by StarmanSkye » Tue Nov 08, 2005 5:34 pm
thrulookingglass sed:<br><br>"There are many a thing I love and yes, hate about this country. Moreover, I seek to understand my fellow American before tossing his/her political rationalizations to the wind. Is torture American? Illegal wars? Stolen elections? I suppose if we study our “parahistory” well enough, these would seem as ideals supported by the government of American, but as ideals, they are in stark contrast to values that most of us would consider “American”. Can we move away from typecasting on this board? Does anyone fit into these oversimplifying terms of democrat, republican, centrist, leftist? These terms are used to subvert understanding and promote partiality."<br><br>Good point, well said -- and I agree. I don't know if the characterization 'leftists hate everything American' was really being directed to a certain poster or said as a sweeping generalization, but as a stereotype I sure object to it and disagree. <br><br>I am critical of the PTB and the corporate/special interest elites through history, and the propaganda, duplicity, lies, disinfo and myths used to create and manipulate public opinion. I strongly support the search for Truth and context as critical to our wise living and informed decision-making, especially in a political context.<br><br>As anti-Rightwing, I'm not ashamed to have 'Leftist' and Liberal sensibilities -- although I don't identitfy or think of myself as a Leftist. But the generalization that 'Lefties' hate everything *American* is BS, the kinda thing I'd expect Limbaugh and Hannity et al. to spout.<br><br>But really, what IS or ARE 'things' *American*, anyway?<br>Slavery, powerful special interests, corrupt Republican and Democratic parties, Black Ops and political intrigue including political assassinations and election-rigging by the Intelligence Services, ie. CIA, NSA, DNI, etc., the Military-Defence Complex, hegemonic/Imperialistic Wars of economic exploitation, Cold War hype and Perpetual Wars, JFK et al. political assassination conspiracies and cover-up, Cointelpro, MK-Ultra and Mind Control, Federal Reserve scam/ponzai scheme, Union-busting, insider-trading and Organized Crime business-Corporate collusion/Racketeering, electronic election fraud, etc.?<br><br>I hold a LOT of things in America today with great contempt, and esp. many aspects of consumer-Corporate 'plastic', faux-Patriotic and materialistic culture -- But I also strongly identify with and have high regard for the American Civil Rights and Social Justice movements, for much of the creative and performing arts 'community' and culture, and for 'ordinary' people with their hopes and dreams and goals for positive, constructive change and a world living in peace. So OK, I'm an idealist ... although a cynical one.<br><br>Perhaps the thing is, I've become less Nationalistic and more Global in my perspective, and in my critique of interests and powers and myths and influence, ie. Who's behind What and WHY?<br><br>I guess I don't think there are ANY sacred cows immune from honest, deep analysis. I'm willing to admit the USA has been subverted and led along a terrible, destructive and dangerous Reality-path, when there are SO many more positive, life-affirming, just, progressive, honorable and equitable alternatives possible -- whatever happened to people's potential to imagine and work for a better world?<br><br>The PTB have perfected their strategies of Divide and Conquer, keeping the 'opposition/adversary' offbalance and busy 'responding', limiting 'choices', and circumscribing the terms of Public Dialogue, among others.<br><br>Starman <p></p><i></i>
