Losing my pride
I once considered myself to be proud to be an American. This pride is being stripped away as I observe how our country has descended into darkness. Those of you who know me probably know how I think the policies of the current executive government are tearing down much of our way of life, so I won't belabor the point here, other than to say that in was with that where the pride started to deteriorate into shame and embarrassment.
Today however I am thinking of the abuse and torture of our military's prisoners which has come to light recently. I just can't stand to hear any more how the abusers are "bad apples". Sure by calling them "bad apples" we implicitly declare that their actions are contrary (even deplorable) to our cultural mores. But how many military abusers, how many governmental abusers of power, citizens, and the environment, how many executive corporate malfeasants, how many gun-happy gang bangers, how many get-rich-quick snake-oil hucksters, how many "bad apples" before we decide that these are not merely "bad apples" but rather reflections of our culture today in America.
The soldiers responsible for the abuse at Abu Ghraib were truly "bad actors" (as Sec. Rumsfeld is wont to say.) I can't help any more but see them also as a product of our culture -- our culture produced these people. And if it is true as commentators are beginning to say now on the radio that the events of September 11, 2001 have made us amenable to exacting torture upon our fellow human beings -- if that is really our response to being attacked -- then our culture is truly bankrupt.
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Comments
Pride's just a word. I'm beginning to suspect the entire concept was invented as a form of adult peer pressure. Kinda like religion, only less bloody.
I'd save the shame and embarassment for when the "bad actors" in question ink million-dollar book,network tv movies, and / or playboy shoots.
four more years...
Posted by: Turd Furguesson | May 7, 2004 09:43 AM
Some people don't think US soldiers did anything wrong in Abu Ghraib: http://joi.ito.com/archives/2004/05/07/some_people_dont_think_us_soldiers_did_anything_wrong_in_abu_ghraib.html
Posted by: kasei | May 9, 2004 03:19 PM
I was close:
http://www.nypost.com/news/nationalnews/20802.htm
Okay, it's the NY Post. So there's a credibiliy issue. But they know what sells in this "culture".
Coming next week: Book deal and/or Fox movie of the week.
Posted by: Turd Furguesson | May 13, 2004 01:10 PM
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/05/13/national/13VOIC.html
Its a good article which makes you sicker to be an America. Here's quote from Rush Limbaugh that makes me both sad and sick.
"I maintained throughout the release of these prison photos, perspective was what was needed," Rush Limbaugh declared on his radio program.
"They're the ones who are sick," he added. "They're the ones who are perverted. They are the ones who are dangerous. They are the ones who are subhuman. They are the ones who are human debris, not the United States of America and not our soldiers and not our prison guards."
But this was the best quote. "We justify killing by using technology," Mr. Jerrett said. "We use lasers and smart bombs. They cut someone's head off with a knife. We look at them like they're so barbaric," but "it's all killing, one way or another."
Posted by: wonko | May 13, 2004 08:16 PM