Victor Davis Hanson Is What We Call A Hack, And A Bad One
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Victor Davis Hanson accuses Obama of avoiding the language of American exceptionalism. Guess what Conor Friedersdorf caught Obama not avoiding?
When the left opposed George W. Bush it was solidly grounded in the nefarious evildoing he was involved in. The vast majority of conservative opposition to President Obama over his first year has been opposition to his secret agenda written in invisible ink that only they can see.
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Ah, but you don’t understand sufficiently how VDH and others like him think. Look at the first sentence that Friesdorf quotes:
VDH and his ilk read that not to mean that Obama really believes in American exceptionalism, but that by comparing it to other countries’ senses of their exceptionalism, Obama is really saying “We’re just the same as the Brits and Greeks.”
You only can be said to truly believe in American exceptionalism if you basically say “America is the greatest nation that ever was and ever can be, we alone are beloved of the Almighty (well, maybe Israel too), and we have the right to do whatever we want, whenever we want, wherever we want in the world and no one should complain about it because we’re just so much better than everybody else!”
I avoid the language of considering Victor Davis Hansen anything other than a pretentious pseudo-intellectual windbag.
More Obama on American exceptionalism:
America — exceptional, except when they are not.
BTW, where was that “speech” delivered?
Mr. Sullivan, no one who calls President Obama “the Chosen One” is worth listening to on any subject. You’re an idiot, and I pity your children.
Mr. Hanson is practicing conservative codespeak. He says Mr. Obama has rejected American exceptionalism “in explicit language,” but he neglects to quote that language. I suspect he is thinking of some specific instance that has become paleoconservative lore that can be invoked in any particular diatribe by reference only.
The rest of the world, well we just have to scratch our heads an wonder what the clouds did to offend the crazy old coot this time.
Victor Davis Hanson needed some Benadryl for his allergy to going to Vietnam
V.D. Hanson is a sorehead. Slaved away for years teaching auditoriums full of low income undergrads at Fresno State while his grad school classmates got cushy positions at Harvard and Berkeley. Never got the academic recognition he thought he deserved; became angry and bitter. Naturally all that angriness and bitterness made him drift toward the Republicans.
But how could you possibly compare such minor infractions as starting an illegal war, violating international law, committing torture and illegally spying on American citizens with the indignity of having the federal government try to create jobs or provide health insurance to tens of millions of uninsured Americans? Why that’s fascism!
Frank could you please explain exactly what is objectionable in Obama’s statement? Seems like a fairly rational and straightforward notion of patriotism to me.
Well, Mike, it seems that my post has been deleted. I guess the moderator of this site doesn’t care to be called out for what he really is…a partisan hack. I hope this one gets left up for a while though. Don’t pity my children. Pity the poor kids who are going to have to pay for and clean up the mess this Chicago street organizer leaves when he leaves office.
It’s because Obama doesn’t threaten to bomb every other country on the planet! How un-American of him!
They will have to pay for Bush’s mess first.
hey where’d Frank go? I wanna hear what’s wrong, dangerous, crazy, nefarious etc. about what Obama said?
“. . . recognizing that we’re not always going to be right, or that other people may have good ideas, or that in order for us to work collectively, all parties have to compromise and that includes us.”
Dear John,
What exactly is a “street organizer?”
Some sort of dogwhistle, I suppose.
I thought you left here for good, Sullivan. Pity that I was mistaken.
Mambo! I missed you, my friend! How is it going? Still fighting the fight?…Hey, your man looked really good over there in Japan last week, bowing before the Emporer. What a display of good statemanship!
What’s a “street organizer”, you ask? well, the way I see it, along with a LOT of other Americans, its a guy who BS’s his way into the biggest job in the world, and then realizes he’s no way experienced enough to handle it! Sort of like our current Pres, you know? The one who looked so in over his head last week with the Chinese.That’s what a “community organizer” is.P.S. you know it’s bad when Chris Mathews, of all people, start questioning his guts, by the way!
one who looked so in over his head last week with the Chinese.
