Public Administration In A Time Of Grace

• Published date: 01 March 2003
• Author: Linda F. Dennard
• DOI: 10.1177/0095399702250353
• Date: 01 March 2003
• Subject Matter: Articles

10.1177/0095399702250353ARTICLEADMINISTRATION & SOCIETY / March 2003Dennard / A TIME OF GRACE

PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION

IN A TIME OF GRACE

Citizenship and the Future

After September 11th

LINDA F. DENNARD

University College, Cork, Ireland

Tragedyhas two faces. It is a source of horror,shame, and grief. It is also the opportunity to

reflecton the possibility of a different future and a different path for human social evolution.

The tragedy of September 11th also provides the circumstances for considering how we

might proceedonce we have grieved and acknowledged our losses. It is respectful of the hu-

man condition to consider what we might learn fromthis horror and what new guiding prin-

ciples we might set in motion because of it. A second even morecompelling tragedy looms if

we learn only how to better defend ourselves and not also how to createa more peaceful and

democratic world from the ashes of our sorrow.

Keywords: terrorism; 9-11; public administration; democracy

A new alert system, slightly modified from the one that informs us of the

level of terrorist threat on any given day may be in order; one that would

indicate when humanity was slipping in the achievement of its aspirations

for peace and justice in the world. Green would still be a good sign. Indi-

viduals would be actively struggling with moral dilemmas, with their

responsibilities to each other, and in dialogue regarding the big issue of

defining humanity.A yellow sign would indicate a slowing of our interest

in each other and a slip toward self-absorption, an obsession with self-

security and materialism, and an unwillingness to engage any contrary

views. A red light would indicate that we have abdicated our personal

responsibilities to the future in favor of the right to watch Smack-Down

wrestling and drive sport utility vehicles. Such an alert system, unlike the

alien alert now in effect,would require citizens to act. What am I presently

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ADMINISTRATION & SOCIETY, Vol. 35 No. 1, March 2003 3-8

DOI: 10.1177/0095399702250353

© 2003 Sage Publications