“Trauma has an expiration date: a time after which it is no longer relevant as an insistent reality. As a people, we have moved on.”

In China the “Nanjing Massacre” still inspires hate for and protests against the Japanese, while in Vietnam, much seems to be forgiven concerning the Vietnam War. Will Americans forgive and forget so easily? Unfortunately, especially for Muslim Americans, it may be another ten years, if not longer, before all is forgiven.

“Children, the truth is these terrorist acts were done by freedom-hating radical Islamic Muslim extremists. These crazy people hate the American way of life because we are FREE and our society is FREE.”

Although the book was written for children, for whom material is often simplified, the fact that this over-simplified version passes as the stone cold “truth” tells you something about the mentality which prevailed in the wake of 911 and which still persists. This another reason why it will probably take longer for the “uber-patriotism” which 911 inspired to fade. Yet if a new generation is taught such “truth,” it might take much much longer.

And I could not resist noting that, odd as it seems, “Made in the USA” does not seem to be part of “red-state politics,” at least not as much as free-trade, which more often than not occludes “Made in the USA.” Such is the peculiar nature of American patriotism.