A year of living dangerously

A year of living dangerously

By James Carroll | December 28, 2004

<snip>

I confess that, looking back on this recent American past, I find myself deeply saddened. If that note seems unduly grave, or partisan, for this festive week, apologies. In truth, few Americans seem happy with what we are becoming. The expansive sense of historic open-endedness, so palpable across all political divides a mere five years ago, as the year 2000 was dawning, has been replaced by a national claustrophobia, with the growing suspicion that we are hedged in by walls of our own creation.

Yes, fear and a sense of victimhood understandably stalked us in 2001, but instead of shaking those alien feelings off, we used them to construct an emergency garrison, from which we take aim at others, but which, also, is turning out to be our self-made brig.

Iraq, above all, is our prison, the place where America has taken its own self hostage.

<snip>

more...
http://www.boston.com/news/globe/editorial_opinion/oped/articles/2004/12/28/2004_a_year_of_living_suspiciously/