i just came across this good nytimes article discussing how stupid and ridiculous america has become since 9/11 and how we have become “The United States of Fighting Terrorism.”
“9/11 has made us stupid. I honor, and weep for, all those murdered on that day. But our reaction to 9/11  mine included  has knocked America completely out of balance, and it is time to get things right again…
“Before 9/11, the world thought America’s slogan was: “Where anything is possible for anybody.â€? But that is not our global brand anymore. Our government has been exporting fear, not hope: “Give me your tired, your poor and your fingerprints…
“Al Qaeda is about 9/11. We are about 9/12, we are about the Fourth of July  which is why I hope that anyone who runs on the 9/11 platform gets trounced.”