I have no sympathy for the devil. No belief, either. But on this 9/11 I have taken about fifteen minutes to watch an MSNBC replay of NBC’s broadcast seven years ago. It appears to be playing back in real time. At this point the towers are down, and the attack is over. The talk continues. In our hindisght we can see the beginnings of the rumors that remain today. We also see the first hints at 911 conservatives.

My point is not to refill that bucket, but to point out the nature of symbols. They chose the target and the means. They chose the time and places. The effect of those choices reveals the enemies thoughts. Their iconography of America. They reveal the view of America from a cave.

The attack was against the Military, against World Trade. These were our symbols. Power, mobility, enthusiasm, confidence. Those were our images. The terrorists did not attack those things. They could not see them, not all of them. None of us sees with another’s eyes.

By using easy travel they have made it hard to travel. They used our image of us against us. They have set us against our friends. They have used us against their enemies. They have made themselves our new symbol, our choices consider them, not us. Their chosen day has become our most discussed day. Memorials, sanctity. Their attacks replayed forever. 911 we lost much more than buildings and people. We lost our willingness to interact. We have become the old maids, waiting forever for another attack. Old maids playing the hand dealt to us on 911. Playing the same game with old worn cards. Old maids at camp. Playing war.