Which visit to China are you talking about? The one that actually happened or the one that was reported on Fox?
Is it safe for us to assume, then, that you weren’t among those who had a conniption when Ms. Obama TOUCHED THE QUEEN!!OMG!!!
Swap Troll: You already quoted what was wrong with what was said.
The American President, of all people, should be able to say that America is the greatest country on earth without reservation; that we do things better than anyone else on Earth, without reservation.
If we are as good as lots of other countries, if we make lots of mistakes like other countries — vide Pres Obama’s 2009 “Apology Tour” — then how does that make us exceptional?
And I asked where the speech was delivered? Before a bunch of campaign workers? Or in a foreign country?
No, the one that was reported on MSNBC, by Chris Mathews.The one where even Mathews questioned his leadership. Come on now, don’t tell me you forgot THAT trip to the far east, did you? Or, are you another of the people here with a selective memory? hm…..
This would be the same Mr. Matthews who thinks Mr. Obama isn’t “regular people” because he drinks orange juice? That nut?
Frank, it’s really sad to see that your entire manhood depends on America acting like an arrogant douchebag.
It’s like looking into a living mirror, isn’t it?
Jesus Christ, Frank. And you call us liberals the arrogant elitists. Are you fucking kidding?
What makes us the greatest country on Earth, Frank? Just what? There are lots of things we don’t do so well. There are lots of things that other countries do better than us. Define “greatest” for all of us, please.
As it is, you just sound like a whining child. “No, my team is the best! Nooo!!! MY TEAM!!! Waaaah!”
Jesus tapdancing Christ.
Hey, your man looked really good over there in Japan last week, bowing before the Emporer.
Completely irrelevant to anyone with two brain cells to rub together. Who the fuck cares? Within two weeks you guys will have all moved on to complaining about something else w/r/t Obama. It’s all just noise now.
well, the way I see it, along with a LOT of other Americans, its a guy who BS’s his way into the biggest job in the world, and then realizes he’s no way experienced enough to handle it! Sort of like our current Pres, you know?
You and a lot of other Americans are idiots.
Plato was right.
I just put my finger on it. You sound like Hannity. Blurgh.
Yeah, he should’ve known the diplomatic thing was to vomit on him.
Not being a fan of Mr. Matthews and his exercises in broadcasting, I had to go look up his transcripts to figure out what the heck you were talking about.
Alas, to no avail. What did Mr. Matthews have to say about the Obama trip to China?
The American President, of all people, should be able to say that America is the greatest country on earth without reservation; that we do things better than anyone else on Earth, without reservation.
You want the president to lie to protect your personal insecurity?
How are we doing on providing universal, public health care to every citizen, compared to the rest of the industrial world? Where do we rank on infant mortality?
Just a couple of facts to show that you don’t know what you are talking about.
guess the moderator of this site doesn’t care to be called out for what he really is…a partisan hack.
Pot? Kettle on line one…
Who cares? well, acording to Rasmussen, Zogby & Gallup polls, Americans care! All three show the Chosen One’s job approval slipping below 50%. You are losing the independents, my friend. You loonies on the left are being cast adrift by the rest of America. Let’s hope we wake up in time for the 2010 elections and vote all you communists back to your proper place, at the EXTREME left of America. America has gotten a look at how you people want to govern, and they do not like what they see. You’ve blown your chance by trying to do too much, too soon. You know it, I know it, and America knows it. Come back in another 30 years and try again, Comrades. Till then, as BHO would say…”sayonarra”
Wow,
The contrast between someone with a dayjob lying for George Soros and Hanson is quite stark. To then see the propagandista calling him a hack is actually almost hilarious, like listening to a high school dropout.
The comments on American exceptionalism are quite telling. One gets the immpression that more than a few here have no idea who de Tocqueville is or what the phrase means. The usual suspects show their disdain for the nation. It’s easy to see the support here for Obama and his socialist agenda. The desire for an ever bigger welfare state certainly divorces your world view from that of traditional Americans. It’s a great tribute to the strength of this nation that it can even stand while suffering such rot from within. This country faces no enemy as likely to defeat us as most of you guys here. Carter begat Reagan, we’ll just have to see who delivers us from Obama.
