I object to the use of the words "anti-Americanism" to describe honest, philosphic differences between the way many of us want as regards the conduct of our country -- and the way some others think is okay.
I think we have been acting deplorably under Bush.
That does not make me anti-American.
In fact, the opposite can be argued -- that by stating my oppositiion to public policy as openly as possible, I am doing "the American thing."
And since I see that to be true -- I must make some allowances for non-Americans who are expressing displeasure with the way America is conducting itself -- and not call that anti-Americanism either.
As much as France agravates me at times -- the fact is that they are probably doing us a big favor with their stand on this issue. The are, it can be argued, doing what our congress should have been doing -- standing up to an unreasonable and unjust use of our power.
I can't believe I'm saying this:
Other; doing what has to be done, in an unacceptable manner, because there is no other force on this planet able to do it any other way.
And partially, because the rest of the world counts on the US to do it for us, hasn't got the stomach for it, and will have a whale of a time criticising the US for it after it is all over.
Now that hurt! but I said it.
truth
Good points, Blatham. I especially like your pointing to the fact that some explanations (i.e., we're hated because we are free) are too simple. They consist essentially of half-truths, which someone said recently on TV, are full-fledged lies. Someone else recently referred to the Cult of the Simple (which is what we mean by "simple minded"). It is obvious to me that conservatives are so effective in propagandizing the majority of people by means of persistently repeated slogans and simplistic "explanatory" formulas because of a ruthless and cynical disregard for the truth in the interest of their own economic interests. This is where the real importance of education lies. I said yesterday to a bunch of highly educated friends that democracy is a very problematical institution when applied to the uneducated. One man, a physican, countered emphatically , "But education is not enough." He was referring to all the people who had training for jobs but lacking in the sophisticated perspective of someone versed in the humanities, particularly literature, the socal sciences and philosophy, with the capacity for critical thinking they engender. I am grateful to you for being an educator, and a sceptical one.
americanism
Bravo, Frank. You ARE behaving like a true American. You know that that is more than just waving the right flag; it's honoring and using our constitutional rights and granting others the right to use theirs. Bogowo just used his rights. We've got a good crew here.
BoGoWo, each point you made has gone through my mind, contributing to the mixed feelings I've had concerning this war (I voted for attack).
I always come back to the fact that the end doesn't justify the means, especially in a democracy; our president has acted ruthlessly toward his own people and toward the rest of the world.
I love my country and support the troops, but I absolutely loathe this administration, for it represents the evil underside of capitalism and has nothing to do with upholding the Constitution of the United States of America.
Cobalt, as usual, you can be counted on to provide provocative links and a civilized venue for expressing our opinions. Thanks, sweetie.
BoGoWo wrote:I can't believe I'm saying this:
...
And partially, because the rest of the world counts on the US to do it for us, hasn't got the stomach for it
Now that hurt! but I said it.
What rest of the world? There is no country in the entire world, where over 50% of the population supports this war.(or maybe Australia, but if so it will be a close call) The most important countries(militarely, economical, demographical,..) are strongly opposing this war. Great Britain is the only country of importance in this world backing the US govt. And the British citizens are not pleased with that backening. So, What rest of the world?
And i think the more dead americans are dragged out of Iraq the less support Bush will recieve. Those soldiers are dying in a country they should never been at all and they will die for another man's cause.
How do Bush and his govt dare call it a clean war?
To deny Iraqi forces access to sites containing chemical or biological weapons, US military commanders have plans under certain scenarios to drop small land mines from warplanes around enemy weapons sites, preventing Iraqis from taking away or using dangerous arms.
The more the US uses or retains the right to use land mines, the more the government is on the outside of the international norm banning these indiscriminate weapons of terror. No land mine is smart enough to distinguish between a soldier and a child.
Reading Joe Nation's post: I think we might want to consider a subsidiary poll: which of Shakespeare's characters does Bush most closely resemble?
Well, Perle as Iago, if we round up a stage full of characters...
"Mr. President...Sadaam and Osama. I saw them. They were so close, their breaths kissed".
frolic;
Rubing salt into my "wound" eh?
Figured you'd find a good one, Blatham, but not that good!
Well, I struggled valiantly to somehow make allusion to the 'beast with two backs', but came up short.
I believe, for the president's role, we'd have to turn to A Midsummer Night's Dream, and Bottom. Fringe benefit irony available, given the symbology of the two parties.
Actually, this is quite fun. Can I follow the Elizabethan model of all male actors, and place Wolfowitz and Rumsfeld in the roles of Goneril and Reagan, two well-intentioned dearies if ever there were any.
Bush senior, mad and stripped naked in the howling maelstrom, as Lear and Brent Scowcroft as the fool?
And, why didn't I think of this before, Bush's favorite daughter married to a Frenchman!
Cheney, (a more modern-looking college production) as Anthony (wearing a Halliburton Tshirt) standing astride two continents?
That leaves him awfully vulnerable doesn't it?
BoGoWo
Hubris does that.
The really tragic role is Powell's. That has me stumped.
I conclude, that for appropriately placing Colin Powell, we have to turn to the Greek stage, and to the Chorus - loyal, supporters of tradition, wise, vocal, but completely powerless to prevent the coming train wreck.
Colin Powell was born to Othello.
Wasn't he a guy in high places that was being manipulated by underlings -- or at least an underling -- the aforementioned Iago?
