The wound created by the understandable fear and terror of that horrible day created a gouge in our national spirit. Into that void crept - not a single political leader - but a entire sociopolitical narrative of fear and mistrust of the "other." The time after 09/11 asked us a lot of questions, and I hate to say, we came up with a lot of the wrong answers.
The time asked,“Who are you afraid of?”
We answered, "Everyone! "
The time asked, “Who do you trust?”
We answered, "Whoever is loudest and meanest!"
Those are all wrong answers.
Politicians, religious leaders, public figures, and propagandizing media outlets like Fox News started beating a drum of blind nationalism as the only way forward.
Over the next 15 years, while many of us remained committed to a spirit of diversity, compassion and community, many more waded further into the murky waters of U.S. exceptionalism and jingoism. The mistrust did not remain limited to Muslims, but bled into public discourse surrounding everything from immigration to police violence against marginalized people.
From there it wasn’t a far leap to fake news, rampant conspiracy theories, and – let us not forget – a certain brand of fundamentalist Christianity wherein the authority of scripture became hard to discern from the authority of the Republican Party.
Then Donald Trump got elected President. Because more than any of the other politicians that tried to artfully dance around and imply the same message, Trump came right out and said it – America First. Fear the "other."Muslims are coming for us. Build a wall. Law and order. Make America Great.
And so we have a President who clearly represents the very worst of us.
