The Difference

[poliphilo]

Here's the difference. You think love of country means "my country right or wrong", whereas I think it means holding my country to a high standard and objecting when it does something stupid or mean. 

Comments

[michaleen.livejournal.com]

I have an extrememly difficult time with this issue. I agree, obviously, but when a plurality of citizens, most of them old and potty, base their political opinion on deliberately falsified and distorted information, is that still a view to be respected?

Are the people that create this distorted and falsified information merely fulfilling their role in a liberal democracy or are their activities approaching treachery, especially when some of those activities are done to benefit a foreign power?

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

Democracy works if both sides are equally rambunctious and equally unscrupulous.

I'm reading a book that deals with the beginnings of parliamentary democracy in early 18th century England. You've got Swift in one camp and Addison and Steele in the other. Those boys knew how to dish it out.

Your problem in the States is the Right is being allowed to make all the running- and define the terms of the debate. What you need is some powerful, populist, left-wing leaders who can give as good as they get.

[michaleen.livejournal.com]

On our pressing need for effective left-wing populists, you are absolutely right. Our most effective left-wing leader today is the comedian Jon Stewart, who to all appearances is far too smart to involve himself directly in American politics.

Part of the problem is that our baby boomers still dominate the political discourse, as they continue to dominate every discourse, seems like. They had their leftist fling, back in their youth, and have been running away from those halcyon hippy days ever since. Instead of assuming meaningful leadership roles, climbing the barricades and whipping the mob, they are instead still explaining how they didn't really spit on thoes Viet Nam vets, that the drugs were just youthful experimentation, and they really do love capitalism and their country. Honestly.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

The way my generation has betrayed its youthful ideals is lamentable.