Posted on 05/23/2004 6:13:43 AM PDT by Byron_the_Aussie
Ignorance, hypocrisy, obedience: symptoms of a sick America
American Julian Ninio is the author of The Empire of Ignorance, Hypocrisy and Obedience, and is in Australia for the Sydney Writers Festival.
The American people didn't know its troops abused prisoners in Iraqi jails. Ignorance. Officials who knew pretend they didn't know. Hypocrisy. To excuse the perpetrators, parents of soldiers say their kids were forced to follow orders. Obedience.
Torture is the problem-du-jour. Two weeks ago, the problem-du-jour was the deceptive case for war. The American people believed the administration’s lies. Ignorance. The President says he relied on the flawed intelligence he was fed. Hypocrisy. Instead of rebelling, Colin Powell stuck with his team. Obedience.
America's problems are structural. Even if Kerry replaces Bush in January 2005, America will still have one child in six living in poverty; America will still have two million people in jail; America will still have military installations in 50 countries. It's time we looked at the structure behind America's problems.
By studying America’s self-image, we can collect symptoms of the ‘disease’ that ails American society. Is America truly the beacon of justice? Not when it tortures prisoners. Is America truly the cradle of democracy? Not when its president is elected by a minority, not when government for corporations displaces ‘by the people for the people’.
Is America the land of the free? Not when powerful corporations can silence dissidents like Michael Moore. Is America the land of plenty? Not when one household in thirteen lives in a trailer.
Does the US have the best way of life? In a BBC poll, 96 per cent of Americans say that foreigners want to live in America. In the same poll, one Australian in 100 says she would prefer to live in America. It’s not hard to guess why: Australians like paid vacations, Medicare, the fair go, even if it doesn’t always work perfectly.
By studying America's self-image, we can collect symptoms of the 'disease' that ails American society. By America’s own standard, the standard of its self-image, the US is a sick society. Behind torture and all the other symptoms, you can find the same driving principles. ‘America is the best.’ ‘Might means right.’ ‘Corporations have a right to maximise profit.’ ‘Government should serve the economy.’ ‘People must look after themselves.’ ‘Status comes from wealth.’ ‘Winning justifies anything.’
Behind it all, you can find a powerful blend of ignorance, hypocrisy, and obedience. It’s a kind of disease, something I call the ‘IHO Syndrome’: I for ignorance, H for hypocrisy, O for Obedience. Under its influence, lies become truth, wrong becomes right. Peace becomes war, justice becomes torture.
Of course, every American is not always ignorant, hypocritical and obedient. Of course, the US does not have a monopoly on ignorance, hypocrisy and obedience. But when we interpret American society through these lenses, current events make a lot more sense. And that suggests ways to fix that society.
Byron's note: read the rest of the creep's anti-American lies here, , if you have the stomach for it.
(Excerpt) Read more at smh.com.au ...
Here's his publisher's page, with 'contact us' details at lower left
Best regards to all, Byron
I read somewhere that, if America were to stop all of it's foreign aid programs around the world, in one year it could pay for the entire Iraq war. Anyone know where this came from and how to confirm it? I don't doubt that it's true, but would like to know the source.
It never ceases to amaze me how these idiots go overseas and shoot their mouths off. He needs to get over it. I don't intend to change. I love my country.
Because there's a buck in it, I guess. That's why Michael the Moor is at Cannes.
I suggest he move to Afghanistan where he can become a whore for the Taliban.
G'day Byron...
Sydney Writer's Festival? Don't suppose that puts a strain on the lodging industry. Sort of like the new-age festivals here in New Mexico, a couple of personalities and plenty of parasites.
Can't confirm or deny, Bill.
All I could find on a quick search is that total foreign aid for 1997 came to 13.6 billion dollars. How's that shape up, against the cost of the military involvement in Iraq?
It's reached the point, these days, that anyone can write a book or create crockumentary and expect to find an audience. "Class" and decency are disappearing fast.
Yep. Our writer's festival, Tarantino and Moore at Cannes, the Oscars... liberals, giving each other awards. PS great tagline, champ. (:^D)
We don't have a sick America. We have a sick leberal left America.
He loved the Aussies and he'd be turning over in his grave now. So when the Red Storm or the Muslim's come south maybe America won't want to pull the Aussie tale out of the fire. We'll be too busy maximizing profits in our trailers
I freeped his no good ass but good!
That's another thing-the French praising Michael Moore. Doesn't he symbolize what the Euros think of us_fat and ugly Americans?
To the naive fool that wrote this article, it is the direction and the method of this proposed change of society that is disturbing. When you wake up in a decade or so, you will see that Michael Moore is just an opportunist. He does not care about you, except if you are a young chickie or a happy meal.
I'm guessing he was fighting for freedom, for my future, and for yours?
At least he didn't have to put up with what our troops in Iraq are suffering- a fifth column of traitors at home, the Moores and Ninios- giving aid and comfort to the enemy by way of propaganda, and undercutting the war effort in every way possible. At least he was spared that. All the best, Byron
The left and the progressive media today would more than likely find fault in what they did too. One story was about how they left scraps of food out for the abandoned Japanese soldiers that were holed up in the trees. These were the same guys who sniped them early in the mornings. I'm sure they would be considered mean and abusive due to the food being too high in sugar or fat or the fact that the enemy had to scrounge like dogs to get the food.
Hell, tens of millions of Americans don't understand our (very easy to understand) electoral system, so it's not exactly surprising this Aussie is clueless.
Or perhaps he's not an Aussie?
Ah, a so-called American! Makes much more sense now.
Self-reliance? Capitalism? National pride? Oh, the horror!
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