A window into the American Psyche: Osama, Obama, and American Letters

The global media struggle to avoid disseminating generic analysis in times of global significance. Hopping from one media format to another can become repetitive, in terms of action and content. For example, the remarkable story of how Osama Bin Laden’s death emerged in social media ahead of mainstream media provides a recurring theme. The astonishing story of how a Twitter user inadvertently gave live information of the American operation dominates many publications (many whom refrain from informing us that the story was available hours previous from our colleagues at the constantly innovative EnduringAmerica blog). Therefore, let’s think outside the box. Yesterday we speculated on impact assessment analysis, today let’s [partially] prove it.

What follows is an assessment of the letters section in today’s NYT.

One letter tells us that it is “amazing news” that “transcends the petty nature of domestic politics”. “Good over evil”, “10 years” of sacrifice, and “justice” narratives litter the letter landscape. They are, however, complicated narratives. Another enquires, “We should ask ourselves if justice for those killed on Sept. 11 and in our wars in Afghanistan and Iraq can be achieved by a killing, or if it can even be achieved at all.” In addition, the war weariness creeps in –

“While the unseemly chest thumping over the death of Osama bin Laden demonstrates that the vengeful blood lust of the American people is alive and well, such gruesome triumphalism seems particularly overblown in light of the fact that it took the United States government, with its enormous resources, nearly 10 years and billions of dollars to locate and kill one man.”

which, in turn, is positioned alongside a new enemy or fear –

As we are joyful and thankful, we now need to be even more vigilant than ever. Those still running Al Qaeda and affiliated terrorist groups will surely seek revenge in order to establish Bin Laden as a martyr.

This fear is not merely of reprisal –

“Press photos of Americans drunk with glee over the killing of Osama bin Laden recall images from long ago of parents hoisting children onto their shoulders for a clearer view of a public execution. This mindless merriment, based on hatred, fear and foolish indifference to the rage it inspires outside the United States, echoes the mindless viciousness of terrorists.

If we become them, what “way of life” will we have left to protect?”

In essence, many more examples can be taken. However, what emerges is a complicated, perplexing image. The “sober reflection” advised by one contributor strikes at the essence of what is at stake. The Obama administration are acutely aware of this. The American psyche is one torn apart by conflicting narratives and memories, contests which they are struggling to reconcile (for obvious reasons). The letters are informative in that they represent those directly and indirectly affected by the events of 9/11. What we can conclude is that the impact assessment constructed within the Obama announcement refrains from such contests. It offers a possible vehicle to reconcile the contest, but the truth of the matter is that Osama’s death does not bring finality. The War on Terror, correctly or incorrectly, still weighs heavy on American politics, and more broadly, the American people.