Remembering 9/11 and Moving Forward

America must move from the errant, retributive justice of 9/11 to a healing, restorative process of truth and reconciliation.

Before the Congress adjourns, I will bring forth a new proposal for the establishment of a National Commission on Truth and Reconciliation, which will have the power to compel testimony and gather official documents to reveal to the American people not only the underlying deception which has divided us, but in that process of truth seeking set our nation on a path of reconciliation.

We suffer in our remembrance of 9/11, because of the terrible loss of innocent lives on that grim day. We also suffer because 9/11 was seized as an opportunity to run a political agenda, which has set America on a course of the destruction of another nation and the destruction of our own Constitution. And we have become less secure as a result of the warped practice of pursing peace through the exercise of pre-emptive military strength.

It is not simply 9/11 that needs to be remembered. We also need to remember the politicization of 9/11 and the polarizing narrative which followed, locking us into endless conflict, a war on terror which has wrought further terror worldwide and which has severely damaged our standing worldwide as an honorable, compassionate nation. As we were all victims of 9/11, so we have become victims of the interpretation of 9/11.

Our government's external response to 9/11 was to attack a nation which did not attack us. Indeed on the first anniversary of 9/11, the Bush administration issued a well-publicized stern warning to Iraq which was part of a campaign to induce people to believe Iraq had something to do with 9/11.

The deliberate, systematic connection of Iraq with 9/11 has led America into a philosophical and moral cul-de-sac as over one million Iraqis and over 4155 US soldiers have died in a war which will cost over $3 trillion. Additionally, soldiers from 23 other countries have died in the Iraq war.

We attempt to unite Iraq by further dividing it. We talk about restoring Iraq while taking steps to place control of its vast oil wealth in the hands of US oil giants. And we intend to impose upon the Iraqi people the cost of rebuilding a country which our government ruined, keeping a once prosperous nation lashed to debt and poverty for a long, long time. Iraq has paid for 9/11. We all continue to pay for 9/11.

The heartbreaking loss of the lives and injuries to America troops further binds us to the Administration's illogic of the Iraq war: We remember our troops' sacrifice by demanding more sacrifice; we support our troops by continuing the war.

The dominant color of our new national security since 911 is neither red, white nor blue. Everyday is orange. Everyday reminders of fear of 9/11 become banal.. Yet we no longer hear the airport announcements nor see the orange colored warnings because they have commonplace standards in our new national security state, as is the Patriot Act, wiretapping, and a host of invasions of privacy and diminution of civil liberties. The Constitution has been roundly attacked by the very people who took an oath to defend it.

There is a powerful desire across America for change, not necessarily from control by one political party to another, but a change from living with lies to living with truth.

Over two dozen nations, facing peril within and without, deeply divided by politics and war have travelled down a path of restoring civil society through a formal process of reconciliation. At some point within each of those countries it was understood that the way forward is shown through the light of truth. This process is not without pain because it requires a willingness to study evidence to which eyes had been averted and ears had been closed. But in the process of truth and reconciliation, nations found new strength, new resolve, new commitment.

The South African Truth and Reconciliation enabled that nation to come to grips with its past through a public confessional, bringing forward those who committed crimes and having the power to grant amnesty for full disclosure of crimes against the people. Of course, our path may necessarily be different: High US government officials stand accused in Impeachment petitions of violating national and international law. Our continued existence as a democracy may depend upon how thoroughly we seek the truth. I will call upon the America people to join me in supporting this effort.

The truth can move us forward, as a unified whole, so that we can one day become a re-United States. 9/11 is the day the world changed. It is the day America embraced a metaphor of war. If we are open to truth and reconciliation, we may one day be able, once again, to embrace peace.

Comments

[Rollah]

And that's why I voted for you, Sir, in the primary. Thank you,

[drkazmd65]

And that's why I would have voted for Dennis Kucinich in my primary - if he hadn't officially dropped out by then,

So - I voted for the 'next best' choice (Sen Gravel) in the primaries, and sent Rep. Kucinich a contribution for his Congressional Primary campaign instead.

Anybody here think Rep. Kucinich should be Speaker of the House come Janurary '09? Now that,... I would love to see.

[mosh]

Me too. And still do and will.

[dzymzlzy]

Thank you Mr. Kucinich. You are a patriot and I thank you for your service to our country and the world.

[SEQUOIABISON]

Dennis you were of course my first choice before Obama blew everyone out of the game in Iowa.

You are obviously too much of a progressive liberal humanitarian for the American electorate the country is not ready for another FDR but hopefully Obama will find a key position for you in his cabinet.

Obama/Biden

[dapperd72]

Thank you for your sane, well-informed testimony once again, Dennis. Despite how some malinformed, disingenuous right-wing-oriented malcontents deride you routinely, you deserve ample credit as one of the few truly courageous, intellectually honest and patriotic members of Congress. If you were the House Speaker since 2006, since you unfortunately couldn't be nominated for President in 2004 (though I diligently campaigned for you), instead of Nancy Pelosi, we'd probably be in much better shape constitutionally right now than we are. Bush & his criminal cronies would've been impeached & hopefully prosecuted and our nation wouldn't be alternately the laughingstock and favorite target of hatred around the world. I never heard you claim that 9/11 was an inside job, though the book, "The War on Freedom" does a thorough job of exposing that logical probability. I will never believe for a second that Bush had any interest in preventing that catastrophe from happening. Please keep speaking truth to power!

