e all have our personal memories of 9/11, four years ago: where we were, what we were doing and how it made its impact on us. Alana and I were physically  far removed from the disastrous terrorist attacks against The World Trade Center, the Pentagon and that field in Pennsylvania. We were 14km from the coast of the Mediterranean between Nice and Cannes at the medieval village of Tourrettes sur Loup. It's perched on a rocky outcrop surrounded by superb landscapes and appearing to conquer all beneath it with its high ramparts. It is a village of artists' workshops, galleries and craft workshops. In this village, far removed from the life we live, the artists find the quality of life suitable for the pursuit of their creative talents; painting, sculptures, fabrics, jewelry and pottery. It is a gentle place.
Everything changed in a moment. There were no televisions available, but radio reports echoed loud along its narrow streets and vaulted passageways. People began to gather. We were obviously tourists and probably Americans. People would come up to us and embrace us. They were shocked. Many were weeping. We were offered cell 'phones to call home and an invitation from many to use their computers to send e-mails. They shared our nation's grief and there was an instant bonding between complete strangers.
Who could ever have imagined how events since that time and actions taken by our President would so change the relationship between this country and France.
Yesterday, shopping in West Los Angeles, I encountered groups of young people - mostly, I would imagine, college students, protesting Mr. Bush's handling of the war, our foreign policy generally, his economic programs, his slow response to the hurricane's fury and several other issues. They were handing out pamphlets headed with the words "He's not our president... He's an idiot."
If the opportunity came my way again to have a conversation with the former Sec. of State, Colin Powell, there'd be so many questions I'd love to ask, including, whose idea was the war against Iraq?