Who cares? well, acording to Rasmussen, Zogby & Gallup polls, Americans care!
I missed the polls that asked whether Americans give a shit about whether Obama bowed to another head of state. Anyone who really cares about that is a dope.
All three show the Chosen One’s job approval slipping below 50%.
You do know that calling him “The Chosen One” makes you look like an idiot, right? Nobody of any import on the left calls him this. This is something that you dumb bastards on the right made up to try and undermine him.
You are losing the independents, my friend. You loonies on the left are being cast adrift by the rest of America.
Did you feel the same way about the Republicans when they were being voted out of office in droves in 2006 and 2008? Did you feel the same way about Bush and the Republicans when his approval rating was south of 30%? Because if not, then you’re demonstrating your hackitude.
Let’s hope we wake up in time for the 2010 elections and vote all you communists back to your proper place, at the EXTREME left of America.
Uh huh. I thought we were socialists? Or Nazis? Damn, I must have forgot. We’re communists. That’s right.
America has gotten a look at how you people want to govern, and they do not like what they see.
You talk awful big for a guy who, presumably, supports a party that has more negative numbers than the Democrats.
You’ve blown your chance by trying to do too much, too soon.
I don’t know what the fuck you’re talking about here.
You know it,
No, I don’t.
I know it,
You’re delusional.
and America knows it.
We’ll see.
Come back in another 30 years and try again, Comrades. Till then, as BHO would say…”sayonarra”
Oh shit, you mean the Republicans are back in power? Who’s the President now?! Hold on, I’m gonna run to CNN and check!…
Oh wait. Obama is still President? And he will be… for at least three years to come? Oh. Well surely Congress is controlled by the Republ… oh wait… Dems still control that too? Huh. Wouldja look at that.
Scoreboard, chump. Look at the scoreboard.
Welcome to the front line, AO. You’ll be mocked and scorned here, just like all the rest of us “Traditional Americans” who think the “Chosen One” is leading down a path towards self-destruction. Glad to see you here.:)
The contrast between someone with a dayjob lying for George Soros and Hanson is quite stark. To then see the propagandista calling him a hack is actually almost hilarious, like listening to a high school dropout.
You care to actually address the content of the post, about how Hanson is full of shit?
One gets the immpression that more than a few here have no idea who de Tocqueville is or what the phrase means.
You often assert that people on this site, particularly liberals, do not know things that they do. You often jump to conclusions based on little to no evidence, like a stupid jackass would. You seem to think that you are the sole arbiter of truth and reality, when in fact you are an obnoxious hack.
The usual suspects show their disdain for the nation.
Translation: Admitting that America is, has ever been, or ever will be less than perfect is the same as hating America.
Alternate translation: Liberals, with their “facts” and their “truth”, obviously all hate America.
What a stupid fucking idiot you are.
’s easy to see the support here for Obama and his socialist agenda. The desire for an ever bigger welfare state certainly divorces your world view from that of traditional Americans.
As evidenced by recent elections and the demographic shift going on in this country, you “traditional Americans” are becoming more rare. And I praise Allah for that.
This country faces no enemy as likely to defeat us as most of you guys here.
And now you assert that this country is so weak that a bunch of liberals can bring it down. Why do you think America is weak, AO? Why do you HATE AMERICA? And of course, I will note the implicit treason you are mentioning here. Nice touch, as usual.
Carter begat Reagan, we’ll just have to see who delivers us from Obama.
Carter had many failings. But Reagan was a boob and an idiot himself. You guys have another one right now – Sarah Palin. But she’s as likely to become the next President as the frozen pizza I have in the oven right now. Good luck with that.
