I stayed away from the 9/11 coverage today, well, now yesterday. The mosque controversy has left me feeling disgusted, and I just didn't want any part of it. But I did see a few pictures on the front page here a few minutes ago. The hateful people at the rally...the ignorant signs...I just don't feel connected to this America.

I mean it wasn't supposed to be a celebration, so it's not like they spoiled the fun or anything like that. But they spoiled something.

I wanted to remember the day with some sort of sense that we had been viciously attacked that day for no reason. I wanted to feel like an innocent victim. Like my country had been attacked without provocation.

But somehow in the nine years since the attack, our behavior as a country, has diminished my ability to feel like we are on the moral high ground here. Somehow, instead of feeling innocent, I just feel dirty...and I can't really explain why.

Does anyone understand what I'm trying (extremely ineptly) to say? Can someone help me put words to these things I'm feeling?