I think they did realize how quick people were catching on, it's just that for a couple of years there, they created an environment in which bringing it up was completely socially unacceptable. The only thing you could do until about 2003 was furtively preach to the choir or have rocks thrown at you (figuratively or literally) and worry about which watch lists you were on.
I recall on Sept. 12, 2001 at my high school, someone said something to the effect of, "Wait, we're going to start a war over this now? How could that possibly be productive?" and he got his nose broken. Sure, he was a Muslim, but still... I admit I avoided it at least until 2002.
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Date: 2008-12-11 08:12 pm (UTC)I recall on Sept. 12, 2001 at my high school, someone said something to the effect of, "Wait, we're going to start a war over this now? How could that possibly be productive?" and he got his nose broken. Sure, he was a Muslim, but still... I admit I avoided it at least until 2002.