John Hinderaker found quite an interesting, and very well-developed monograph from a speech by Melanie Phillips, a British journalist.
This systematic abuse by the media is having a devastating impact in weakening the ability of the west to defend itself against the unprecedented mortal threat that it faces from the Islamic jihad. People cannot and will not fight if they don’t understand the nature or gravity of the threat that they face, so much so that they vilify their own leaders while sanitising those who would harm them.
The real danger is that the continual whining by certain factions in the West, notably leftists and allies in the media, weakens our resolve and willingness to confront aggressors and regimes which are extremely dangerous to the civilized world.
This discord is impossible for me to comprehend. I can understand people being opposed to armed conflict. I can understand people not liking our President or Tony Blair. Why, though, is there this willingness to support the destruction of civilization? Hatred is a powerful emotion, but how can anyone truly hate someone they don’t even know? And why would this hatred of Bush and Blair translate into the hope that we will be defeated by those we fight? Is having hundreds of Americans and Brits killed a price worth paying to see these two men embarrassed? Apparently it is to some.
It is psychotic. Anyone who can think clearly must see that. Especially here in the US where we have all that anyone could want.
I am at a loss. Perhaps someone from that side can explain to me why murderers deserve sympathy, and elected officials must be destroyed. Disagreement is one thing. This search for anything to use against the United States, our military, and our President is something completely beyond rational thought.
I have wondered the same thing. I worry about this climate of hostility and where and if will end.
Comment by Pat in NC — January 4, 2005 @ 8:37 pm
note that no one provides a rational argument supporting the terrorists, thus there is no evidence that anyone who supports them has had a rational thought.
it’s a reflex. there is no thought. “the enemy of my enemy is my friend.” the end. the fact that these “friends” would just as quickly murder them is not a thought that crosses their minds.
you spend more thought on how best to open an envelope than these whiners spend deciding to whine. they cannot be understood rationally.
Comment by rammer — January 4, 2005 @ 11:59 pm
Sorry, Bunker, but I’m gonna disagree on a point here:
“Hatred is a powerful emotion, but how can anyone truly hate someone they don’t even know?”
That makes it easier, my friend: if you don’t know them, then you can imagine them to be the vilest monsters, and not have to worry about contrary facts. al Qaeda and Hamas and the terrorists in Iraq don’t know their victims, and they don’t want to know them. They just want to hate and kill.
Those on the left who hate our culture and our leaders have no interest in knowing that which they hate. That might undermine the pillars of their hate.
Comment by UML Guy — January 5, 2005 @ 3:24 am
Hatred is often grown from fear and ignorance. It’s not often stemmed from something they know, but from the fear of finding out what is not known to them already. That is why it can often take generations to release prejudism.
The western liberals do not want to be aware of the danger in the world, outside of the United States. They do not want to be aware that the U.S. is so hated, that although they are not a leader of the government of this country they are still hated by the freedom they have, not only for religion, but to make their millions. They do not understand why any culture would not like to be so free.
By this realization everyone in that culture should want the freedoms we have (Many do), but not all. Some have the lifestyles they want because they control all the money.
The hatred from the extremists groups comes from the same, the fear they will not maintain a power, or the ignorance that by the existance of the Western world as it is that Islam is in danger. The Muslim communities in the west know it’s not true, but they can’t speak out because they are more hated than the rest of us. They fear their own safety.
So while I’m sure in their mindset the liberals are fighting the right people, but their ignorance is pointing them to the wrong leaders, and their fear won’t allow them to change directions.
Comment by Regina — January 5, 2005 @ 6:43 am
Bunker
I just read David Horowitz’ book “Unholy Alliance; Radical Islam and the American Left”, and he provides some pretty convincing answers to your question.
Their thinking is nihilistic, that is, American society is so bad that it should be destroyed for it’s own sake. This holds true even though they have no coherent idea as to what to put in it’s place (this being so because the collapse of the Soviet system demolished that model).
The contempory left, Horowitz says, only knows what it is against, not what it is for. And it is against all things American. America is evil, therefore it must be destroyed. Reform is a sham.
Further, he says, “it is central to understanding the Left’s animus and the fact that no particular event – least of all a foreign policy event like the war in Iraq – is required to generate the kind of self-hatred evidenced during the Iraq protests.”
Amazing, but there it is. From what I’ve read of the radical left over the years Horowitz’ analysis makes sense to me.
Comment by The Redhunter — January 5, 2005 @ 1:06 pm
It is amazing to me that you think all left thinking people only know what they are against. That is so untrue. In fact, if you took the time to listen to someone other than Rush, Bill, and Hannity, you might understand. What I have found is that “clear” thinking people, listen to “both” sides, decide what is real to them, and make a decision. I have NEVER met a right winged person who is wiling to debate ANYTHING that wasn’t aired on FOXTV. It is sad. What bothers me most is that you believe the lies the evil asses of evil tell you. Why can’t you see that unless you have 50 milion dollars, noone cares about you. Bush clearly is the most ignorant person on the planet. All you have to do is watch one of his speeches, with one of his made up words and then zero in on Laura’s face. She looks horrified. It is hilarious. But you will soon find out that the religious right president we have will destroy this country and you will have only yourself to blame. In the meantime, I have bought property somewhere in Idaho where I can grow my own food and sustain myself.
Comment by Mary — January 6, 2005 @ 12:50 am
Mary, Mary, Mary. Unfortunately, you live in the People’s Republic of Oregon where those on the right can only get their information from FoxNews. And isolating yourself in Idaho is so, I don’t know, right-wing.
I don’t listen to any of those you mentioned, and spend quite a bit of time reading what those on all sides have to say. You know me better than that. And you’re quite welcome to have the opinion of Dubya that you do. When was the last time you listened to opinion from the other side?
I didn’t see anything in your comment to make me change my opinion of that.
Comment by Bunker — January 6, 2005 @ 6:48 am