|
|||||||||
Posted January 22, 2002
Moral Indignation
Regarding the "Managing Property" letter [of January 16, by Trent U.] and Mr. Raimondo's response:
The fact that one abhors government regulation in any area does not prevent one from showing moral indignation or sadness or amazement at what people choose to do with their freedom to act. To express those feelings has nothing to do with longing for censorship/intervention.
Superpower Debut
In his January 18th article "Manufacturing Dissent / Noam Chomsky: He's really an interventionist – and also completely clueless," Justin Raimondo says that "Anyone who bemoans our superpower status, as Chomsky seems to, can't help but recognize World War II as our debut on the world stage in this role. America, the sleeping giant, had been awakened."
I really don't think that Chomsky would agree. The Left is much more critical of America's early history than are Libertarians on the Right who seem to have a more romanticized vision of it. The conquering of the native population is just one example that is often overlooked. Perhaps since they were considered to be "less civilized" they don't seem to count in the list of atrocities committed by the United States. Chomsky and other Leftists have written much about US interventionism in Latin America which began with the stealing of land from Mexico. Was this justified? Many on the "Old Right" seem to think so. Yes, the United States never became involved in European affairs until the 20th century but the US had become the imperialist superpower of the Western Hemisphere long before that. Native Americans and Hispanics will tell you that the giant was already awake. Or was this justified since it took place closer to home?
Channeling Ayn Rand
[Regarding Justin Raimondo's column of January 16, "The Warbloggers":]
Great
article!
One irony these idiots will never get is that many of their ideas about Israel are in direct opposition to stated official US policy. Of course, $100 million in donations each year from pro-Israel lobby groups make sure that even our official policy will never be carried out. Their problem is that they are mostly ignorant hicks who last year though Wahhabism was something your ordered with your sushi. Suddenly they're big experts channeling Ayn Rand and Henry Kissinger, thinking they've got all the answers. What a bunch of jackasses.
You forgot Little Green Footballs, home to one of the biggest idiots of them all. A confirmed anti-Arab racist and Zionist party-line defender, this guy sets new lows. I'd love to see another great column on these losers, but this one was probably enough. Great writing, pitch-perfect descriptions, wow. I'm sending my donation today.
The Beauty of Weblogging
I just read your article on Webloggers, or Warbloggers as you say. A weblogger created a link to your column.
I totally disagree with your politics (I don't know you that well, but I think that's a safe bet), but I read your column anyway. Your column reached someone who otherwise wouldn't have read it because of a weblogger. I think the idea of blogging as a new form of online journalism is exciting for this very reason. It allows for an exchange of ideas when the exchange would not have otherwise taken place. I followed a link because someone I respected suggested that I might like to read your article. They thought it might be mind-expanding for me to read what you think. Do you enjoy having your column read by people who wouldn't ordinarily take the time to read it? That's the beauty of weblogging. I think you need to reevaluate your assessment.
Reversed
I have something to add to ... [Frank Adams' letter of January 7]:
The svastika was a symbol of the old Thracians as well, centuries Before Christ. It is important to note that the Nazi symbol is a reversed svastika (in terms of direction). This is very symbolic, of course -- who says that political regimes do not make use of esoteric symbols? The difference between good and evil is just in the direction, as with evolution and involution. Hence the reversed svastika. I bet the Nazis chose that symbol on purpose. Someone there knew exactly what he wanted to say.
Asylum
Carlson ["Quarantine," January 17] takes Raimondo to task for suggesting that his column-writer opposites are mentally unstable. Of course, they are. Raimondo is mentally unstable to those who disagree with him. I am mentally unstable because I most often agree with Raimondo. My wife is mentally unstable because she agrees with Raimondo. At least we are mentally unstable to our neighbors who live over the back fence, because they think Dubya is the greatest thing since Eve bit the forbidden fruit. A former friend of mine thinks I am mentally unstable because I do not agree that we have done so much good for the Arabic peoples as he solemnly proclaims. We are all mentally unstable. The answer is so simple. Goethe said that there is life on other planets, and this is the insane asylum of the universe.
Vortex of Expatriation
[Regarding Justin Raimondo's column of January 16, "The Warbloggers":]
"But you know what? I'm not telling you to get the hell out of the country. I'm not saying 'adios' and, believe you me, I won't let the door hit me 'cause I ain't going out. I'm staying right here in the public square, getting a lot more hits (visits, visitors, readers, whatever) than you and all your dinky little warblogger friends put together."
My own experience with Destiny's inscrutable sense of humor (as well as dealings with my mother-in-law) tell me that by issuing this statement you have inextricably drawn yourself into the vortex of expatriation. Let us know when you need help.
~ Willy S., Costa Rica