Attachment to the good habits and institutions of one's country and a modest pride in the genuine achievements of one's co-nationals is a commendable attitude, capable of forging ties and cementing community feeling. But patriotism has a strong tendency to go beyond this. The slogan, "My country, right or wrong" is palpably absurd, but the more seductive, though equally foolish, idea is that my country can actually do no wrong, or, at any rate, no serious wrong. The emotions of patriotism all too often blind us to the moral crimes and follies that "we" have committed and can again commit. When this is combined with the political advantages of populism, the mixture can be lethal. It is not only scoundrels who misuse patriotism; the foolish and opportunistic also do it.Tony Coady, addressing the nature of patriotism in Australia's The Age.
 |
|
|
|
|
Quote of the dayNoble Ideas: Speaker Pelosi's VisionI have to hand it to future House Speaker Nancy Pelosi: She and me think way too much alike... Wolf Blitzer, prince of the irrelevantI had the misfortune to watch Blitzer's ludicrous The Situation Room on CNN the other night, when he "interviewed" James Webb, the Democratic candidate trying to unseat George Allen from Virginia's senate seat. Reality 2, Bush 0Never let it be said that reality stood in the way of George W. Bush.... Quote of the dayIt's funny how a lot of gay male politicians in Washington came with male dates to these events during the Clinton years, but then showed up with females under Bush.Massachusetts Representative Barney Frank, in an interview about the life of gay politicians in Washington. Culture Of Corruption Nails Another VictimKarl, where is my October Surprise?! What, another big, bad and embarrassing little gaff?........ When In Doubt, Point Fingers ElsewhereLeave it to old El Oxycondo to add his bizarre spin to Foleygate...... State legislatures really tackling the hard issues of the day...In case you missed it.... Rumsfeld's many points of non-knowledgeRumsfeld has a unique way of using uncertainty--real or feigned, I'll never know--to avoid discussing important questions. For example, check these excerpts from a July, 2006 Woodward-Rumsfeld interview, which the Dept. of Defense saw fit to post on its web site a few days ago. Quote of the day:Iraq has sucked the oxygen out of policies and American policies and what we have on our hands, in the performance of the North Koreans - outrageous as that performance is - we have a major challenge to the peace and stability of the Pacific region.Australia's opposition leader Kim Beazley. |
|
|
|
|