yeah, i think of histrionics as part of the american national character, and it's not a part that i am fond of. it's too ... bipolar for my taste. :)

that said, IIRC, new yorkers handled their tragedy amazingly well, and i wouldn't have characterised rudy guiliani as running around like a chicken with his head cut off at all. in fact, it was the first (and only) time i was ever impressed by his behaviour and actions.

it was the rest of the country that went ga-ga, and then the bush regime started milking it for all it was worth and then some, and continues to do so to this day.

but not new york. new york did great.