While watching the Jim Lehrer Report the other night, I was a bit surprised by an interview I heard with New York Times columnist David Brooks. Mr. Brooks was asked to reflect upon what he personally felt?‚? September 11th?‚? did to our country and where we are five years later as a result. He answered by saying that prior to 9/11 he shared a sense that despite cultural differences, human beings were fundamentally the same and wanted the same things, but that since 9/11, he had come to the realization that human beings have different moral orders that sometimes conflict and that humans form ???‚¬?“tribes???‚¬?? that are solidified by hating other people. He finished by saying that he now finds human beings to be much more unalike than he once thought them to be.

I was surprised by his answer because I guess I don???‚¬?„?t agree that people are?‚? essentially that different. Sure, our cultures are quite diverse, but when it comes to?‚? our fundamental natures, I have always felt that human beings are really very similar. The events of September 11th haven’t changed that for me. I?‚? still believe that people the world over do want the same things. And here, I’m not talking about extremists who resort to violence against innocent civilians. I don’t believe that those people represent the majority. No, here I am speaking of the average person. And particularly, the average mother.

Moreover, I?‚? believe that if you polled mothers from?‚? America, Iraq, Europe, Israel, Palestine and other countries throughout the world and asked them what is most important to them, you would find?‚? many similarities. I believe they would say things like:

health care for themselves and, especially, for their children
safe and peaceful places to live
potable water
clean environments
access to affordable, healthy?‚? food
sewage systems that work
jobs that pay a living wage
freedom to worship their religion of choice
access to quality education

Maybe I’m wrong, but these are the things that I think would make the list.
So, I guess if I were asked how my perspective has changed since September 11th, my answer would be somewhat different. I would have said that I have learned that we are not cocooned. That we are living in a global society and that the decisions?‚? made by?‚? our world leaders?‚? will affect?‚? all people. And that we, as a human race, will face the consequences of the type of world we create together–whether good or bad.

And that maybe, just maybe, our world would be different if our leaders?‚? based their decisions?‚? on what the average mother wants.

Perhaps they should start?‚? by taking a poll.
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