I posted a few days ago about a large plurality and near majority of Germans regarding the USA as more dangerous to the world than Iran’s quest for a nuclear weapon.
Our friends at !No Pasaran today make note of a BBC story in the continuing theme of !No Pasaran that Americans abroad are treated foully, and suffer from what can only be called ‘racism’. This, apparently, is most notable on the continent we saved twice by force of arms in the last century from barbarism no worse than that which they face today, and once by the long war of pressure against a totalitarian enemy responsible on this planet for at least as many deaths as we lay at the door of the bohemian corporal, and painter.
It gives one pause to consider the worrisome thought that the cold war victory might have been pyrrhic.
Let’s go back to 1968. I was in my second year in college. I was not only active protesting the war in Vietnam, but help organize a few things in minor ways, though my primary focus was primarily les femmes. However, while some folks went all the way to overboard Chomskyland, my personal focus was that Vietnam was not the ‘good’ war and therefore trampled on the best in the USA. During 1968, we had Tet, and the Assassinations. Horrible collections of moments. This spawned a set of general protests at the state of things, and in Europe this really got into some large confrontational crowds in very large numbers. They were more to the Jane Fonda end of the Spectrum. Of course, now that the KGB files are known, we understand that much of that was the KGB (all’s fair, and there was genuine opposition). But there were primarily anti-Vietnam war, with some anti American in there for spice.
10 comments:
Always remember with anything originating from the DBC that this organisation is a virulently anti-American bunch of overpayed parasitic statist moonbats supported by a form of legalised extortion known as a TV licence.
They probably spent a great deal of effort hunting around to get this story because it fits their agenda so perfectly.
If it's any consolation to you Americans, the DBC is also virulently anti-British.
Frankly, I am fed up with these stories about Europe.
First of all, Europe is not a single country, and some of us are more worried about the EU, France, Germany, and Russia, than about the USA, or even Iran (which is probably going to be disarmed anyway).
Second, although many Europeans are anti-American, at least we are not cultural relativists (except for the British intelligentsia perhaps), and this puts us at an advantage compared to the American intelligentsia.
OK, it's not black and white, but you get my message, I hope.
There are several things that can turn the tide in Europe; for instance, an Iranian revolution that brings to power a pro-American government: France and Germany won't want Iran to be closer to the USA than they are.
PS: why can't I open the VWT page?
snorri...what happens when you click? and where are you clicking from? What's your browser...
Try:
http://vwt.d2g.com:8081
Snorri,
I can't say I blame you for being sick of all of our bitching about Europe. Yes, you are right, we conflate all of Europe into one monolith too often.
I'm sure you know we mean, EU, France, Germany and Belgium, when we do this.
That being said, I have to ask you. You say you are not cultural relativists, but you also said this:
"There are several things that can turn the tide in Europe; for instance, an Iranian revolution that brings to power a pro-American government: France and Germany won't want Iran to be closer to the USA than they are."
What is that, if not relativism?
By the way, if you would like to contribute to IBA from the Euro perspective, we'd love to have you.
Where are you from?
Pastorius: as I said, I am "fed up", but not quite "sick" as you put it, because I see that you have a point.
As for relativism: perhaps I did not explain myself? what I meant is: if there is a revolution in Iran, it is not far-fetched to think that a pro-American government will emerge (and remember that the Iraq war has higher approval in Iraq than in the USA, according to some polls). Now, if Iran and Iraq become good US allies, like New Europe, would France and Germany want to be left behind? I think not: I think they would join the party. I don't see how this can be construed as relativism.
I'd love to contribute regularly but I am short of time at the moment. Maybe I'll get back to you.
That isn't relativism snorri, quite right..pragmatic front running?
Pragmatic front running isn't relativism???
Well, maybe because it makes no pretense to morality in the first place.
: Pragmatic front running isn't relativism???
Oh, now I see what you mean.
Still, it's not the same kind of relativism as saying: the burka is so empowering for women!
Good point.
Saved by america, twice in the century? Dont you mean saved by russia and saved when germany ran out of ammunition?
Americans whine (with justification) about how the french love to take credit for the war of independence when 95% of the fight was done by americans. But when it comes to WW1 and WW2...
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