Too Bad To Last

It's fascinating, watching us cope. The world has not changed (pundits to the contrary), but our perspective on it has.

We were abruptly shown that some of the people with whom we share this planet aren't very nice. After eight years of Clinton, many of us weren't sure if we could or should do anything about that. I'm so grateful for a Chief Executive capable of setting the right tone. Someone must say it: Mass murder is intolerable.

In this respect, the 9/11 attack was a cultural Reset Button. And for several weeks, everyone was on the same page. Some things are above partisan politics. But all things seek their own level, and as we achieve some distance from the attack, our temporarily homogenized society returns to its discrete, identifiable segments.

Don't get me wrong, in a lot of ways it's encouraging to watch us get back to normal. We may never reach exactly where we were, and that's probably a good thing, but shock can't last forever. And the world, after all, did not come to an end.

It seems to me that among us Average People, recovery came pretty fast. The Media are still in crisis mode, and may never chill.

And politicians are more entertaining than ever -- until I remember that they have the power to create more law. Keep your eyes on 'em!