Can you still remember when …
America was the land of the free, home of the brave?
American know-how and ingenuity were our trademarks?
America was the great experiment in democracy?
America fought for good in the world?
Now, we give up liberties and hide from terrorists.
Now, we can’t even discuss stopping the destruction of our ecosystem because it is too hard for us.
Now, we think the best thing is to lie, never take responsibility and blame others.
And the worse part? There is about 30%-40% of our population that are beyond understanding, that are being manipulated by the administration, and have been convinced they are “right” and we are “wrong”. Not only are we wrong, we are now becoming the enemy. If we are the “enemy”, then who are “they”?
Does anyone doubt the change in the wind?
raging granny said,
February 18, 2006 @ 9:23 pm
Have you checked out www.salon.com? There’s a photo exemplifying lots more torture we are perpetrating. But that’s okay, because we are “the good guys.”
john said,
February 18, 2006 @ 9:29 pm
Oh, but we’ve tortured tons already, have for quite some time actually, so I don’t find that too shocking.
It isn’t the torture in itself I find shocking, it’s the change in the way the game is being played.
Why is it so hard to have a simple little planet function without so much trouble?
David said,
March 5, 2006 @ 11:13 pm
Nice nostalgic sentiments, but how often has the USA fought for good in the world? It was on the side of the goodies in WW2 (rather late and after Japan and Germany had declared war) Korea, and in WW1 (although rather late again and for questionable reasons).
Otherwise, how was it for good when fighting; the Indians (genocide?), Mexico, Spain, the Philippines (at least 200,000 civilians killed because God told McKinley to civilise them), Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia (estimated 3 million deaths)?
What about the dozens of incursions and interventions in Latin America? All for the good of the world or the good of US corporate interests? When Chileans think of 9/11, I doubt their first thought is the WTC.
Sadly, the USA is disliked by much of the world; but not because anyone hates your (fast diminishing) freedoms.
Sorry to say, but much of the world does not see you as the good guys, and never has.
john said,
March 6, 2006 @ 12:02 pm
Check out my latest post where I satirize the US on exactly the issues that you raise.
My point was more to show the values of us (americans), the ideals we have stood for, exemplified by the Constitution, the Statue of Liberty, the Washington Monument, the Lincoln Memorial and Mount Rushmore, and not really the government’s foreign and domestic policy.
When I learned about East Timore and how Australia refused to intervene, I may have changed my feelings about the Australian Government, but not necessarily of the people living in Australia.
And while we have enjoyed that distinction here (the people vs the government), world opinion soured after the 2004 election when Bush was reelected.
This article http://weekly.ahram.org.eg/2006/782/op8.htm presents several interesting views:
“…the principle of pre- emptive war is not new or specific to Bush. President Andrew Jackson practiced the doctrine of pre- emptive war against the Native American Indians and against the Spanish who ruled Florida and other areas around 1818. Likewise, one cannot overlook the historic Monroe Doctrine that defined American policy towards Latin America, the influence of which continues until this day. South America was, and remains, under the influence of the Monroe Doctrine, whose historical precedents are innumerable. In 1904, for example, the American President Theodore Roosevelt announced that the United States had the right to intervene in the heart of South America in order to defend civilisation, freedom and humanity as well as the peoples’ rights and elevated principles….”
Also, take a look at this global opinion survey taken by Pew Research that begins:
And then several other interesting bits:
Several countries have experienced a large decline in their view of americans, especially among Muslim countries. France’s favorable view of americans has dropped from 71% to 53% in just two years, and Great Britian’s from 83% to 73%.
So, although you make a point that our government has a lot to defend in its policies, don’t think that we as a people are not aware of it or that we all condone it.