President Obama’s Departure from Seattle, September 25, 2011

President Obama’s Motorcade Approaches, Seattle, Washington (image on Flickr)

President Obama visited Seattle, Washington on September 25, 2011, making a number of campaign stops, covered by here by PBS, here by The Daily Beast as “The New Obama” and here by the Seattle Times.

As our President passed by in his motorcade, I wondered at length and extravagance of campaigning, of the time spent by all parties, the Democrat President and his opponents in the Republican party. On the one hand, campaigning is a test of endurance and wills where the contender must consistently outperform opponents to prove him or herself. On the other hand, campaigning carries a heavy cost. A cost measured in campaign contributions and the expenses of campaigning. An opportunity cost as time spent campaigning is time not spent elsewhere. A cost measured in obstruction, as the party not in office sees no benefit in compromise.







President Obama Waving, Seattle, Washington, September 25, 2011 (Image on Photoshelter)

President Obama waved as he passed by, leaving Seattle, and on his way to more campaign stops in California. Campaigning, speaking the message, bringing in campaign contributions, a little over a year out from the election.

One could hardly fault President Obama for his new campaign tone. It has become increasingly clear that a group of Tea Party conservatives has frightened the broader Republican Party to the point that our American system of compromise has broken down. The resulting stasis has meant a government lurching from crisis to crisis. Obstructionism is no way to move a nation forward.

Surely there must be a better way.

Reform the campaign system.

The political process is getting in the way of governance.

There is a balance of risks involved.

Air Force One Leaving Seattle, Washington, September 25, 2011 (Image on Photoshelter)

Tenth Anniversary, September 11, 2001 Attacks

September 11, 2001 Damage, World Trade Center, New York, NY, December, 2001 (image on Photoshelter)

It is difficult to believe that ten years has passed since the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. The destruction of the World Trade Center Twin Towers; the attack at the Pentagon and the heroic action by the passengers of United Flight 93 in bringing down the hijacked jet before it could reach its target in Washington D.C. Almost three thousand lives were lost in the attacks.

So much has happened in the time frame since the attacks, including the war on terrorism instigated by President Bush in the aftermath of the attacks, and a continuation of the fight by President Obama.

Importantly, Osama Bin Laden, whose Al Qaeda organization was responsible for the attacks, was killed in Abbottabad, Pakistan, in a U.S. C.I.A. raid conducted by special forces, including the Navy Seals unit that killed Bin Laden. Bin Laden’s death provides a sense of justice for the horrific damage his organization has done; however, importantly, it also stopped his ability to conduct more attacks. His death, however, may provide the weakened Al Qaeda organization he leaves behind with motivation for future attacks.

These events string themselves along the arrow of time as particularly significant and memorable. They take their place in the hall of memories amongst the family gatherings, the company picnics, the morning rush hour, the vacations and the hometown football victories and vigorously drown them out. We will always remember where we were when the September 11, 2001 attacks were launched. We will remember what we were doing when Osama Bin Laden was killed. These events are etched in our memories and will march down the hallway of time with us as we age and relate this history to the younger generation.

We will remember those who lost their lives. Our hearts go out to them and the families they left behind. We stand behind our government in its efforts to bring Al Qaeda to justice and we applaud the raid against Osama Bin Laden that resulted in his death.

This tragic event has had an impact upon all of us that will be with us the rest of our lives.

September 11 Memorial, Lower Manhattan, NYC, December, 2001 (image on Photoshelter)

While a sense of time may give us pause to consider past events there is no place that shows the impact of time more than its impact on the health of first responders and others in the World Trade Center area who were exposed to the dust from the attack.

New York City Fireman and Police Vehicle, Lower Manhattan, NYC, December, 2001 (image on Photoshelter)

For those exposed to the World Trade Center’s dust, time is not simply a memory of the event; it represents the impact of inhaled noxious pollutants, marching in physiological time within the body, damaging bodily systems. A witches brew of toxic substances contained in the dust has triggered a variety of dangerous health effects. It is clear that as time marches on, the toxic aftermath of September 11, 2001 still impacts first reponders.,

There is a World Trade Center Health Registry for people that lived, worked and went to school in the World Trade Center area.

Legislation has been passed to provide compensation to first responders, however it does not currently cover cancer, as discussed in CNN’s Dr. Sanjay Gupta’s coverage of the dust impacts of September 11 attacks.

The impacts of the the World Trade Center attacks will more fully emerge as time unfolds and the effects of dust, particles, toxic and alkaline substances play out on the people affected.