01 October 2005
Debra Burlingame and the Freedom Center
Why does Ms. Burlingame, as reported by Tunku Varadarajan in the 1 -2 October 2005 Wall Street Journal, label the International Freedom Center a “liberal” response to September 11? The Freedom Center’s management and proponents may have included moderate Republicans and Democrats. What could one expect in New York? She correctly excoriates their distortion of the meaning of the Ground Zero site into a symbol of political liberty. In doing so, they have only fallen prey to persuasion by the Bush Administration in its attempt to use the September 11 tragedy to solidify its control of Washington.
The Bush Administration was masterful in laying guilt for the tragedy of September 11 on opponents to “Freedom.” It garnered easy identification with the ideals of the voting public, valuable for election victories in the next few years. This strategy diverted attention from the real cause of that and other terrorist attacks – Islamic radicalism. The Bush team preferred to have suppressors of freedom as its enemy. Singling out radical Islamists comes too close to other religious extremists, including Christian fundamentalists who make up Bush’s largest constituency.
A more fitting and relevant theme for a museum at the WTC site would be rationalism rather than freedom. This is a more difficult and intellectually demanding argument to make. Violence and destruction have been brought on us by religious zealotry throughout history. It is the true political lesson to be learned at the WTC site. Not surprisingly, no politician, liberal or conservative, will ever have the courage or patience to champion that message.
Why does Ms. Burlingame, as reported by Tunku Varadarajan in the 1 -2 October 2005 Wall Street Journal, label the International Freedom Center a “liberal” response to September 11? The Freedom Center’s management and proponents may have included moderate Republicans and Democrats. What could one expect in New York? She correctly excoriates their distortion of the meaning of the Ground Zero site into a symbol of political liberty. In doing so, they have only fallen prey to persuasion by the Bush Administration in its attempt to use the September 11 tragedy to solidify its control of Washington.
The Bush Administration was masterful in laying guilt for the tragedy of September 11 on opponents to “Freedom.” It garnered easy identification with the ideals of the voting public, valuable for election victories in the next few years. This strategy diverted attention from the real cause of that and other terrorist attacks – Islamic radicalism. The Bush team preferred to have suppressors of freedom as its enemy. Singling out radical Islamists comes too close to other religious extremists, including Christian fundamentalists who make up Bush’s largest constituency.
A more fitting and relevant theme for a museum at the WTC site would be rationalism rather than freedom. This is a more difficult and intellectually demanding argument to make. Violence and destruction have been brought on us by religious zealotry throughout history. It is the true political lesson to be learned at the WTC site. Not surprisingly, no politician, liberal or conservative, will ever have the courage or patience to champion that message.
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