Monday, October 01, 2007
Get over it
I don't know if you guys read Tom Friedman's columns in the New York Times. I agree with much of what he has to say, even though a lot of people on the left like to trash him for his allegedly pro-outsourcing, pro-globalization, pro-seal-clubbing book "The World Is Flat" (I haven't read the book, so I can't say for sure what his stance is on seal clubbing). But his latest column really made me want to stand up and cheer. Jeez. Let's not lose sight of what we're all about. Bad stuff happens to good people sometimes. It's no reason to go Rambo.
5 comments:
Jim and I had a discussion about this column a few nights ago. While I agree wholeheartedly that "the war on terror" has directed our national focus and consumed our collective energies for far too long, I take issue with Friedman's habitual assumption that, since we've been on top for so long, we naturally belong there, and if we're slipping, we'd better get cracking to preserve that hegemony. In my mind, our decline is somewhat natural -- we've had our time to be the political and economic "head honchos", and maybe we and the rest of the world would be better served if America was on a more equal footing with those that we have lorded ourselves over for far too many years.
Just my two cents.
I think that's a pretty common assumption that many Americans make without even realizing it. While the British took their decline well (mostly), I'm skeptical the same happening here. I hope that once enough people accept that not being Number 1 doesn't have to mean losing it all, we'll be ok. I would say we need a return to the values of prosperity, in the sense they used back in Roosevelt's day. There's more than enough to go around, and everyone can do pretty well if we devote ourselves to such a cause.
Anyways, digression - I'm with Tom on this: I'm tired of the politicizing of security and defense.
Most likely to argue politics via blog comments indeed!
Not argue, *discuss*. Silly librarian.
Does this mean only Ron Paul can save us now? {shudder}
I think someone in my neighborhood put up a Ron Paul for President lawn sign. There go the property values...
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