[SupremeIdiot]

I'm not real clear on how pointing out that the Republicans took full political advantage of 9/11 to force their nefarious agenda of mid-east domination is going to bring us together.

But I'm all for pointing it out in milehigh letters.

AND, maybe remembering that OBL is still out there will help bring him to justice and let my brother firefighters and police officers rest in peace.

I REMEMBER..­...always.

[mosh]

The truth would cleanse the air and allow us to all breathe and grieve easier.

[chrisincalif]

Thank you, Rep. Kucinich! You are a real American hero, a true patriot, in a time filled with jingoistic slogans. If only more Democrats had your backbone!

[martinchill]

wtc-7 + pentagon x miles of debris in shanksfield = unsolved mystery

go dennis, go!

[Jznidarsic]

Dear Congressman Kucinich, Thank you for your courage and persistence. Please keep it up.

[sugarmoes]

amen! the TRUTH loves THE LIGHT!

[BandH08]

Kucinich, should have been on the ticket as the VP!

[foucaro]

As much as I support Obama as the best candidate, I admire Dennis Kucinich as the true man of peace. I would have loved to have seen him at the top of the ticket.

[venice6]

Sep. 11, 2008 - 12:41 PM EST updated
ONE FACT WORTH REMEMBERING TODAY 9/11/08, IS THE 4,000 US TROOP DEATH TOLL AND THE HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF INNOCENT BABIES, CHILDREN AND FAMILIES KILLED IN IRAQ, A COUNTRY THAT HAD NOTHING, NOTHING! TO DO WITH 911. A WAR ,PRESIDENT BUSH UNILATERALLY STARTED, A WAR, JOHN MCCAIN SAYS WE MUST AND WILL "WIN" A WAR SARAH PALIN SO FONDLY CALLS " GOD'S WILL " IN MEMORY OF THIS TRAGADY, A WAR UNRELATED THAT WAS NEVER CONNECTED TO THE 911 ATTACKS, A TRIBUTE TO THE VICTIMS AND THE FUTURE VICTIM OF THIS FALSE WAR-GO TO http://irregulartimes.com/dead.htmll
THERE IS NO HONOR IN LYING

[MysticBrit]

Only when America has fully faced up to what happened on that day in September seven years ago, namely that elements of your own government attacked you in order to scare you into giving up your civil liberties and agreeing to an illegal, pre-emptive invasion and subsequent occupation and exploitation of a sovereign nation which posed no threat to you whatsoever; and when you have excised the tumour from your body politic which was the driving force behind these obscene acts; then, and only then, will you gain the undying admiration of all humanity.

Then 'the power of your example' will be seen, and you will truly be able to call yourselves Great. May you have the immense moral courage, both to confront what happened and to grow in stature by thoroughly dealing with it.

May G o d B l e s s America indeed, and bless all humanity through her. Amen.

[Mason]

Thanks for your encouragement, MysticBrit.

Our task seems close to impossible on this sad day of remembrance, particularly given the unimaginably bizarre and irrelevant political discourse that has so many of us feeling trapped in some alternate universe where the only thing real is absurd. My dreams make more sense to me than what I observe during my waking state. It seems like everything is falling apart and people are losing their minds.

Peace to you and your fellow Brits.

[castrochavez08]

Thanks for everything you do Dennis. All of the people who actually pay attention and search for the truth are your greatest supporters and admirers.

Sadly the slippery Oligarchs and elitists who run our nation control our media who in turn control the clamoring masses with "news" and entertainment. We have a case in America today where the majority is completely in the wrong, in the dark and in more trouble than they realize.

That Mr. Kucinich has been abuse by the leaders of his own party is a national disgrace. That he keeps working tirelessly on behalf of the American people is a reason for HOPE. Genuine hope, not a marketing pitch.
We all can say thank you to Dennis by getting (more) involved in our local communities and fighting the good fight.

[lobear00]

When members of the Democratic party in the house turned their backs on the only "True Statesman ,Dennis Kucinich, when this man brought 36 articles of impeachment to the floor, I looked in amazment, at the Democrats who turned their "Spineless backs on the United States Constitution. And that was also a "Slap in the face to all "Americans.

[vinny]

if the Dems lose this election, it will be time to begin the New Democratic Party... on founded on liberal democratic principles and culture of life ideals...

if the Dems lose, it will b/c they didnt pay attention to what Kucinich was proposing.­.. having a coherent platform on culture of life issues would keep Rs from using abortion as a wedge issue... the Dem party which kowtows to the radical feminist position that a woman reigns supreme in matters of life is simple out of step with liberal democratic principles, and keeps the Dem party from solving the electoral equation..­.

we'll see if Dems can do it this year, but as you see the Rs have pulled the abortion out once more as a wedge issue, and have solidified the evangelical vote once more... if the Dems lose, it will be time to break with the party and form a third party alternative - The New Democratic Party

[JustAxin]

Agreed. But don't you think the Repubs would just find a different issue to wedge between us? Remember, logic and reason don't work with these people...

[mosh]

You are so right. If the dems lose it will be time to move on and reform. Having said that, I realize, it's probably already time.

[groucho]

Thank you for the courage you constantly display to this country, whether of not people ridicule you. You have done more for the integrity of the US than almost any other legislator. I really wish I could have your strength. You and Carter will be looked at as real Americans in the future...i­f there is a future.

[mosh]

if there is a future - - - well said.