Check the scoreboard in about a month, mambo, when the BIG ticket item…health care reform, goes down the shitter. The BEST part of it will be the fact that you jackasses on the left can’t get enough votes within your own party to pass the bill! Who are you going to blame when you can’t get enough votes in the Senate to pass your own bill? George Bush? LOL, That’s it!!! Dem’s can’t even pass health care with a 60 vote majority! It has to be Bush’s fault! Everything else is! LOL….
who think the “Chosen One” is leading down a path
I think that your choice of the word “think” in that phrase gives you and every other teabagging idiot in this country way too much credit.
My, my, aren’t you the smug psychic fortune-teller. What’s the scoreboard say NOW, chump?
The usual suspects show their disdain for the nation.
No, we show disdain for you and your arrogance. The fact that you equate yourself to America is indicative of that.
“Traditional Americans”
More right-wing arrogance. Typical.
This country faces no enemy as likely to defeat us as most of you guys here. Carter begat Reagan, we’ll just have to see who delivers us from Obama.
You also thought that history would vindicate Bush, but he left office with 3/4 of the country hating him.
mambo: It is not that we are objectively the greatest country on earth, by any standard. You don’t measure patriotism in a flask. Will you cut out the Spock masquerade for two miutes, and realize that some us, even if you don’t want to include yourself, have feelings for our country.
I love my country.
I think it is the greatest country on earth.
I think there is no other country on Earth like it.
Why?
Because I fucking do, that’s why! (See, I know a curse word or two)
Barak Tapdancing Obama !
And, Zython, I am not even going to read that stupid link about my manhood, you punk!
I fought in a war for my country — you’re just a gamer in your Momma’s basement.
Mambo,my man, right now it ain’t lookin’ too good for your side right now on this one. The longer it stays out there, the more people are reading the bill and seeing just how much it’s going to cost us down the road. The American people will put up with just so much…then they push back, and right about now, you are starting to see the beginning of a very big pushback by the American people on this one. if you can’t, or won’t acknowledge the polls that come out every single day saying the people dont’ want this bill,then you sir are not being honest, and for that I feel sorry for you
Why? Because I fucking do, that’s why!
That’s not good enough.
Socrates said, “The unexamined life is not worth living.” I agree with him. If you want to go through your days, simply asserting things are true without defending them, without even QUESTIONING them, then go ahead, Frank. But you cannot ask to be taken seriously if this is the path you choose. In the real world, beliefs are vindicated by facts, reason, logic. In the ideal world, persuasion is most effective when it is backed by reality.
When you were 5 years old, perhaps you questioned why your mother told you to do things. I know I did. When I openly defied her by asking “Why?”, she often responded with “Because I said so.” At the time, that did not sit well with me, but I had little choice but to bend to her request. This is because I was fucking five years old.
As an adult talking to another adult, simply saying “Because I said so” is not good enough. Not. Good. Enough.
I suppose we’ll see, Sullivan. I for one am not so arrogant nor so foolish to believe that I know how this will play out. Politics is a funny game, and a lot can happen in a very short time. I do not purport to know what the political landscape will be in just a month’s time. I do, however, have tangible evidence to demonstrate that the Republicans got their asses handed to them in the last two national elections. So again: Scoreboard.
Also, should the bill pass, I expect you to be on here with a full apology and acknowledgement that you were wrong.
And, Zython, I am not even going to read that stupid link about my manhood,
What’s the matter? Are you afraid that what it says might hit too close to home?
And, Zython, I am not even going to read that stupid link about my manhood,
What’s the matter? Are you afraid that what it says might hit too close to home?
Ack! Double post! My mortal nemesis…
I understand that having pride in your country is good, but when it’s ignorant pride…..it’s just sad.
And what the hell is this “Traditional Americans”? Stop coming up with ways to make it seem like you’re any different than us. No one is more American than anyone else.
And stop whining like babies as if someone to your toy away. you big babies. Grow up.
