That patriotic feeling

I don't often find myself feeling very patriotic. I would say that the times I feel it most are when I'm in consumer-mode...when I really feel the need for a venti coffee with an extra shot of espresso, and I'm tired and in a hurry, so I want to be able to get it at a drive through window...or when I appreciate the convenience of Target in my neighborhood where I can buy my toiletries and electronics and sometimes even food and clothes in the same place. I definitely do not feel patriotic when it comes to war and tax cuts for big businesses and the rich.

So, last night was an interesting moment in my patriotic life since I found myself flying into Reagan National airport at midnight...right as people were gathering at the White House cheering the killing of Osama Bin Laden. My friend who picked me up and I couldn't believe the news and wanted to check out the celebration near the White House. So, we headed down there and got to be part of something....

Now, the mix of emotions all around has got me thinking about my own reaction and conflicting and uncertain feelings...but it also, as does most things these days, makes me think about the emotions and how we come to value and understand them. I skimmed this presentation to get a feel for what is happening on the psychological level of how we are trying to combat and deal with terrorism: https://www.ihssnc.org/portals/0/Documents/VIMSDocuments/IHSS_Research%20Brief_Singer.pdf. I am acutely aware of the deep connection between an increase in emotional study in the aftermath of terrorism. Thus, the fact that this article is written and published by a Homeland Security contractor makes me put up my defenses because they obviously will want to prove something to win a contract. What interests me is how Homeland Security is thinking about this stuff...and I mean thinking about it in a way that will likely never make it into a more detailed article in the papers. Another thing that interests me is how much we don't know about the emotions...and how in matters of state and valuing human life, we turn only to science to understand the emotions when science simply continues to prove that it isn't capable of making consistent claims about the emotions. And here is where I would usually say that the humanities are a key part of understanding our world because it can provide the insights that science can't!

But I'm not on that particular soap box today. What I am on my soap box about is how our culture seems intent on keeping us in a non-reflective space through commercials that tell us simple things like what to eat and buy...and inadvertently tell us to avoid diet and exercise and decide we need a prescription drug for acid reflux (as one example) that can equally be combatted with improved health. The health of Americans causes far more deaths than terrorism.  Why are we more anxious about terrorism than we are about our health? And if we are going to be more anxious about the potential to die through terrorist activity than through our own poor health choices, then, why do we not take our critique of the government more seriously by resisting the temptation to indulge in partisan politics, which allows us to avoid the real issues?  Even the better newspapers seem to have an agenda and when they delve deep into issues they seem to stop right at the moment when they have a chance to bring you deeper into thought and reflection about what you are reading and instead, conclude the article with a thought that allows you to feel like you've learned something, not necessarily like you've learned something and feel a call to action to know more.

I mean, this article ends with the statement that more research in IET and TMT is needed...let's forget about us needing to know even what IET and TMT is for the moment. What is important to us as citizens is being aware of how these studies have an impact on us...basically, the report ends with a statement about how more research is needed to show what it is that will make retribution for terrorism a more acceptable and palatable response.  It concerns me to think of where this kind of study leads because it isn't a completely open dialogue with the public.  The public dialogue is hijacked by sensationalized media that devolves into partisan discussions and perpetuates ideologies rather than deeper thinking.

It brings me to the question of why so many of us Americans are anxious to question our government -- and I'm not talking about ridiculous bipartisan politics here, not at all that kind of questioning. I'm talking about the kind of deeper questioning that asks questions rooted in who we are as a nation beyond our politics....   I don't feel like i'm saying anything that many of you aren't already thinking about or even talking about, and so, I figured I would bring it to the forefront and put my thoughts out there.