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Interesting
Robert — (archived)

I'm not sure that everybody would've missed the irony in substituting "outstanding citizens" for "scumbags". It might've generated some discussion as people asked for clarification, since an accusation of treason is inconsistent with being an outstanding citizen. But I do see your point about lowering the level of animosity by removing one of the insults from the sentence.

The other thing about the statement in context, now that I look at it again, is that, by analogy, he was calling Iranian dissidents "scumbags" for preaching treason against their government. Even changing the name to "outstanding citizens" doesn't fully resolve the conflict, since "treason" has such negative connotations.

It's ironic, in retrospect, how close he came to expressing the true nature of the opposition by many Americans: It's a profound loyalty to America, just as much as an Iranian wanting to change his country for the better. Iranian dissidents and America's loyal opposition share the same desire for what's best for our countries, and a determination to bring about necessary change to correct the problems we see.

Gary and Mark came so close to understanding...but choked it.

As we fight over the word "treason", it's easy to lose sight of what motivates me. I look at Bush's policies and see them as wrong-headed, and extrapolate that the consequences will be mostly negative. I see America bogged down in a perpetual war with no vision of victory or how to make it happen. I see America becoming more isolated in the world, meeting more and more resistance to our initiatives. I see America's basic noble message of freedom and hope lost behind the perception that we're actually just another wannabe empire. I see former allies forming their own coalitions to oppose us, or, in a replay of the Cold War, being driven into the fold of an opponent like China. I see the possibility that our illusion of invincibility could be punctured if we force enough of the countries individually unable to oppose us, into coalitions able to muster the military (and economic) power to put up genuine resistance.

At the same time, at home, I see us losing our civil liberties in the name of national security. I see our culture warped into a perpetual siege mentality, hunkered down behind our fortress walls staring out in suspicion and fear at the rest of the world. I see many of our best and brightest emigrating to nations not crippled by such a toxic culture. I see our economy both burdened by a huge war machine, and shrinking as business fleeing overseas to avoid that burden and the general malaise of our culture; I see the beginning of a downard economic spiral.

This could turn out very badly for America, and I do not want that happen.

How in the world can that be construed as treason?

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