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DeAnander will vouch for my ability to defend my countrymen.  And women.

But as much as I'm glad you've posted this information because the world needs to know we are not all neo-con sycophants, I think you are just terribly oversimplifying the matter.

First off, when you make statements like your opening paragraph, you really should cite something to support such a claim.  

I know a lot of lefties, from both here and abroad, who think there is something intrinsically wrong with the economic or electoral system in America.  Who think there is something intrinsically harmful about the lifestyle choices (cars, fast food, TV, wasteful consumption, etc.) of many or most Americans.  Who think that there is something intrinsically evil about the agenda of the cabal currently in power.  Who think that when Democrats have been given the opportunity to rectify our current situation or to even speak out against it, they have taken a pass, and therefore it is no stretch of the imagination to assume that they will continue to act in this manner.  Especially since a majority of them have benefited from the economic and electoral systems which are intrinsically "wrong," or biased.  It has been a while since our leaders have made foreign policy decisions which have not harmed, badgered or neglected the international community, and many of us also believe that acts of global irresponsibility are intrinsically "wrong," or hurtful to the welfare of the citizens of the earth.  There may be some on the left who feel that our position as a rogue nation is a permanent one, but I don't hang out on those listserves.  The majority of us, as evidenced by Kos and ET and Booman and comparable on-line communities, as well as those in the real life communities we inhabit, feel that with hard work, raising awareness, holding leaders and media accountable, whether supporting candidates in the system we already have or bucking the whole thing altogether, we can radically change what most non-lefties have accepted as a permanent situation.  Until then, many of us believe it is in the best interest of the rest of the world to recognize our current administration for what it is and ... act accordingly.  It won't help us fix this nation if the rest of the world is appeasing the idiots who've broken it.

Most Americans have a surprising amount of common sense, empathy, decency and courage.  I think most lefties, most American lefties, would agree that there is nothing wrong with America that can't be fixed by what is right with America.  We're just sick to effing death of being told we can't say that there is anything wrong with America!  How can we fix the problems if we aren't allowed to acknowledge and discuss them?  

Concern for our future, disgust resulting from the actions of our government and the people who support them, disappointment in our reality given all of the possibilities, and the driving desire to face reality however bleak or horrible or politically incorrect it may be should not be mistaken for some judgement on the intrinsic rightness or wrongness of this country.  A country can't even be right or wrong.  I personally resent those who try to even tell me what "right" or "wrong" is.  Words like "wrong" have little meaning.  

But the people, leaders and governing systems of a country can very well be irresponsible, harmful, ignorant, cruel, biased, arrogant, sick and unreasonable.  No country can be intrinsically any one of these things, though.  And to propose otherwise is just intellectual laziness.

I'm not necessarily directing this comment at Marek (except the part about citing proof of this sentiment), just at anyone who supposedly embraces it.

Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities. -Voltaire

by p------- on Mon May 29th, 2006 at 11:32:04 PM EST

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