The first time I read the piece in 2002, I wept.
Published soon after 9/11, the writer used simple language but conveyed his message so thoughtfully and eloquently. There were images of the twin towers turned to dust. There were images of firefighters climbing stairs. Victims fled and helped each other. Aircraft passengers fought back heroically against their captors. But it was the foresight and the language that captivated. The piece captures the horror of September 11 and the new resolve awakened in its aftermath. It was tragic and heroic and defiant and brave but romanticized nothing. Heroes were made that day and they came in many creeds and colors. His writing makes you want to reach. His message explored the soul’s wound with a surgeon’s even hand.
The writer acknowledged that on 9/11 Americans were awakened from self-involvement in American foreign policy. To the terrorists, he wrote “Point taken. Wait for your reply in thunder.” The piece made the point–long before history bore out horribly–that though prosecution would be relentless, caution should be more prized than vengeance. Husks of American constitutional ideals should not be sacrificed on the path to justice.
The writer, uncanny and prophetic, reminded us that in war “the most harmed are the least deserving.” The writer condemned any backlash of racism. He made us feel his repugnance at dangerous religious fundamentalism, either spoken from the mouths of terrorists calling for “death to America” or when uttered by Jerry Falwell, who said God “lifted His veil of protection” because America deserved it for allowing gays and the ACLU. As if God only made Americans and not humans.
The writer captured the grief imposed by terrorists and found inspiration from ordinary heroes. This writer saw the future. He warned us against excesses, terrible and inexorable. I am in awe of his foresight.
Twist #1: The writer is J. Michael Straczynski. You’ll find it in Amazing Spider-Man #36. Yes. It was a comic book. If you were so inclined, you’ll never look down on the form again after reading it.
Twist #2: All the elements are there in full color. Now, with history behind us, I’m bitter. Straczynski saw the future. He laid it out. He warned us what could happen if we pursued vengeance instead of justice. The angels of our better natures continue to weep at the loss of lives and of moral authority. We were supposed to better than torture. They said it wasn’t about greed or colonialism and we believed. We were once the righteous ones.
We needed that kind of ability to inspire for defensive action. We needed that caliber of foresight and wisdom and restraint. We needed a comic book writer in the Whitehouse. Instead, we got a comic book reader who had learned none of the best lessons the form can impart.
The first time I read it, I wept. Last night, it made me angry.
C h a z z W r i t e s . c o m 