It’s exactly the kind of thing they’ve done for years, cj. Remember in 2004, it was talking about the middle America, the rural America, the real America. As though people in urban areas didn’t count. As though people who don’t enjoy hunting, fishing, and chewing tobacco didn’t count. I remember Jon Stewart doing a good take-down of all that bullshit years ago.
Anyone who claims that they are “more American” than someone else is, in fact, less of an American. At least in spirit.
Zython,
Other than bile you must have a point, perhaps not.
“The fact that you equate yourself to America is indicative of that.”
Of course I equate myself with America, I am an American. The first of my relations got here in 1715, the last emigrated from Europe in the 20′s. The french and Indian war, Revolutionary war, War of 1812, the Alamo, both sides of the Civil War. Quakerism, the Cumberland Gap, Texas, abolitionists and slaveholders, sodbusting, cattle drives, acadamia. From the eastern seaboard to the west coast I am the typical American story. I’ve got skin in the game.
Hey Mambo,
The evidence is all around us. The comments on american exceptionalism betrayed a lack of understanding of the phrase, where it came from, and what it means. Your “translations” are as offbase as any other of the spiteful views aired here. Your reading comprehension skills are a little suspect. I did not assert that our country was so weak that a bunch of liberals could bring it down. What I did say was we face no enemy as likely to defeat us as the liberals from within. Two different meanings, that old words have specific meanings thing again.
Is it your position that Carter was a more successful president than Reagan? That’s hard ground to hold.
I hadn’t mentioned Palin. I haven’t any idea where she’ll end up. Only a fool would discount her political chances. Populism has it’s drawbacks but it’s better than radical socialism. We’d be in better shape with her instead of Obama but that’s faint praise.
Pity the poor kids who are going to have to pay for and clean up the mess this Chicago street organizer leaves when he leaves office.
Blah blah blah.
You’re still here?
well, the way I see it, along with a LOT of other Americans, its a guy who BS’s his way into the biggest job in the world, and then realizes he’s no way experienced enough to handle it!
Oh, right!
George W. Bush.
Your “translations” are as offbase as any other of the spiteful views aired here.
I disagree.
Your reading comprehension skills are a little suspect.
Usually not.
I did not assert that our country was so weak that a bunch of liberals could bring it down. What I did say was we face no enemy as likely to defeat us as the liberals from within. Two different meanings, that old words have specific meanings thing again.
I suppose you’re right. Of all the enemies we face, the liberals are the greatest one. But they will fail, correct? So therefore, you’re right – you never said that America would be brought down by liberals. You just said that of anyone, that liberals would (or could) come the closest. Those two things are TOTALLY different.
You’re a bit of a melodramatic hack.
Is it your position that Carter was a more successful president than Reagan? That’s hard ground to hold.
Didn’t say that. I just said that Reagan was an idiot. A boob. He had the intellectual abilities of an under-ripe mango. A warning of things to come in modern Republicanism that you fools would worship him so.
Only a fool would discount her political chances.
Perhaps I am a fool then. You might be right – there might be enough morons out there to get her elected. I doubt it though.
We’d be in better shape with her instead of Obama
That’s a funny joke. If you’re going to say that Palin would be a better President than Obama, you have to say that virtually any American would be a better President than Obama. Because there is absolutely NOTHING that is exceptional about the woman in any way. I’m convinced that if you shouted directly into her ear, you would hear the echo. She’s an ambitious airhead with a nice smile and absolutely zero intelligence. Biden beat her in that VP debate, soundly – but honestly, I’m willing to guess that substantial proportion of Americans could have kicked her ass too, myself included. And that’s not someone I want in the Oval Office. Unlike you fools, with Reagan, Bush II, and Palin, I want my President to be BETTER than me.
acording to Rasmussen, Zogby & Gallup polls, Americans care! All three show the Chosen One’s job approval slipping below 50%. You are losing the independents, my friend.
You are Dennis’ sock puppet, aren’t you?
You’ve blown your chance by trying to do too much, too soon. You know it, I know it, and America knows it.
Yeah, DAMN those lowered expectations!
