Globe Columnist Anguished, and It's All America's Fault

NewsBusters ^ | Mark Finkelstein

[governsleastgovernsbest]

I don't know James Carroll, but if I were a friend or family member I might truly be concerned. His Boston Globe column of this morning, American Disconnection, is a disjointed lament about the state of the world and his feeling of disconnectedness, invoking the anomie of his youth. What makes it interesting for present purposes is the way in which Carroll, the prototypical MSM liberal, looks at the world, sees a litany of wrongs, and naturally concludes . . . It's All America's Fault.

Carroll seeks to reassure us, and no doubt himself, that "my adult connections are strong, and ever more interesting . . . My friendships are intact. Boredom is a word of absolutely no relevance in my life, nor has youthful moodiness left a stamp on me." He even claims that "I was part of a large, happy family." This from someone whose alienation from his Air Force general father was so intense he famously wrote a book about it: An American Requiem: God, My Father, and the War That Came Between Us.

Carroll recites his bona fides of psychic health as a prelude to admitting:

I am feeling ambushed by a sensation, exactly, of ineffectual isolation. The endless midafternoon of an August summer day seems all at once the whole of life. Disconnectedness is the heart of it.

And what is the cause of Carroll's angst?

The largest experience of being cut off from what matters of which I am aware involves the American crisis in the Middle East.

The former Roman Catholic priest then ticks off a laundry list of international woe: Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, the West Bank and Gaza. Claims Carroll: "one can fault feuding Iraqi factions, Iranian fantasies of dominance, Pakistani duplicity, Taliban ruthlessness, Hamas intransigence, or Israeli belligerence." But that wouldn't be any fun. No, oh-so-predictably, Carroll looks at all that is wrong in the world and concludes that it is "tied to the behavior of the US government."

Carroll then plunges into serious downer mode, speaking of "a vast population of shamed US citizens" [a bit of projection, perhaps?]. He writes that "private brooding desperately seeks a mode of public action, yet is thwarted." He asks "why shouldn't youthful summer doldrums open into massive civic anguish?"

He concludes with this jeremiad of a final sentence:

"The war has become a god apart, for which now it will really punish everyone."

Gadzooks!

While Carroll's story is clearly a troubled personal one, I'd suggest that in many ways he epitomizes the liberal condition. He looks at the world, sees all its wrongs, feels helpless, anguished and disconnected, and concludes that America is to blame. What a way to go through life.

Contact Mark at mark@gunhill.net

[governsleastgovernsbest]

James Carroll liberal angst ping to Today show list.

[wideawake]

In the old days in Ireland, when a James Carroll went on such a pathetic rant, a stranger might ask: "What's wrong with this one then?" and those who knew him would reply: "Oh, James. He's a spoiled priest, you know."

And the stranger would nod, knowing exactly what that meant.

[Diogenesis]

The Boston Globe, New York Times, and their writers
have created the gun in Uncle Sam's mouth
with their lying, treason, and propaganda.

[Lee'sGhost]

The more liberal weenies whine about how wrong America is, the more proud I am of the fact that we are a nation of warriors — despite all of their hand wringing and pants peeing.

[puroresu]

He’s right. If America would just abandon Israel and our other allies, look the other way when Islamic terror occurs, capitulate to the Muslims whenever they attack us, and then convert to Islam, then all these things which upset this poor man wouldn’t occur. Well, there might be some Sunni vs. Shiite violence here and there, but that’s not really anything a “liberal” would find upsetting.

Yep, it’s our fault all right.

[Condor51]

It sounds like James Carroll is about to commit suicide.

His 'friends' better take all his guns away stat. /s

[kittymyrib]

Are you sure this guy isn’t French? What a whinny weanie!

[ClaireSolt]

There is a worldwide economic boom. America and its allies are working together with its many allies in every conceivable way to help in the Middle East including NATO and the UN. Even Clintonistas are pitching in.

[gridlock]

The Liberals are disappearing down the rabbit hole.

This is a good thing.

They have the power now, and realize too late that the wanting was greater than the having.

[gridlock]

His 'friends' better take all his guns away stat. /s

Meanwhile, his enemies are probably sending FedEX-ing him some.

[Ditter]

It is something that happened in the 60’s to his generation. I was 20 in 1960 but I seem to have missed whatever it was that happened to so many. I think I was happily married, raising babies and much too busy to notice.

[iopscusa]

The Liberals are disappearing down the rabbit hole, they will not be missed...but we will live with their crappy policies and programs for a long time!

[domenad]

Hey James, the more likely alternative is you are a massive wuss.

[popdonnelly]

“American Disconnection”

Liberals are disconnected. From reality. At least this guy is honest.

[metesky]

I don't know how you do it, glgb.

I'm so thankful I'm not a liberal, all that angst and guilt like a monkey on my back. I'll just have to go on having the good time that people like Carroll never seem to have.

[bert]

He lives in Boston and is the enemy.

[Condor51]

****Meanwhile, his enemies are probably sending FedEX-ing him some.****

But is a moonbat leftist 'journalist' worth the cost of a gun? Even a cheap one (Raven?), really, why bother. Let the loon spend his own money ;-)

[DGHoodini]

“Heavens to Myrhgatroid!!”. Time to exit, stage left.

[Pharmboy]

He needs to doublehis Prozac dose. Seriously.