I’ve been quiet lately, I know. My sons’ Kickstarter campaign has taken a toll on their Venture Capitalist… me. I never before appreciated the physical effort that goes into managing what is, for me, a significant investment. They do the work but I pay for a lot of it and that brings with it the need to oversee — something I’ve never been very good at doing. You’ll see the result, hopefully, next week.
While I’ve been so preoccupied a lot has happened in the technology world. Apple introduced a slew of new products and Alex Gibney released his Steve Jobs documentary. I’ll comment on both of these shortly. Yahoo was denied its tax-free Alibaba spinoff and so has to go to Plan B. I have such a Plan B (or C or D) for Yahoo, myself and will explain it soon. There are some new technologies you ought to know about, too. There are always those.
But this week was also the anniversary of 9/11 and the most noteworthy thing about it was that the only people who mentioned the attack to me weren’t American, and for them it seemed to be oddly nostalgic.
I feel no nostalgia for 9/11.
But that doesn’t mean we should forget what happened or how we as a nation have handled events since. So with that in mind I’ll point you to my original 9/11 column published two days after the attack, 14 years ago. I think it stands up pretty well after all this time.
Back then the column made many readers angry, but then I’m good at that. It also made them think. Read it again, please, if you have the time.
I read your column of Sept.13, 2001, only now. I am in total admiration of your restraint just two days after the attacks. It seems that every other columnist, reporter, and commenter on the Internet was foaming at mouth calling for war and revenge and new laws and regulations, you managed to keep your cool and perspective.
Was the ’01 column closed to comments from the start or does PBS just save the columns and not the responses?
Someone linked to this on Twitter the other day. It’s comments posted on the 11th, for the most part, back in ’01.
Some of them were pretty prescient.
https://www.metafilter.com/10034/Plane-crashes-in-to-the-word-trade-center
I don’t see how your September 13 2001 column could’ve made anyone angry. But then again I guess I’m not looking at it emotionally like many were back then.
Good call on the reaction of the FAA. The still lasting and possibly most pointless of which is the no-fly-zone over the Magic Kingdom. According to the FAA Disneyland is now almost as precious for the American way of life as Washington DC and where-ever the president happens to be.
Well, Bob, you were entirely correct. We’re now a society under perpetual surveillance, the Middle East is in ruins and has been largely taken over by Muslim fundamentalists, and the Federal government (and its minions and lackeys in the private sector) is more arrogant, intrusive, costly, and obnoxious than ever– all done in the name of “homeland security”. The only real question worth debating is, were these consequences intended, or unintended? Historians might have an answer in a few hundred years, I suppose.
what is the damage done behind the canes in 9/11 outsourcing, security clearances, H1B Hindu visas, hiking insurance and the cost of living, using Hindus and security clearances to suppress wages and jobs for Americans and hiding everything as a security feature so people don’t know Hindus are brought in every year to destroy wages, only a few at a time, well a river starts at a few drops then becomes a torrent
We are not more secure with Hindus, look at the opm scandal, yet not even trump exposes the hordes of Hindus coming in every year to take American jobs and suppress wages, this is a bigger danger, as is the healthcare coverage
There is a bigger chance from dying from lack of healthcare, because the Hindus are suppressing bandits and wages than dying from any terror attack
Who are the real terrorists? Bill gates wanting to import unlimited Hindu coolie labour for corporations making people live in squalor without healthcare or unemployed or killing a few Americans that creates new job openings
Which is worse which costs more lives ?
tad racist…
Judging from the summary, I find little anyone can object to: “So there are no answers, just more questions, and nobody is right. But we can’t give in, because to do so is to become less free, to be no longer ourselves. And above all, what defines us as Americans is our need to be ourselves.” But I detect a bit of self-contradiction. The statement “nobody is right” also means “everyone is wrong”. But if everyone is wrong, what is meant by “we can’t give in”? Ignore everyone? Do nothing? Or do some things that may help but won’t curtail our freedoms. I’d say we’ve done a pretty good job of the latter.
are we ready for an honest investigation?
At least of the commodities trading?
One of your most accurate predictions.
In my opinion, the most profound fact about 9/11 is that none of it would have been possible without the secret military exercises that prevented the hijacked airplanes from being intercepted by US military jets. How did the foreign terrorists know about these secret exercises? I smell something rotten in Denmark.
Bob,
You such a mixed bag. I read some of your stuff and I’m hard pressed to come up with anything I agree with. On the other hand, some is fantastic. The 9/11 one falls under the later.
It’s writing like that that keeps me coming back.
Joe J.
Why would anyone be under the misconception; that, either the military or police are “smart!” Top down “leadership” always produces crap!
9/11 came and went and I didn’t even notice. This is great news — I was getting tired of the speeches every year.
Your hamer sentiments were echoed by General Clark Sept20,2001: ” I guess if the only tool you have is a hamer,every problem has to look like a nail” : https://youtu.be/hvcq3OpX8qQ?t=464
” The school was abuzz with news from the East Coast, but even more abuzz the next day when the kids had been through a full evening of re-run explosion footage and talking news heads. I’m not saying we shouldn’t cover the news, but sometimes the extent to which we cover it creates problems of its own.”
