Right Through the Very Heart of It

Today marks the sixth anniversary of the fall of the Twin Towers. It's sad how this dark day in America's history has been so overly politicized by both the Republicans and the Democrats but it's also not surprising given how easily politicians revert to desperate pandering in place of truth and how cynical we've become (myself included but I was born that way).

A recent poll show shows that many Americans do not feel safer in this post-9/11 world. Republicans make great claims about how there hasn't been another attack since the World Trade Center but now analysts say Al-Qaeda is back to pre-9/11 strength.

Though September 11 will be remembered as one of our country's worst days, the aftermath represented some of our best. The global village that is New York City banded together and took care of its own while the generosity of the world was front and center. Now I wonder, where have those days gone?

I write about politics a lot but I was pretty ignorant before the attack. I decided on that day that I would become better informed and I have, but only marginally so. Still, I do the best I can and hope it makes a difference (and boy, doesn't that sound self-righteous?) It's easy to believe that the simple act of voting doesn't matter since apparently the presidency can be decided without regard to the desire of the people.

The last six years have not been especially happy ones for this country - fear is used daily as a tactic to paralyze us and take away our rights, the lawmakers have become lawless, we're mired in a war we can't win with soldiers and civilians dying every day, New Orleans suffered the horrible destruction that was (and still is) Hurricane Katrina, we hear about political scandals every other week and, for many of us, there's the total drag that is life with a president who thinks being stubborn is being strong and listening is a sin.

However, there's still the expectation that things can turn around. I'm just not sure how sometimes. Does it happen with Barack? With Clinton II? I like Dennis Kucinich but he'll never win (and I'm not even sure if he would be a great leader, to be honest). Frankly, I think it's true that we should beware anyone who actually wants that job. But someone has to do it and I hope that next year America really does vote for change and that change actually happens.

New York is my favorite place on earth to visit (I try to go at least once a year). I loved it when it was a mystery and I love it now that it's the one place in the world where I feel anonymous and comfortable and alive. It possesses a magic I've never experienced anywhere else (it's even better than Disneyland!) Laugh if you will, but Alec Baldwin wrote a great piece on Huffpo yesterday about the city and its many splendors. Granted, his New York and nearly everyone else's is vastly different but still, I thought it was sweet (and yes, I know he's a crappy father).

Lastly, a New Yorker I admired for years after seeing her in two Hal Hartley films (The Unbelievable Truth and Trust), actress Adrienne Shelly, was murdered last fall in her office. Shelly wrote, directed and acted in the recent film Waitress. She was still waiting for news from Sundance when she was killed. How lovely for her legacy that the film went on to do so well and achieve critical acclaim. Her husband, Andy Ostroy, started The Adrienne Shelly Foundation in her memory to help other female filmmakers make their dreams come true. They have a benefit and eBay auction coming up soon.

Out of all tragedy springs hope of some kind. Maybe we can all take a second to remember that today, and every day, hope exists in every corner of the world. So, you know, spread it around like buttah!

Off to buy the Patriot Pack,
Ms. P

ps. Snarkiness, fashion reviews and meaningless drivel will resume this evening. That is a promise from me to you.