[Oldie]

Of all the stupid columnists at the NY Times, surely Thomas L. Friedman is the by far the stupidest. He has proven this beyond doubt with his columns over the years

Still, not content to rest on his laurels, his most recent column is among the finest examples of his art.

Here, he actually suggests that 9/11 was tied in with the world populations' desire to have a "vote" (yes he really uses that term here) on how American culture is "seeping" into other cultures.

[ConsistentLibertarian]

"[1] The only people who use violence are rogues or nonstate actors with no stakes in the system, such as Osama bin Laden. [2] Basically, he is in a civil war with the Saudi ruling family. But, he says to himself, `The Saudi rulers are insignificant. To destroy them you have to hit the hegemonic power that props them up ? America.'

[3] Hence, 9/11."

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Which is the stupid part? (1), (2) or (3)?

[Admin Moderator]

Please don't change the title of articles. Thank you.

[headsonpikes]

I wonder if there's any chance of American culture seeping into HIS consciousness?

Probably not, to answer my own question.

[Mark Felton]

What I read of the posted part of the article is fairly reasoned.

[optimistically_conservative]

Previously posted here: Freidman: A Theory Of Everything

[Lorianne]

The article makes some valid points about resentment towards American cultural and economic dominance. To me, at least the way I read it, he is not "blaming" America, merely pointing out how we are recieved by some factions in the world. Regardless whether it makes sense or not, the resentment is there and it behooves us to realize and acknowledge it.

He is not suggesting we change our culture, indeed such a thing is not possible, its too grand a scale for policy changes. We cannot just say "OK we're going to stop having to be so influential around the globe". Doesn't work like that. Acknowledging that some people hate those who are successful is not saying anything against being successful.

[jpl]

Seattle had its idiot side, but what the serious protesters there were saying was: "You, America, are now touching my life more than my own government. You are touching it by how your culture seeps into mine, by how your technologies are speeding up change in all aspects of my life, and by how your economic rules have been `imposed' on me. I want to have a vote on how your power is exercised, because it's a force now shaping my life."

Given that the overwhelming majority of the protestors at Seattle (and most of the other World Bank conferences) are Americans, this makes absolutely no sense whatsoever.

[Uncle Miltie]

"During the 1990's, America became exponentially more powerful — economically, militarily and technologically — than any other country in the world, if not in history. Broadly speaking, this was because the collapse of the Soviet empire, and the alternative to free-market capitalism, coincided with the Internet-technology revolution in America."

To paraphrase: We became exponentially more powerful because of the collapse of the Soviet Union and advent of the Internet.

What a crock. Had the Soviet Union never existed, we would still exactly this powerful due to our freedom and entrepreneurialism. The Soviet's existence and collapse had nothing to do with it.

[mushroom]

Once again, I'm confused.

How is it that others eat our burgers, watch our movies, buy our computers, listen to our music, etc. and then complain about our culture taking over theirs? Where's their responsibility in all this?

[moyden2000]

Excellent article. The US is simply a convenient scapegoat for the failures of others.

Let them whine.

[Only1choice____Freedom]

This just in:

Scientists say that an amazing occurrence has happened in the space-time continuum. The Liberal press and academia has lived in such a created world so far detached from reality that their reality has somehow detached itself from the normal reality that the rest of us have no choice to live in. They are now plummeting through space and time that they have no idea where to find our reality. They may not even know it has happened. This is extremely dangerous to them as their world is full of doom and gloom without hope of recovery. There may be no escape for them. Even if they do return, there will not be any employment for them.

On the other hand, since they have been gone, the stocks are rebounding and there is a sign of peace finally in the middle east. It seems that things are finally looking up. The last thing the real world needs is a pessimist.

[ConsistentLibertarian]

"Of all the stupid columnists at the NY Times, surely Thomas L. Friedman is the by far the stupidest. He has proven this beyond doubt with his columns over the years

Still, not content to rest on his laurels, his most recent column is among the finest examples of his art."

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Do you still hold this view?

Stupid is as stupid does.