Our American Nightmare

 

Reign of Terror: How the 9/11 Era Destabilized America and Produced Trump, by Spencer Ackerman, outlines what we all know by now – or should.  The incredible trauma of 9-11 produced a hit of adrenaline to the sense of American exceptionalism.  Rather than learn what it was about our foreign policy that contributed to the attacks, we sought revenge on our enemies and boosted security.  This was a struggle that was black and white - with no shades of gray.

This boost in security led to what Ackerman calls the “Security State.”  Like many nations in history who have been attacked, the tools we used to protect ourselves eventually became part of our national fabric, threatening our forms of government.  "Security" was transformed to tools of oppression.

Ackerman’s book explores this, and the underlying racism in the War on Terror.  White domestic terrorists are not thrown in Gitmo.  Muslims of color are; this simmering racism, always present in America, emerged in broad daylight during the Trump presidency.  No longer does American racism need to hide decorously (if it ever did).  It can be expressed in public and violently, against all minorities, but particularly communities of color and non-Christian religious groups.  Not even the American government is exempt. 

How do we come back from this precipice?  COVID has only advanced our divisions and weaknesses.  Perhaps the American hegemon is dead.  Perhaps our cure for insecurity has killed the American experiment.