[Introducing our “permanent guest blogger,” Doug Heinz]
Today Steven Den Beste publishes a letter from a long time reader that tells of a professor pushing the “Bush Lied” meme to a class of young American soldiers in Germany. The reader asks if there is anything that can be done about this person spreading anti-American ideology to our troops and Den Beste responds by saying, “I think publicity would help. Cockroaches don't like bright lights.”
Den Beste posted a follow up to his comments by Porphyrogenitus who doesn't believe that shining light on the cockroaches will solve the overall problem of the left pushing their defeatist agendas that are ultimately hoping for a humiliating American defeat.
I've had plenty of experience with this very fact living in San Francisco. September 11th was the day that light exposed the cockroaches. Many leftists ran for cover as feelings were way too strong for them to pursue their normal agendas. For the next few weeks there were more American flags flying out of windows and on the back of cars than I ever thought possible. However, slowly, but surely, the anti-American language began to creep back into the room. Former San Francisco Supervisor Amos Brown railed the following at a memorial for the victims of Flight 93:
So, my anger is on this day is directed no only at individuals who engineered the Sept. 11 tragedy but at those who have held power in the United States and have engineered attacks on civilians every bit as tragic. The anger is compounded by hypocritical U.S. officials' talk of their commitment to higher ideals, as President Bush proclaimed “our resolve for justice and peace. To the President, I can only say: 'The stilled voices of the millions killed in Southeast Asia, in Central America, in the Middle East as a direct result of U.S. policy are the evidence of our resolve for justice and peace.'
America, America. What did you do—either intentionally or unintentionally—in the world order, in Central America, in Africa where bombs are still blasting? America, what did you do in the global warming conference when you did not embrace the smaller nations? America, what did you do two weeks ago when I stood at the world conference on racism, when you wouldn't show up? Oh, America, what did you do?
This particular rant was even more offensive given that Brown made it standing on stage with the families of the victims of Flight 93 (some of them walked off the stage in protest).
read the rest »
Located about four blocks from my house is City Lights Bookstore is a famous independant bookstore which was started by beat poet Lawrence Ferlinghetti. Known for its collection of underground artists, City Lights didn't exactly purge itself of all the latest communist/anarchist material after Sept. 11th, but the outside of the building did become unusually bare. Even they knew that pushing the anti-American card during that time would be bad for business (see how capitalism stifles free thought?). Yet, by the time the time the US was debating over whether to use force in Iraq, City Lights posted a couple of banners on their building showing images of the burning World Trade Center, an atomic bomb blast and George Bush with the caption, “Stop War and War Makers.”
Porphyrogenitus is correct in saying that a little light won't be a solution to the problem, but I don't believe the proper objective is active pursuit of stomping on cockroaches. The leftists are rightfully concerned with the crushing of dissent and freedom of speech and it is wonderful to engage in debate with them (even though I know most of them don't really care about the crushing of dissent for all opinions, just their own). My concern is not so much with changing the minds of leftist ideologues (as most of them won't change their minds), it is with the middle ground in this country that I think needs to be convinced that it is essential for American success in Iraq right now.
Immediately, the larger problem is about the media coverage in Iraq. Many people who are actually working over there see a much brighter picture on Iraq than what is being portrayed in the American and European media. The question is, is it deliberate or is it ignorance that leads the media to focus on all the negative news coming from Iraq? I believe it is a little of both. Glenn Reynolds has been all over this today.
Dealing with ignorance is a little easier and is a place that everyone resides at some point. Using popular media as an example, Reynolds links to a post that describes how Tom Brokaw's reporting changed tone after he actually went to Iraq to experience the situation for himself. This is a perfect example of someone in the press being exposed to the other side of a particular point of view and thus changing their reporting as a result of understanding the broader context.
However, dealing directly with those that deliberately and actively push defeatism is almost impossible. Exposing them to the light won't necessarily make them run, but it will put their arguments back in context with the overall argument. What is important, is that those who are searching and looking for the truth of the situation can look at the two (or three or four) sides and can make up their own minds.
I realize there is a major consequence to this methodology. If the majority of people in America become convinced that the leftist and rightwing isolationalists are correct, our troops, the people of Iraq and even our own citizens risk being put in harm's way.
The War on Terrorism (I hate this name) is going to be long and very dangerous. We probably will take a few more hits on the chin before this is over and I can only pray that it does not manifest itself in the form of a nuked American city. With the growing popularity of blogs, there is now a new medium that is able to challenge and influence ideas that years ago would have gone unchallenged. Blogs have already proven their influence as they have taken the lead roll in challenging the establishement in many situations including Trent Lott, the NY Times scandal, and the BBC affair. Please follow up in Andrew Sullivan's search page for these particular topics as there are way too many to link here.
Criticism based on facts is essential. But, it is also necessary to expose the defeatist group that would stop at nothing to see America fail to further their own ideology. Exposing them will not make them go away, or even be quiet, but it will give a large majority of those looking for the truth the opportunity to get a more complete picture.
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