MICHAEL GOVE: The hatred of America is the socialism of fools

The Times ^ | January 8, 2003 | Michael Gove

[Billthedrill]

The dark recess of the soul to which the author alludes is nothing more than that it is profoundly satisfying to hate, so much so that the hatred tends to remain long after its cause is forgotten or ameliorated, if it were ever sound in the first place. It is not restricted to the political left, but when all else is drained from a body politic hatred is all that remains to define it, and at the moment hatred is, in fact, the left's sole remaining defining characteristic.

[conservatism_IS_compassion]

Heavy . . . worthwhile read!

[Chu Gary]

In the l700's, the French (bless their little pea brains) actually had a fine idea of how to deal with the elitists. For those of you who are history-challenged, it was called the guillotine. Too bad Hillary and Billary weren't French and prominent in politics then!

[CardCarryingMember.VastRightWC]

Someone should do an online poll -

Who do you think hates America the most?
A) Radical Muslims
B) European Leftists
C) American Leftists

Personally, I would vote (C).

[TheMole]

The only thing wrong with this article is the title. The phrase "socialism of fools" is redundant, since socialism in adults is itself evidence of cognitive deficiency. Otherwise it's an excellent piece, and the point that today's anti-Americanism serves the same function that anti-semitism served in the past is particularly well taken. That does bring up another complication, however. Anti-semitism, often thinly disguised as "ant-Zionism", is becoming respectable again on the left, and many European leftists regard an excess of Jewish influence as being one of the things they don't like about the United States.

[lainde]

BTTT! Thanks to you both for excellent articles!

[conservatism_IS_compassion]

it is profoundly satisfying to hate, so much so that the hatred tends to remain long after its cause is forgotten or ameliorated, if it were ever sound in the first place. It is not restricted to the political left, but when all else is drained from a body politic hatred is all that remains to define it, and at the moment hatred is, in fact, the left's sole remaining defining characteristic.

Whether it's hatred, or simple desire to feel important, I'm not quite sure. But it DOES seem to be a character flaw. Leftism seems to me to be some sort of default thought pattern . . . you don't explain why people are leftist, the question is more properly why people transcend leftism.

[HanneyBean]

That is a definite distinction worth noting. Nothing has EVER embarrassed me about being an American except for 8 years of Bill Clinton.

[Chu Gary]

"Chu,

My french pea brain dares make a little remark for your laser precision memory : 1790 is in the 1700s ... late 1700s if you want. You must encode dates on 4bits, what a super efficient compression algo. You must be very bright ;)

Seems the thread is all about anti-americanism of the EU morrons OK. How should I describe the anti-french bashing I so often read here ?

Are you socialist nuts too ? ... no ? OK

One good advice for the americans. Try to consider the real environmental problems Europe faces these days with a bit less disdain. For instance let's consider the pollution of the seas, the problem of sea transport regulations where floating trashcans are allowed to sink with none responsible for it. None pays except entangled fishermen in Spain, France or (tomorow?) England.

You'll be surprised of how the crapest anti-americanism will start to fade away. I know that after Irak, everyone will clearly see the advantage of the new situation. After Afghanistan, another nation freed from dictatorship. Then it would be a good starting point to induce a new pro american feeling. Only a few ww mediatic speeches only would.

I bet that France will be there in Irak. Most ppl I find here being fooled in the widespread primitive anti-french bashing I find here, I also bet that none here imagines this possibility. I sincerely think that EU and the USA share a lot. We face the same problems now and in the future.

Q : So who earns the benefits of this artificial division mainly fed by the sensational bias of the modern media ? A : Our real common enemies.

BTW : I think that most of what Blair and Chirac wanted was doing it all within the formal rules of the UN and the security council. UK uses it's traditional first american ally role, and France it's more neutral role. As always. I write this since months as it seems quite obvious on an historical perspective. Even if it's hard to understand for some here, the fact that the USA is the only big military power does not mean it's preferable, even for the USA, that you make it all alone. Specially in the current worldwide spread anti-american context. You ll need the political support of the french, russians and their relays to avoid an ethnical explosion in the irakian balkans. Specially as the US army plans to stay there for a while. "

Karl,

I am secure enough in my own being to not feel it necessary to respond to your little slams. I've been to France a number of times and generally find it a nice place, especially once one gets out of Paris. Versailles is excellent! We'll just have to wait and see how France responds when things get hot, won't we? Of course, when Libya was causing a serious amount of trouble and the only country willing to confront the situation was the US, what did France do?

In case you don't know, mon ami, they prohibited US planes flying over their country. Once your country becomes 51% muslim maybe you'll become a bit more worldly.

Have a fine day.