What a lightweight and milktoasty wash over New Jersey communities. While 9/11 was a significant event here I think you squandered the chance to understand the state better by devoting the bulk of your program to it. Most of your panel discussion falls into the category of "boosterism." Come on already. You are WNYC. You are generally on the mark and Brian Lehrer has a good record hitting bullseyes. But we don't need to listen to people singing Kumbaya around the campfire.

Rev. Howard offered up an interesting perspective and the reporters Bob Hennelly, John Moony, and David Cruz were able to offer up good tidbits. They should have been given much more time.

What thin skinned hypocrites we are. Though two wrongs never make a right- considering we spent the whole 20th century dropping bombs on people -that we finally know what it feels like ourselves -was long over due. And 9-11 WAS blowback for our propping up brutal regimes for our interests;below market oil prices, military bases in their holy land, and of course vetoing with the simple stroke of a pen every UN resolution which would have benefitted the palestinians.We supported saddam hussein when he was our friend because he was warring with iran.[having a million people die was fine with us. We ignored the worlds' indignation that he killed the kurds only to resurrect that indignation when we wanted to invade. We needed a new military base after al quadas' attacks because of 9-11 in getting us to remove our base in arabia. We also realized that because of saudi arabias' fundamentalist population and their displeasure at us for our support of their corrupt royal family,our supply of cheap oil was no longer secure.That non fundamentalist rich oil country of iraq might prove more amenable to us having a military base and a secure supply of oil was the reason for our invasion.The arab spring proves americans died for nothing-iraq could have been part of it and probably would have.Oh and prior to 9-11 national geographic had a cover story about gadaffi where it said he had given up terrorism, WMD's and was strauncely against islamic fundamentalism. The american media and politicians are lying when they tell us he changed because of our invasions. Check out that magazine cover story written in 1999 or 2000 [i forget exactly when but i'm certain it was prior to 9-11].Though we should support the people rising up against all these dictators many who did our unjust bidding. Bin laden inaugurated the 21st c-the century of the people -all people-not nation states or regimes or imperialist americans who believed that they could continue acting in the world[propping up dictators or carpet bombing whole cities and villages] for it's own interests with impunity. Al quada changed that presumption forever-and that's a good thing.

Between the "film maker" and the solving the worlds problems with Jazz, we learned nothing. Lots of feel good America bashing.

Reverand Bill Howard's comments are so limited. Without a doubt I knew he would take the events of 9/11 and somehow make an anaology that the 9/11 terrorist issues and I quote him "are similar to lynching for the black community". Can't he move out to a global vision and not have to address everything as it relates to one community only. It is that kind of view that keeps everyone within their own tunnel vision.

Honestly - kind of boring. These guests all have agendas. It would have been more interesting if they were just ordinary citizens.

Bill Howard is one intelligent man.

Wow, this is becoming a blame America segment. Waiting for the word empowerment to be used.

Brian, why do you give any time to the 911 Truth nuts. You just gave them a free commercial.