>i think most are abashed at the prospecting of seeming less than good
>americans, sad to say.
There's American nationalism, which is repulsive, and there's a sense of fellow-feeling which may look like nationalism, but isn't quite identical. Everyone in NYC seems to feel a kinship that didn't exist before in this city of the famously hard-hearted. The vocabulary people have to express this consists of flag-waving, prayer, and candlelight vigils. That's not my vocabulary, but the motives aren't just about appearing to be good Americans.
Another reason people are quiet is that we're kind of stunned, and don't know quite what to say. Things are very different when your neighobors are killed than when the controversy is about some nakedly imperial act thousands of miles away.
Doug