Kids are no longer subjected to a full evening of re-run explosion footage – just billowing digital smoke. September clues looks at the media on that day: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yuC_4mGTs98
The specter of an external enemy had to be etched into their collective mind. Adam Curtis made an Edward Bernays documentary,The Power of Nightmares: The Rise of the Politics of Fear that look at PSYOPs:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5d5iIoCiI8g
Yeah after such a catastrophe there had to be a reaction, even an overreaction, and there was. I still wax nostalgic about the days of walking up to an airport gate to meet a relative coming in from out-of-state or walking up very late myself and making it on-board, just going through one big metal detector (that only detected big metal).
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But here we are. It’s the same world where city councils put fences on overpasses after some nut throws a brick at a car. What else can they do? Ignore it and risk an expensive lawsuit?
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The technology influence is obvious and we are on our way to a continuously monitored society with cameras everywhere. Eventually we will automate the monitors and have algorithms that search videos for suspicious activity. Will all of this make us safer? It will likely stop some crime and direct law enforcement more efficiently to problems, but we are giving up our privacy at the same time. Europeans who live in a much more crowded environment recognize this, but Americans are pretty willing to trade their privacy for something of value.
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As for Bob’s article, it was correct in predicting the government reaction, but there is a slow pull-back. I can’t say my kids will ever walk up to an airport gate to greet someone as I did, but I hope the cycle of safety versus freedom trends towards freedom. I feel it is headed that way now-a-days.
(If you’re easily offended then skip this…)
It’s because everyone else now thinks it was on 9th November. Actually, being serious, I think that the term 9/11 is now more associated with the event than the specific day. I can remember being at work that day and watching the news as the day unfolded. I think there was a sense of disbelief that anyone would do that
Throwing seeds at the little ones….. Might grow. Might flop…. Hope they don’t cruise around the hood at neck breaking speeds. Then when pulled over yell at the cop saying , don’t you know who I’am … I’M A CRINGELY!!!
Bob, Your 9/11 article does indeed stand the test of time, as most of the prior commentators seem to agree. Still a relevant set of arguments, and very prescient about the various agencies’ (over)reactions. Not surprising in a culture such as the U.S. where thoughtful and moderate responses and common sense are scarce commodities.
I clearly remember reading your 9/11 on the day it was published. Like many I was trying to make sense of events and the country’s response. And then I read the column and it was like a bucket of cold water – the Leviathan, already bloated, would only grow bigger.
And so it came to pass, and the country suffered a collective nervous breakdown. People are belatedly waking up to the national overreaction, while I shook my head and realized what was going on in realtime. Annual GDP growth has been reduced permanently by 1 – 2% by the added overhead attributable to 9/11. When compounded over the years the consequences are dire.
Re: “Annual GDP growth has been reduced permanently by 1 – 2% by the added overhead attributable to 9/11. When compounded over the years the consequences are dire.” I’d estimate GDP growth has decreased more than that due to the mere existence of government. The question is which functions of government are doing more harm than good. Keep in mind we can still travel without restrictions, with more room in baggage compartments thanks to limits on specific items, and there has not been another 9/11 event.
In the aftermath of the Paris Attacks I returned to Bob’s blog. As far as I’m concerned, his original column holds up no better than it did when he posted it again on the tenth anniversary of 9-11. As I said then:
“…how does [Bob’s article] translate into decisions and actions? Can’t all responses to 9-11 be characterized as the result of being terrorized or the choice of a man with a hammer? It seems to me that without specifics Bob’s article essentially rules out all responses.
Furthermore defining 9-11 as terrorism is a category error. AQ didn’t just blow up a bus or take a hostage. They killed 3000 people, obliterated two of our largest buildings and severely damaged a third. And those weren’t just any buildings — they were key nerve centers that run the finances and the military of our country. One assumes that Flight 93 was intended for a similar high profile target such as the US Capitol or the White House. The 9-11 attacks were decapitating strikes.
9-11 was a serious and successful attempt to do a large amount of damage to the United States. By any sensible measure it was an act of war, not terror.
From my side of the aisle, responding to 9-11 with vague advice about not giving into terrorism is a kind of paralysis that amounts to giving into al-Qaeda.”
https://www.cringely.com/2011/09/11/to-a-man-with-a-hammer-some-thoughts-on-the-pentagon-and-world-trade-center-terrorist-attacks/.
OK let’s say it was an act of war. Whom, what, where, and how should we attack in response? Your comment also lacks specifics.
Sanat eserleri üretmenin zevk vereceği bir ortam olan atölyemizde çizim çalışmaları haftanın 7 günü devam etmektedir. Bakırköy Resim Kursu olarak sizleri geleceğe hazırlamakla yetinmeyip ilgi duyduğunuz alanların optimizasyonu ile sizlere destekte vermektedir.
