Un-Americanism - exclusive domain of the left?

[Purrybonker]

I've noticed a pretty common pattern in "hot topic" threads like this one. In threads like this one - the author is (completely irrationally BTW) attacked for being anti-American for expressing mild criticism of the actions of the government as a side-bar to an interesting bit of news. This kind of attack is not uncommon in hot-button threads here in the OT forum.

So, I'm wondering...

If a democrat lived in the whitehouse and the dems controlled house and senate - would roles be reversed? In other words, would the conservatives now be accused of being anti-American for criticizing the actions of a democrat government/president?

Or is the right to toss anti-American epithets constitutionally reserved unto conservatives?

[yetidave]

Clearly anyone not willing to follow blindley wherever W. leads is un-American. Those deemed un-American should be deported to France immediatly.

[Mule]

Do you mean as opposed to being compared to hitler as the dems are currently doing? Put down the crack pipe & step away from the torch.

[Superman]

You know, I honestly don't think so. I honestly believe that if this was Al Gore's war, you would not be hearing this "shut up and quit being a traitor" crap. In fact, if this was Al Gore's war, we'd still be hearing my opinion that this is a mistake.

[yetidave]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Mule
Do you mean as opposed to being compared to hitler as the dems are currently doing? Put down the crack pipe & step away from the torch. [/QUOTE

Hitler huh? Nope, thats just as stupid as un-American and you wont catch me saying it.
I try and leave silly name calling and dopey generalizations to the feeble minded at either end of the political spectrum.

[304065]

Nice try. Why don't you let him defend himself?

[yetidave]

Originally posted by john_cramer
Nice try. Why don't you let him defend himself?

Who are you talking to?

Is this a bleed-over from another thread?

[Moneyguy1]

yeti:

Probably. Sometimes things are posted that make no sense and are not relevant to the subject, meant more to deflect than to enlighten.

I am beginning to agree with the idea that the right has tried with some success to make the word "liberal" sound unAmerican somehow without knowing what it really means. There are liberal leaning Republicans on some aspects of philosophy as well as conservative leaning Democrats. The problem of labelling is that it tends to oversimplify things and that satisfies narrow monded bigots quite well. Anything a fanatic or True Believer does not agree with is de facto wrong and evil.

Whereas the extreme of "liberal" could be taken as anarchy, it appears that the extreme of conservative is based upon fear. The fear they might be wrong, the fear of change, the fear of contradiction, all of which leads to anger and attack when threatened. Both concepts are basically flawed. I think most people can, if given time, see through the rhetoric and make at least a rational decision, leaving the extremists out in the cold where they seem to like it; jousting at windmills.


BTW...Did you know that Hitler was Time Magazine's "Man of the Year" before WWII? Just an interestinf factoid.

[jm951]

Makes you wonder about Time's judgement.

[Mulholland]

Originally posted by Purrybonker
If a democrat lived in the whitehouse and the dems controlled house and senate - would roles be reversed? In other words, would the conservatives now be accused of being anti-American for criticizing the actions of a democrat government/president?

All you have to do is look back as far as Serbia to have your answer...Bill Clinton TRULY lied to get us into a civil war (absolutely no threat)...He killed innocent Serbians, miles from the conflict, he said we would be out in January of '98...We were also supporting and defending KLA Islamic terrorists.

We are still in Serbia...it is a true quagmire...no genocide was found.........and guess what?....No media coverage of these facts and nary one Republican calling that war for what it was.

Answer your question?...no?...Howz bout Kennedy's Vietnam?

[Mulholland]

Originally posted by yetidave
Hitler huh? Nope, thats just as stupid as un-American and you wont catch me saying it.
I try and leave silly name calling and dopey generalizations to the feeble minded at either end of the political spectrum.

Yep, Hitler....That anti-American rhetoric is coming from the Democrat top-brass no less.

[joeclarke]

Originally posted by jm951
Makes you wonder about Time's judgement.

Actually not at all. Things are never black & white - even though life would be so much easier if such were the case. Hitler is a great example of this point. The name is universally held as one of the worst examples of evil - yet much of what he accomplished was fabulously impressive stuff. Everything in leadership is a matter of perspective, context and outcome.

Often in following powerful leaders, people get so caught up in the vision and the apparent victories along the way that they willingly end up in a place that they would never have seen themselves in the first place.

History has countless examples of this phenomena - Hitler is only one.

[island911]

What seem to lead to the un-American label, on the lib's, is their propensity to show the world just how terribly impartial, they are.

The lib's are quick to point-out anything, throw-out any words, that may suggest their country is less than perfect.

Supposedly they believe that this will give them a higher level of respect, in the eyes of other counrties. (lib's want to be "liked")

Of course most other countries politicians use this fault as a wedge. . . .an opportunity to trample all over us.

Conservatives are a bit more pragmatic.

[djmcmath]

I would say that as long as people keep sounding like foreign news sources, they'll keep getting called "un-American". If you announce that the US asked for the WTC attacks, or claim that Islamic Jihadists are just misunderstood, or defend positions like "Al-Sadr's a good guy, he just needs someone to sit down and love him," you should expect to be called un-American. If your posts read like something from Al-Jazeera, or you echo candidates that sound like the French, the Saudis, or the North Koreans, you should expect to be called un-American.

(shrug) MHO.

Dan

[joeclarke]

Originally posted by island911
What seem to lead to the un-American label, on the lib's, is their propensity to show the world just how terribly impartial, they are.

The lib's are quick to point-out anything, throw-out any words, that may suggest their country is less than perfect.

Too funny - I guess the question has been asked and answered.

Thanks for that...

[island911]

So you're saying, Dan, that those who ramble on with arguments of other countries are not supporting American interests. . ..un-American. I think you may have something there.

hmmm . . . . ..but how do you suppose, that such a complex concept, could be explained so the liberal mind could follow?

[Superman]

You don't really understand the question, do you Mul?

Right, Island. I'm just trying to impress some politicians in other countries. When you figure out how to couch this in terms I'll comprehend, then let me know.

[island911]

Sorry, supe . . . I figured all the little smilies would couch my post as tongue-in-cheek. Sorry for not making that more obvious. . .more comprehendable. My bad.

[jm951]

If it includes the worst, and clearly says so, then it makes sense. There's no arguing that Stalin and Hitler were very bad characters, and Kruschev wasn't much better. There are some interesting choices on the list.

But back to the topic, it looks like from my POV, that the left is quick to blame America first for whatever bad happens to it. They also seem to make it a point to ignore any good that is done by the US in pursuit of seemingly demonizing the US for any mistakes or poor choices. No country or gvt is perfect, but some are a darn sight better than others and I'll stick with the US.

[Moneyguy1]

Ifthe left is always finding fault and the right is the true opposite, then it would appear that the right's stand is that the Country is perfect as is and nothing should be changed.

I would find both extremes equally flawed.