, intolerant, paranoid, invoking a God of wrath. Having lost faith
in themselves, they have nothing left but a holy cause. They win, if we
become holy warriors, too; if in trying to save democracy, we destroy it; if
we strike first, murdering innocent people as they did; if we show contempt
for how others see us; exploit patriotism to increase privilege; confuse
power for the law, secrecy for security; and if we permit our leaders to use
our fear of terrorism to make us afraid of the truth.

What, then, can I say to my colleague, to myself, to all of us who survivors,
tempted to keep sitting there, in the chair by the window. Just this: we are
vulnerable - not only to the fear of them but to our own shaken faith. And
this, remember not only the terror but the beauty revealed that day — when
through the smoke and fire we glimpsed the humankindness - the heroism,
sacrifice, and compassion - of ordinary people who did the best of things in
the worst of times. I say — this beauty in us is real. It makes democracy
possible, and no terrorist can take it from us. Remembering this, one year
later, we can praise the mutilated world and get on with our work.

Democracy is our work, and there is much to do - if we are to keep it.