[This is an important and provocative article. --DBM]
http://www.salon.com/news/feature/2001/09/29/democracy/index.html
Democracy held hostage
We are fighting for freedom -- including the right to vigorously
debate. But the war fever crowd wants us all to march in step.
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By David Talbot
Sept. 29, 2001 | Truth is not the only early casualty of war. So is
rational thought. War breeds hysteria and a rush to conformity. The
herd, under attack, instinctively groups together and seeks assurance
that everyone is trustworthy and loyal, everyone is primed for
defense.
That's what we're experiencing in our country in the weeks after the
Sept. 11 terror attacks -- assaults so seemingly out of the blue,
dramatically violent and diabolically orchestrated that they shook the
nation's confidence to its core. Within hours after the terror
offensive, before the shock had begun to fade, the country's political
leaders and media elite rushed to assure us that the country was
united and resolute. This was certainly true when it came to giving
aid and comfort to the victims of the attacks. These were days of
unprecedented national heroism and generosity. But as the weeks go by,
it becomes increasingly clear that when it comes to the more vexing
questions of why we were attacked and how we should respond, there is
no national consensus yet -- nor even a clear consensus within the
Bush administration.
The country is undergoing a cram course in geopolitics, comparative
religion and military strategy that is long overdue -- as well as a
deeper soul-searching that is inevitable after this type of trauma.
All of this brings with it a certain amount of intellectual and
political friction, which is necessary and good for the country. As
the better angels of the Bush administration have admonished us, the
last thing America should do is let loose the usual round of
ineffectual military fireworks -- a spasmodic reaction that might
temporarily salve the wound to the nation's pride, but create even
deeper troubles for us. What we need more than anything right now is
careful deliberation and spirited debate. We need, in short, for our
democracy to come fully alive.
Unfortunately, the calls for herd-like conformity are on the rise. In
the last week, self-appointed sheep dogs from across the political
spectrum have begun yapping at our heels, pushing us to all think
alike and move in the same direction.
[...]
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