America Is Becoming Unhinged: A penitent America was hopeful, but it didn't last long

The Hill Times (Canada’s Politics and Government Newsweekly) ^ | March 17, 2003) | Jim Creskey

[quidnunc]

Ottawa – America is becoming unhinged and it is impossible to imagine that Canada will be not affected.

This was not the case after 9/11. The attacks on New York City and Washington, D.C., were sad and tragic but they built a unity that took the form of a new patriotism inside the United States — and a new international solidarity with America outside the country. It isn't true that this new-found patriotism and solidarity had no depth. Sure, some of it was as disposable as the feelings that emerge from a night at the Oscars. But at its heart was a genuine sympathy for the lost lives of ordinary people and a steely willingness to rally behind any sensible idea or cause that might prevent a reoccurrence of 9/11.

Most of that goodwill has been squandered now. The Bush administration has managed to drive a wedge between the American people and between America and the rest of the world. It is the kind of division that has not existed since the Vietnam War. America erupted in those days and Canada rolled with the tremours. On the one hand, Canadian industry actively supplied the U.S. military; on the other, Pierre Trudeau's Canada offered sanctuary to thousands of young American war objectors along with regular though mild criticism of U.S. policy. It did Canada little harm. But the American empire was younger, more secure in those days. In the three decades since Vietnam, America has aged centuries.

America, following the loss of the Vietnam War, was chastened. It wasn't something that a politician could brag about but it was largely wholesome: like a reformed alcoholic making a searching and fearless moral inventory of himself or herself, as the 12-step program would put it.

The Jimmy Carter administration provided the right setting for this process and was starting to get around to making amends to those who were harmed by the country's addiction to violence when the process came to a halt. Politically, a national amnesia set in. When the Soviet empire crumbled under its own weight with an admirable — and nonviolent — shove from Lech Walesa, Pope John Paul II and Mikhail Gorbachev, Washington erroneously took the credit for it. That misconception set the stage for the kind of policy that rules today.

A penitent America was a hopeful thing but it didn't last long in Washington, D.C.

By the time the World Trade Centre Towers were destroyed, all the lessons hard-learned in South East Asia were forgotten. Following an initial response of conservative-style moral clarity and decisiveness, the Bush White House increasingly grew to emphasize a heightened sense of imperial destiny. It expressed itself in a disdain for the encumbrance of multinational organizations, a reluctance for, if not an outright avoidance of treaties, a new emphasis on militarism, a discomfit with refugee and immigration responsibilities and a rising tendency to sacrifice cherished constitutional freedoms to national security.

-snip-

[adx]

A penitent America was a hopeful thing

Translation: Bend over and take it from terrorists.

I would post my response to this concept, but I don't want to be banned.

[What Is Ain't]

Leftist Canadian tripe. I couldn't get past the intro page.

[Alissa]

If you ask me it seems the Liberals are the ones coming unhinged!

[rogue yam]

A penitent America was a hopeful thing

Translation: Bend over and take it from terrorists.

It's worse even than you say. "Penitent" means feeling regretful sorrow for sins. As if, when the jihadi scum attacked us, this caused us to feel badly about things WE had done to deserve it!!! Well, sure, maybe a few utter lefty zomboids here and there. But in the America I live in just about everyone was not repentant but rather God's own pissed off! Jeeze, what a maroon!

[Dr.Deth]

Don't you know the Soviet Union fell because of Jimmy Carter's brilliant plan? By ruining our economy, eviscerating our military, and allowing pissant backwater camelsh*t countries to make us look like bumbling, inept fools, he encouraged the Russians to invade Afghanistan, which caused the Russian downfall < /sarcasm >

[Radix]

Yes, this post really unnerved me.

Can I swear now?

[truth_seeker]

"...Pierre Trudeau's Canada offered sanctuary to thousands of young American war objectors..."

I have a cousin in British Columbia. Son of a career US Army officer, this fellow obtained a taxpayer funded education, married, and left for Canada.

He was never drafted, but has remained in Canada. Eventually they became Canadian citizens (after their son was born, so the son can be an American citizen, if he chooses).

I spent time with this cousin of mine, when his father died. A discussion with him reveals he is an adherent to "world socialism." His mind is frozen in the 60s "peace movement."

My guess is that he and his wife have mooched of the Canadian government. They are artists" and drive a beat up vehicle, despite now being in their late 50s and having university degrees.

Blood aside, "good ridance." I dare say my cousin left, because he was and is a coward, who doesn't know that the price for freedom is blood, courage, conviction.

[Morgan's Raider]

The Bush administration has managed to drive a wedge between the American people

Wrong, you stinking POM (Piece of Merde - see, I know French, too). The democrat party has driven that wedge with earnesty since the election of Ronald Reagan. Personally I'm getting a little tired of watching C-SPAM and being called a racist/fascist/Nazi/homophobe/bigot/xenophobe/child starver/old person killer by the hate-filled leftists calling in to "Washington Journal" every morning. This invective from these unimaginative shmucks is derived directly from statements made by their democrat "leaders".

The fact that we own most of the guns and they are not residing in concentration camps should immediately give lie to their invective. However, if the situation were reversed there is no doubt in my quasi-military mind these leftists would have us in "re-education centers" in a New York minute.

[Kevin Curry]

In sum, Canada prefers a victim America to a victorious America.

[Paulus Invictus]

Very true! This guy sounds like Dashole, Kennedy, and the Felon himself! What a coincidence!

[F.J. Mitchell]

This piece of weasel sh*t, will not admit that the USSR crumbled under the pressure that President Reagan exerted upon it and nothing else. THose weanies that he heaps praise upon; Garbagechef,Jimmie Caterer,Demutt TuTu, the Pope and Walleasa as well, were dwarfs who only looked tall, standing on Reagans broad shoulders.

If there had never been a Reagan, the evil empire rule the world today.

[Argus]

We're adults here

Hey, speak for yourself!

[Mister Baredog]

The Jimmy Carter administration provided the right setting for this process and was starting to get around to making amends to those who were harmed by the country's addiction to violence when the process came to a halt. Politically, a national amnesia set in. When the Soviet empire crumbled under its own weight with an admirable — and nonviolent — shove from Lech Walesa, Pope John Paul II and Mikhail Gorbachev, Washington erroneously took the credit for it. That misconception set the stage for the kind of policy that rules today.

Shouldn't this post have a BARF ALERT?

[Spiff]

Bullcrap! We weren't penitent - we were pissed. And we still are. The war on terrorism - and those who support it, harbor it, etc. (ie. Saddam Hussein) still continues today. Beyond a few unwashed malcontents having temper tantrums in the streets every week or so, America is not backing down, faltering, or failing. Wishing don't make it so you lousy canadian turd. Your pussy country has said that they will not help. Fine. And you should be on your own now instead of sucking the security teet that we've offered you for over a century.

[John Valentine]

Sorry, but I'm looking for a roll of toilet tissue, not a barf bag.

[goldstategop]

Wow! Such a profound statement has made me glad that I'm an American now and am not looking back pining for being born in Canada in the first place.

[Porterville]

Why do these howling skirts worry about what we do??? I certainly never, eve,r even consider Canada for anything other than a route to Alaskan oil and cedar. Shut up Kanuk.

[F.J. Mitchell]

"So, if we don't do anything to defend ourselves, we'll be loved."

Loved to death.

[quidnunc]

Mister Baredog wrote: Shouldn't this post have a BARF ALERT?

See my reply #16 above.

[F.J. Mitchell]

"Can I swear now?"

Sure, but be careful to insert asterics in place of vowels.