911: WHAT'S MISSING IN THE PICTURE?

911 was a transformational moment in history, we can all agree on that. But seven years later, I wonder whatelse did we lose besides a pair of beautiful minimal modernist buildings in Manhathan?

Here is a short list of all other missing items

+ Universal values applicable to all people regardless of race religion and ethnicity
Before 911 one could not assume so much stereotypes about anyone particularly Muslims and Arabs. 911 lifted this barrier and allowed commentators, politicians and average people to engage in politically motivated racism. Suddenly it was OK to generalize, to lay blame at other people's culture and to see our problems as someone else's again. Seven years later, this rule has been extended to a lot of other population groups. Slowly, the West has overcome political correctness and has asserted its power in naming and framing anyone and anything.

+ Confidence in Liberal Democracy as an open system
Before 911, most people believed that liberal democracy is powerful because it's essentially an open system and it can contain all forms of resistance to itself. It was believed that this strength comes from its openness. This was the second casualty of 911. People started to see liberal democracy as a fragile balance that needs protection, inside and outside. This single shift in attitude allowed the western governments to quickly take on the task of changing the nature of Liberal democracy itself. Both wars outside and increase surveillance and clamp down on individual/civil rights are direct results of this shift. Nowadays it is common sense to assume that "our democratic system needs protection against intruders".

+ Meaningful relationship between economy and world events
911 finally break the link that existed even in ordinary people's mind about the connection between political economy and world events. It used to be commonplace to quote Clinton: "it's economy stupid!" but not anymore. 911 had nothing to do with economy and everything to do with international culture wars.

+ effectiveness of the international organizations in managing the world affairs
Whoever physically destroyed the twin towers also demolished the UN metaphorically. the collapse of World Trade buildings was also the collapse of the international cooperation under the banner of the United Nations. 911 ushered the dawnof the new world of dog eat dog competition.

+ and finally, 3.2 million Afghanis and 1.5 million Iraqi people

On a lighter note, For those of you who don;t know, Stevie Nicks arrived in New York in the morning of 911 2001 for a concert at Radiocity Music Hall the same evening, a concert that was obviously cancelled later on that day. Confined in her midtown Hotel, the queen of American music instead chose to write a diary. here are what has been known on the internet as Stevie's 911 JOURNAL