05-04-2011, 06:43 PM
kj wrote:
I don't think it really accomplishes all that much
The celebration or the killing? I couldn't determine which you meant with your sentence.
As far as the Hedges article, he certainly draws an identifiable picture with a broad brush, but as I've learned, there is a great difference between theory and practice. His views on history and nationalism are obvious and lean to the theoretical, but his attempt to connect the theoretical to the applied shows all the difficulties one would expect. For example,
Hedges wrote:
And the killing of bin Laden, who has absolutely no operational role in al-Qaida – that’s clear – he’s kind of a spiritual mentor, a kind of guide … he functions in many of the ways that Hitler functioned for the Nazi Party.
Is he suggesting that if the Allies had the opportunity to assassinate Hitler, they should not? HUH?!? Even without the benefit of hindsight, I would have to disagree with that on several points.
kj wrote:
I guess it would make a liberal democrat choose between being liberal, or being a democrat. Or not, evidently. Or maybe principles vs politics? Interesting to see where people fall, but I can't see any way to reconcile the "liking" of both points of view. kj
As far as the relationship you seem to draw between the Hedges piece and the poll, you'll have to be clearer.