Sanat eseri üretmenin tek adresi olan taksim resim kursu ile geleceğiniz rengarenk oluşturmuş olduğunuz sanat eserleri ile aydınlanacaktır.
Eserlerimizi atölyemizde üretmekle beraber bir çok eser yeni sanat eserleri üretilmesine vesile olmuştur. Zafer GAZİOĞLU eşliğindeki kursumuz İstanbulun dört bir yanından gelen sanat severler ile ortak nokta niteliği taşımaktadır.
https://www.arkhesanat.com/
İlgi duyduğunuz alana yönelmek istiyorsanız ve bu ilgi duyduğunuz alan güzel sanatlara hazırlık alanı ise taksim resim kursu ile irtibata geçiniz. Türkiye’nin en kaliteli resim kursu olmakla beraber eğitmenlerimiz Mimar Sinan Üniversitesi mezunlarından ve bir çoğu 25 yıllık tecrübesi ile sizlere hizmet vermektedir.
Taksim Meydanındaki atölyemiz 3 katlı olmakla beraber sergi alanı , çalışma alanı gibi bir çok geniş alan mevcuttur. Atölyemizi görmeniz için sizleri mekanımıza bekliyoruz.
Sanat insanın ruhunu aydınlatmaktadır. Bakırköy resim kursu ile sanat eserleri üretmek elinizde çok ucuz fiyatlara uygun ödeme koşulları ile sizlere hizmet vermekteyiz.
Güzel Sanatlara Hazırlık ve Tasarım alanında geleceğin en önemli meslekleri arasında sayılan İç Mimarlık, Grafik Tasarımı ve Moda Tasarımı Bölümlerinde iki yıl süren eğitim programıyla lise veya üniversite muzunu kişilerin katılabileceği Milli Eğitim Bakanlığı onaylı bir Sertifika Programıdır. Bu programı başarı ile bitiren öğrenciler kazanmış oldukları M.E.B. Onaylı Sertifika ile tercih ettikleri alanlarda çalışma imkanı bulabilmektedirler.
https://www.arkhesanat.com/
You did bring up drones.
Remember Charlie Wilson’s War. Back then we decided not to use them because we did not want them used on us
What changed?
Fotoğraf çekimlerimiz ile hizmet vermekten mutluluk duymakla beraber Şimdide yeni resim kursu ile avcılarda bakırköy resim kursu adı altında eğitimlerimize iki şubemiz ile devam etmekteyiz. Sevdiklerinizin çizimlerini, doğal güzelliklerini, hayal ürünlerinizi ve daha bir çok işlevinizi soyut ve soyut teknikler ile sizlere sunmaktayız. Sizleri 4 kurs fiyatı ile 6 kur eğitimle gelişiminizi tamamlamaktayız.
http://ruyaavcisi.com/
Taksim meydanındaki yerimiz ile 3 katlı binamızda sizlere güzel sanatlara hazırlık alanında eğitim vererek kişisel gelişiminizi tamamlama yolunda bir adım daha atabileceksiniz.
Taksim resim kursu ile gelişiminizi karakalem, yağlı boya, manzara resimleri ve daha bir çok eseri hayal gücünüz ile birleştirerek eser üretmekteyiz. Sizde gelişiminiz için bizimle iletişime geçebilirsiniz.
https://www.arkhesanat.com/
Taksim Güzel Sanatlara Hazırlık olarak gelecek adına sizleri Mimar Sinan Üniversitesi mezunları eğitmenlerimiz eşliğinde bilinçlendirerek eksikliklerinizi gidermeye çalışmaktayız. Sanat alanında eşsiz güzellik ortaya koyan resim kursu muz sizleride atölyelerimizi incelemeniz için taksimdeki yerimize davet ediyoruz.
Eğitim standartlarımızı üst düzeyde tutarak disiplinli çalışma ortamıyla sizleri yarınlara hazırlamaktayız.
https://www.arkhesanat.com/
Ubeyt Çağatay Rüya Avcısı Sanat Eğitim Merkezi Avcılar, Bahçeşehir, Bakırköy, Beylidüzü, Küçükçekmece, Büyükçekmece, Esenyurt, Güzel Sanatlara Hazırlık Bakırköy Resim Kursu haftanın yedi günü sizlere en kaliteli hizmeti sunmak adına 2 şubesi ile eğitimlerine devam etmektedir.Atöltelerimizi inceleyerek kalitemizi sizde değerlendirebilirsiniz.
http://ruyaavcisi.com/
Globalleşen dünyamızda teknolojinin ve internetin getirdiği yenilikler sonucunda, tercüme önemli bir hizmet sektörü haline gelmiştir. Tercüme hizmeti, artık insanların kolayca ulaşabileceği bir hizmet olmanın yanısıra, günümüzde hayatın her alanında ihtiyaç duyulan bir hizmettir. Taksim Tercüme , vita tercüme adı altında tüm dillere çevirileri gerçekleştirmektedir.
https://www.vitatercume.com/