Nearly 20 years later, we still take off our shoes at the airport because 3,000 Americans were killed in a terrorist attack.

100,000 Americans--and counting--have died in this crisis, but staying home and wearing a mask in public is considered too big a sacrifice to make.

Some folks are pointing out that it was because of the Shoe Bomber, and what I& #39;m saying is that if 9/11 hadn& #39;t happened, there is no way in hell that we& #39;re still taking off our shoes because of one instance of an unsuccessful attempt to detonate a shoe bomb.

And my underlying point here has more to do with America& #39;s obsession with xenophobia. When we& #39;re the source of our own trauma, no one gives a shit. When it& #39;s the alleged threat of Brown and Black people, suddenly this country gives a damn about "safety". It& #39;s bullshit.