I do believe that you should see the difference between differences in opinion over policy matters and "dissent" which gives aid and comfort to our enemies
I should and I do. As do others. Funny thing is that people see the difference differently. So I, ever curious about the differences in people's perceptions, am trying to rationalize the difference. I think that's what E and CR have been trying to do, as well.
There are some labels that are so hurtful that we shouldn't apply them liberally, labels like racist, traitor, and homophobe. You remember homophobe, I'll bet. A thread head declining to challenge every homophobic statement made on his thread does not warrant calling him a homophobe. I know that you agree. We need to be careful about what we call un-American. I have seen the "true patriots" jump all over both commentators and posters who say things that seem to me to be clearly in the "difference of opinion" camp. Or that are thoughtful rather than knee-jerk. I'm not talking about "TP and Mehissyfit." From what little I've read, CR's assessment seems on target. I'm also not talking about Congresswoman McKinney's letter to the Sheik or Chomsky's comments in India, either. Every sane American know's they are way out of line.
What I'm trying to clear up is why it's so god-awful unpatriotic to not wear a flag in your lapel when you're on TV. There are a lot of people that don't seem to know the difference between that apple and Chomsky's orange. I posted on Bin Laundry a published report of 117 allegedly anti-American statements that included Mrs. Cheney's comment that universities adding courses on Islam now 'implies that the events of Sept. 11 were our fault.'" Did you read the report? It made quite a point of that. Excuse me! The CIA is desperate to hire people with such knowledge. How can it be unpatriotic to offer the classes? If that is unpatriotic, then Novak's comment surely is even more so. No?
So I'm just trying to sort out why other people see red oranges and orange applies, what it is about the speaker, the subject, the choice of words, or the venue that makes something un-American.
Karen |
