Terrorized by Terror or Muslims the New Black
Sat Mar 24, 2007 at 08:27:37 AM PDT
Can we stop cowering in the corner and once again become the home of the Brave
I write this dairy mostly to highlight Zbigniew Brezezinski's wonderful article today in the Washington Post.
Why is our country dominated by a culture of fear and alarmism. And has it been used to cynically exploit the masses in the country for political gain.
Well of course the answer is Yes!
Where is American's sense of strength, confidence and hope? Why in the world are we being scared to death, thinking that evil arabs are going to swim the ocean, to come to America to destroy our way of life.
If America's principles are strong this is ludicrous on it's face. Do the leaders of this country think that our moral fabric is so weak? That is what the persistantly and methodlically keep trying to drum into our heads.
Here is the link to ZB's article which I hope some of you take the time to read.
Terrorized by the 'War on Terror
And a reminder that ZB also endorsed the bill passed by the House of Representatives yesterday to put responsibility for Iraq on Iraqi's. He actively lobbied for it's passage.
Here are a few quotes from the article.
Definition of Terror
Terrorism is not an enemy but a technique of warfare -- political intimidation through the killing of unarmed non-combatants.
Stimulating a Culture of Fear
Constant reference to a "war on terror" did accomplish one major objective: It stimulated the emergence of a culture of fear. Fear obscures reason, intensifies emotions and makes it easier for demagogic politicians to mobilize the public on behalf of the policies they want to pursue
Muslims: The New Black
In the meantime, the "war on terror" has gravely damaged the United States internationally. For Muslims, the similarity between the rough treatment of Iraqi civilians by the U.S. military and of the Palestinians by the Israelis has prompted a widespread sense of hostility toward the United States in general. It's not the "war on terror" that angers Muslims watching the news on television, it's the victimization of Arab civilians.
Stupid Comparisons
By claiming that its war is similar to earlier U.S. struggles against Nazism and then Stalinism (while ignoring the fact that both Nazi Germany and Soviet Russia were first-rate military powers, a status al-Qaeda neither has nor can achieve), the administration could be preparing the case for war with Iran. Such war would then plunge America into a protracted conflict spanning Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan and perhaps also Pakistan.
Americans are very very thristy for a leadership that invokes in us a sense of confidence, and hope.
Where is that "can do" spirit that once described America's indepedence?
Let's hope the fear mongering stops and the essence of America's traditions come back to the light of day. Every knee jerk reaction of fear, to any threat that is imagined is making America weaker.
Can we once again become the home of the free and the land of the brave!
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