Tree of Evil, Tree of Good

The saddest aspect of the fifth 9/11 anniversary is how far we've gone -- in the wrong direction.

In the days following 9/11/01, Americans reached out to each other in their grief and befuddlement. We found kindred spirits in unlikely people, even our political opposites. The president looked presidential. Our Congressional leaders reached across the aisle to one another, even posed willingly for a group photo.

A few days after 9/11, rock stars gathered for a television telethon for the families of those killed in the attacks on NYC and D.C. "America: A Tribute to Heroes" was a classy affair, about as far from the MTV Music Awards as it's possible to get in this life. No hoopla. no studio audience, no commercials, no bling. Just talented musicians trying to bring on a little healing and bring in some much-needed cash for the United Way's relief efforts.

Neil Young played the piano and sang a customized "Imagine," which later was banned with other peacenik songs from Clear Channel radio stations. The Dixie Chicks connected on "I Believe in Love," and said nothing (yet) about Bush and Texas. Eddie Vedder and Celine Dion and Wyclef John and Limp Bizkit. Bruce Springsteen performed "My City in Ruins" backed by vocals. An appropriate choice, a song filled with the hallelujahs and amens of gospel hymns and Bruce's own Catholic-inspired spirituality.

Five years later, on 9/11/06, I turned to Bruce's CD "The Rising" as I drove through the rain from Casper to Cheyenne in Wyoming. During the day's six hours of driving (to and from), I listened to part of the anniversary ceremony at the Twin Towers, an NPR segment on "The 9/11 Commission Report," a call-in show on Radio America out of Boulder, Colo., an afternoon NPR segment on progress (and lack thereof) in the Afghanistan War, and finally "News Hour" on the BBC. Enough info and opinion to make my head implode.

So I turned to Bruce for some healing. I hadn't listened to the entire CD for a couple years. I couldn't play it enough when it first came out in 2002. "Paradise" is told from the P.O.V. of a suicide bomber and "Lonesome Day" is about a man mourning his dead lover. Bruce sings a few feel-good songs ("Mary's Place") and the grim but hopeful "Into the Fire." The persona in "Empty Sky," who lost a loved one in one of the 9/11 planes, reflects the way many of us felt five years ago. He wants to forgive, yet he also wants revenge:

"On the plains of Jordan
I cut my bow from the wood
Of this tree of evil
Of this tree of good
I want a kiss from your lips
I want an eye for an eye
I woke up this morning to an empty sky"

I wish I could find forgiveness. Not for the 9/11 terrorists, but for our president and his cockeyed view of the world. An opportunity was wasted to transform our togetherness during September 2001 into a national policy to thwart terrorism and to preserve liberties at home. Instead, we've been led into a wilderness of hate and blame.