First, I find it funny that you dare lecture Thomas and others about the virtue of "positive" propaganda, the need to unite in the forthcoming "Grand Cultural Clash" etc. I mean, you told me: "Gustave.. I could care less exactly "who" committed the crime..." (*)
(*) Message 16337214
I think that, from now on, you should make your above statement the header of all your subsequent posts... for it shows your "Clintonesque" mindset: let's just bomb bin Laden for the outrageous bombings of US embassies --NO MATTER who really committed them...
Now, as a sweetener, I'll say that I fully agree with the slightly edited opinion of yours:
This is a cultural war that is being waged. A war between the forces of reactionarism and authoritarianism, and those of progress, moderation, and individual human liberties.
Europe knows that the US represents an inexorable cultural force that will undermine their antiquated social structures and religious dogma, just as it has undermined the past power of the Catholic church over its adherents.
And this war has been thrust upon us and we have to decide if we're up to the task, or whether we're going to just put a "band-aid" on it until the sore festers again.
The US played a MAJOR role in eliminating the old imperialist colonial power structure that had been imposed by Europe around the world.
And we're changing the rest of the world with our views of inalienable human rights and governments elected and empowered by their own people, as well as our beliefs in free trade that create the economic ties that make open conflict politically unthinkable.
And this is what certain groups like these European fundamentalists fear... They know they are anachronisms and that they must fight now, or be completely subjugated to the forces of progress.
See how it nicely fits your ideological bill??
It's really weird what a change a few days make.... I mean, last week, for most of Europe's political leaders, pundits, and even public opinion, the US was the Great Satan of crass materialism... Neo-Luddite McDonald's-basher Jose Bove was our new European Hero... Despite the frantic lobbying by Bilderberg, the EU scrapped the GE-Honeywell merger, and moved on to snoop into Microsoft. As regards the Middle East, European leaders overtly blamed the US's hands-off policy. All in all, there clearly was bad blood between Europe and the US. Now, tell me, what would it take to patch things up between our two former Cold War buddies? How to jazz it up again between Uncle Sam and Ol'Ma Europe, eh? You tell me... but I can tell you, since September 11th, as all European politicos are now boasting it, "We Europeans are all Americans". Indeed, such an empathetic utterance would have been unthinkable, even in your wildest Transatlantic dream, only four days ago...
However, times have changed, Hawk, the Clinton-Bilderberg era is over... As you brilliantly put it, the dark forces of obscurantism will have to comply with a global level-playing field... Colonialism is over, geopolitical gerrymandering (in Africa) doesn't work... And Israel's obsession to rule over East Jerusalem must be balanced against the US's overriding interest in keeping the Middle East stable.
Anyway, I did clue you in, didn't I?
Message 15687800
Gus |
