You know, it's fascinating to see the truly MASSIVE extent to which other countries do not understand us At All. Granted, the writer does play fast and loose with the differences between state action and the actions of mobs and individuals. But you wonder how on earth any person could have watched this country at all, ever, and could call us "the only multi-national country in the world in which there was no nationalism or chauvinism". Where on earth would they get a notion THAT misguided? When did we ever say anything of the sort, or present ourselves that way?
I have a feeling that even now, there are people out there with ideals about this country that we never held. And they're about to be bitterly disappointed in our behavior.
I also have a feeling that we'll be asking the question he asks before too long.
Copyright © 2001, Iain Jackson, after-words.org
[Archives: 2001 and after]
Archives before February 5, 2001
Search entries:
12/19/2001: vive la france
12/19/2001: princess, redux
12/19/2001: yemen and rumsfeld
12/18/2001: you're NOT in the army now
12/18/2001: interesting donation
12/18/2001: shame on winn dixie, indeed
12/18/2001: saudi princess
12/17/2001: new resolve
12/17/2001: a victim of the attack ... yeah, right
12/17/2001: polluters ho!