Is Rational Discourse Another Casualty of Tuesdays Attacks?
By Ben Fritz (ben@spinsanity.org) September 17, 2001 A time of tragedy is inevitably, and rightfully, a time of emotion. Just as so many of us are distraught, upset, and angry at the terrorist attacks against the U.S. last week, so too are many political pundits. We should expect no less, of course, as they are Americans who, like all of us, saw their nation wounded and friends endangered or even killed. They have a responsibility, however, not to allow the nation to descend into irrationality. Carefully reasoned, thoughtful political debate is in fact most necessary now as we consider the best course of action. An irrational political debate could lead to an ineffective or even counterproductive response, and also do lasting damage to the norms of American democracy. This is why some of the political rhetoric of the past week has been so troubling. Many pundits and editorial boards have given America exactly what it does not need: inflammatory rhetoric, wildly irrational political ana