The BEST part of it will be the fact that you jackasses on the left can’t get enough votes within your own party to pass the bill!</I.
Yes. Yes, we can.
Duros, babe, are you another one of those professional students that seem to be so prevalant here? Just asking, becuse you sound a little like the other pajama kid on here, mambo…
Whatever happened to the poster here who went by the name Victor Davis Handjob?
Duros, babe, are you another one of those professional students that seem to be so prevalant here? Just asking, becuse you sound a little like the other pajama kid on here, mambo…
Your disdain for higher education is very telling, Sullivan. That you think some snark about my age is somehow sufficient to discredit me is laughable.
I think there is no other country on Earth like it.
Why?
Because shut up, that’s why!
Typical.
We’d be in better shape with her instead of Obama but that’s faint praise.
In what respect, Charlie?
If populism is the only metric for President, I nominate Spencer Pratt.
Duros, babe, are you another one of those professional students that seem to be so prevalant here?
Sadly, no. Just a regular middle aged guy with functioning grey matter.
Mambo, cut the crap, “The unexamined life is not worth living” Bullshit. I examined my reasons for going to Viet Nam , or bowing out, and chose to go. I have made lists in my mind of “pros” and “cons” of all the things we, as a nation, do or choose not to do.
I love my country,because I have done that, not in spite of it. In the early 70′s, I got sick of every movie star and musician, rich as fuck because of this great country of ours, going on every talk show , saying “I love this country in spite of its faults, but when they are wrong, I must say so” I thought, “Who cares what you think? You’re just another stoner in a band!”
And, I’ll say it: Virtually any American would be a better President than Obama.
I thought, “Who cares what you think? You’re just another stoner in a band!”
Tell me, were you born a bitter old man or something?
Virtually any American would be a better President than Obama.
This is just incredible. For 8 years, you were whining about how the media was being mean to poor widdle Bush. But when the PotUS has the audacity to actually beat a Republican in an election, you go off the deep end and try your damnedest to discredit him every chance you get (ineffectively, might I add, but discredit nonetheless).
“I want my President to be BETTER than me.”
Faint praise coming from Mambo. LOL, one of the few who might not be better than Obama.
I examined my reasons for going to Viet Nam , or bowing out, and chose to go.
That’s stupendous. Now, how about your love of country, and your belief that this is the greatest nation in the world? Just because you analyze one decision, and make a sound judgment on it, doesn’t mean that you are absolved from ever doing it again in your whole rotten life.
I love my country,because I have done that, not in spite of it.
This is nonsense.
In the early 70’s, I got sick of every movie star and musician, rich as fuck because of this great country of ours, going on every talk show , saying “I love this country in spite of its faults, but when they are wrong, I must say so” I thought, “Who cares what you think? You’re just another stoner in a band!”
Who gives a shit? You get wrapped up in the messenger just a little too much, Frank. How about this: I’m not a stoner, and I have no musical ability to speak of. I am telling you that I love this country, but that it does have its faults. I am honest and speak out about things that I see are wrong in this country. Do you care what I think?
I’ll guess your answer: “No, because you’re just another liberal elitist in the ivory towers of academia!”
Here’s the thing, Frank. If you keep on disregarding the views of everyone who opposes you on the basis that they are in some different walk of life than you (e.g., are in a rock band, are in academia, etc.), then you run the risk of alienating most people from your side. You shouldn’t just disregard the opinions of others because they’re a student, or because they’re an actor, or because they’re a musician – that’s not a good reason at all. You should weigh the opinions on their own merits, whenever possible, and decide whether they’re reasonable or not.
At least, that’s what I think people ought to do.
Virtually any American would be a better President than Obama.
You’re more delusional than I thought.
Patently ridiculous. Just stupid on its face.
I’m actually at a loss for words.
Faint praise coming from Mambo. LOL, one of the few who might not be better than Obama.
Coming from you, AO, that really hurts. I mean, I totally respect and value your opinion. And this… well, let’s just say that my diary will get a story tonight.
