"good that Americans now know what it's like to be vulnerable"

[Richard Stock]

As a generalization, yes, I think that Americans
thought (think?) that they are invulnerable. 

No, I do not think (and I don't think the story said),
that it is or was *necessary* to remind Americans of
their vulnerability. But it has happened, and now we
are thinking about it.

The vulnerability I'm thinking about is not special to
Americans. Everyone in the world is vulnerable, but
Americans often choose to assume that it doesn't apply
to them. 

At the very least, I realize in myself the loss of a
certain arrogance and feeling of privilege after
September 11th, and even more strikingly I realize
that I had that arrogance and feeling of privilege at
all in the first place.

Rick

Otto wrote:
To give an answer to Richard:
Did Americans really think that they're invulnerable?
I question that. 
I
doubt that it's been "necessary" to remind them of
their vulnerability,
definitely not the way it has been done. The way it
has been put by 
those
"respondents outside" the US is very offending and
reminds me of the
"rejoicing Palestinians" -- absolutely inappropriate.




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Richard Stock
Prague, Czech Republic
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