None of the ones you listed are on their short list.
The government of the Netherlands was not behind burning any mosques. There will be criminals in every nation. The point is whether the government, which is supported by citizens, is committing acts that violate a citizen's moral code, not whether a criminal behaves in a reprehensible fashion.
Re: "moral splendor" and past history:
If I were to go to the bank today armed, rob the bank and kill several people in the process, my entire life as a civilized person would be trash, and rightly so. My personal history would not protect me from the consequences of my misdeeds today. It might be used as a mitigating body of evidence in the penalty phase of my trial, but it would not absolve me of guilt.
The actions of our parents and grandparents on the world stage over the past century has created a noble heritage and a reservoir of good will. That heritage and reservoir does nothing to excuse our present misuse of our prodigious national power, and especially does nothing to excuse inhumane treatment of our enemies and of prisoners we think might be our enemies. If anything, that heritage and reservoir requires that we hold ourselves to higher standards so that we can continue to be worthy of our parents and grandparents.
The United States is not only a concept and a history, but a collection of human beings acting in concert in the present. We are responsible for all of the actions committed in the name of the nation. The young people I met on Saturday take that responsibility very seriously. They refuse to give support to actions they recognize as criminal that are committed in their names, and are taking steps to make a statement of no confidence by voting with their feet. They expect a considerable reduction in their standard of living, and they also expect to work very hard, as immigrants and exiles often must. I'm sorry that makes you want to puke.
Current Events » in reply to Fine.
There are lots of nations in Europe.
The whole thread (32 posts)
- Survey of college profs' political orientation
- More concerned about the right-wing take-over of law enforcement and the armed forces.
- Let's purge the liberals!!!!
- re: Let's purge the liberals!!!!
- I merely give voice to the insinuation from the Right.
- Foolish exaggeration is a poor technique
- re: insinuation from the Right.
- I merely give voice to the insinuation from the Right.
- re: Let's purge the liberals!!!!
- Probably smarter and better informed than, say, you. And yours. Huh? (n/t)
- And did you know that seawater is salty? Since when is this news? Since when is it "current events"? It is old hat. True, but very old. (n/t)
- Even more amazing........
