A week since the World Trade Center/Pentagon attacks, and it's clear the world simply isn't going back to how it was last Monday. Sure, daily routine hasn't changed too much, but there's a lot of bitterness, a lot of fear, and a lot of anger. The only thing missing seems to be real, concrete answers. Do we know bin Laden really is behind this attack? Does attacking Afghanistan hurt him, or simply provide more recruits? Are we willing to follow the U.S. into a messy guerrilla war with no clear enemies? And what can we do to prevent Pakistan's nuclear weapons from falling into the hands of supporters of the Taliban?

David Letterman had a moving show last night. Inspired by Guiliani, he went back to work, but was clearly struggling with how he could do his job (providing comic relief and social satire) without making light of the tragedy. His monologue at the beginning, usually a run of the mill standup comedy routine, was replaced by a heartfelt, grief-ridden everyman commentary on the incomprehensible nature of the attack and the heroism of many of the respondants. His guests, Dan Rather and Regis Philbin, were equally moved, although Regis did a brilliant job of lightening the tone of the show in a self-depreciating way.

In the mean time, we're all back to work here in Toronto. I'm counting down my days until FlexLeave (now 8 1/2) and trying to wrap up as much as possible (although there have been a number of external delays recently, so I won't get the satisfaction of seeing it all done). I walk to work by the U.S. Consulate every day, and every day wish I'd thought to buy some flowers to add to the piles in front. In the mean time, the weather has been gorgeous all week. What a weird world we live in.
posted by Tom at 11:48 AM | link |