Where’s Mambo? It’s 9;30, he must be in gym class.:)
One gets the immpression that more than a few here have no idea who de Tocqueville is or what the phrase means.
One gets the impression that you have no idea what it means in its original context either, Amused. Namely, because you seem to think it has something to do with not showing “disdain” for the country. It doesn’t.
I’ve got skin in the game.
An interesting choice of phrase coming from a racist fuck like yourself.
…Quakerism…
was founded in Britain in the mid-1600s, oh clueless one.
My family immigrated largely from Europe in the late 19th century – well after the Civil War. My department chair immigrated from Libya in the 70s and is raising his Muslim-American family here. Two of my children immigrated from south Asia just a few years ago. We are all American and equate ourselves with “America” just as surely as you do.
More importantly, AO, Frank, et al, I want my President to be better than YOU AND Sarah “Cut & Run” Palin.
…George Soros…blah, blah…American exceptionalism…blah, blah, blah…no idea who de Tocqueville is…blah, blah…and blah…disdain for the nation…bladiblah…Obama and his socialist agenda…blablablah blah…ever bigger welfare state…blah, blah…traditional Americans…blah, blah…such rot from within…blah, blah, blah…no enemy as likely to defeat us…blabla, blablabla….
Turing test fail.
Quaker FTW!
Hope springs eternal Duros, better luck next time.
I understand that having pride in your country is good, but when it’s ignorant pride…..it’s just sad.
You calling me ignorant? I said my patriotism was not measurable; I didn’t say it was based on thin air. It is based on passion and principle, not performance. Somebody mentioned national health insurance and infant mortality. Which country would you move to for their superior health care? Which country would you move to for their SAT’s?
You now have a rational President, and more and more people think of him as unworthy to be President every day.
But who cares what the people think?
You got him in; that’s all that matters.
His only saving grace is that by the time he’s through, it will be generations before a liberal gets elected President.
Somebody mentioned national health insurance and infant mortality. Which country would you move to for their superior health care? Which country would you move to for their SAT’s?
Wouldn’t patriotism be wanting your country to improve on these things?
As an analogy, look at premier athletes. The best aren’t those that just assume they’re the best and swagger around. They work at it. Practice. Evaluate their performance and work on their weak spots. They are relentless in their perfectionism, and do not assume that they will be the best simply because of who they are. I want us to be that athlete. I look at access to health care, infant mortality and the like and think we can do better. That I think we are able to do better is pattriotic. Thinking that we don’t need to do better because we are great no matter what isn’t patriotism, it’s blind complacency. And complacency never made anybody great.
My country isn’t an athlete. And, no, patriotism does not necessarily require that I support improvements as suggested by one faction of government. How about if my idea of improvement is Universal Service after high school?
How about if we invade Syria?
Eliminate the Income Tax?
No?
Don’t you want to see us improve?
And , Happy Thanksgiving from a guy who is grateful to be living in the greatest country that ever existed in the history of the planet Earth, because I f*cking said so!
My country isn’t an athlete.
It’s called an analogy. Has your hepatic encephalopathy affected your understanding of the English language lately?
And, no, patriotism does not necessarily require that I support improvements as suggested by one faction of government. How about if my idea of improvement is Universal Service after high school?
Funny, I would think that any American, in or out of one faction of government, would like improvements in our medical statistics as far as life expectancy, infant mortality compared to what they are now, but that’s apparently beyond your comprehension, Frank DiSalle.
“My country isn’t an athlete.”
Thanks for pointing that out. I thought the country was literally an athlete. (Though I remember in highschool English Lit learning about this odd thing called a metaphor. Feh, liberal arts are so useless.)
“And, no, patriotism does not necessarily require that I support improvements as suggested by one faction of government. ”
Couple of points. That “one faction of government” includes the executive, the senate and congress. Remember the election? And as dark avenger says below, it’s not the means, it’s the ends that are the focus for improvement. If the for profit health care provided a system that provided decent access and outcomes, well, fine. It doesn’t.