[lit-ideas] Re: Aren't you glad you no longer have a Hitler problem?
- From: "Lawrence Helm" <lawrencehelm@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <lit-ideas@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Sat, 24 Jun 2006 10:16:44 -0700
The association of the American Left with Radical Islam has been
demonstrated by a number of writers. They have speculated about why this is
the case. Read for example, Unholy Alliance, Radical Islam and the American
Left by David Horowitz.
This Anti-Americanism is consistent with its European cousin. Read
Jean-Francois Revel's Anti-Americanism, Bruce Bawer's While Europe Slept,
How Radical Islam is destroying the west from within, Claire Berlinski's
Menace in Europe, why the continent's Crisis is America's too, Jonathan
Fenby's France on the Brink, a Great Civilization Faces the New Century.
There has been so much written on this, I must believe it is common
knowledge. Leftist writers and Islamists use the same anti-American
arguments. They borrow from each other. They support each other's causes.
Way back after 9/11, before Bush did anything, I hoped he was going to have
the guts to oppose the Islamists, but I had my doubts. I voiced them on
whatever discussion group I was in at the time - Bush had no experience.
His platform didn't include anything that was remotely warlike. Since then
he has conducted the war against the Islamists in a creditable fashion.
Critics are entitled to argue that Bush used too few troops and didn't do
this or that right in regard to managing the war, but Leftists and Islamists
argue that the Islamists are right and America is wrong. Whatever America
does is for some underhanded reason. We want to get Iraqi oil. We want to
prop up thugs here and there. We want to advance our empire. The list goes
on and on. Read speeches by Ward Churchill and Osama bin Laden to enlarge
the list.
You haven't written enough for me to know which category you are in. Are
you in the loyal opposition like Joe Lieberman? Do you think someone like
Kerry could have done a better job of conducting the war? Fine. But the
Leftists I'm describing believe America should be defeated by the Islamists.
It believes that it deserved to have its world trade center destroyed on
9/11. Such Leftists have declared common cause with the Radical Islamists.
Lawrence
_____
From: lit-ideas-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:lit-ideas-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]
On Behalf Of Stan Spiegel
Sent: Saturday, June 24, 2006 9:52 AM
To: lit-ideas@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [lit-ideas] Re: Aren't you glad you no longer have a Hitler
problem?
L.H. "Leftists seek out new opportunities to attack the U.S. while the
Islamic Fascists remain unopposed by them. "
Where and how do you come up with such garbage, Lawrence? Leftists are
anti-American? What makes you think that?
If I'm what you call a "leftist," it's not America I attack when I criticize
the White House and this administration, it's Bush, his unrelenting
incompetence, his lack of concern for the public interest, his focus on
comforting the comfortable and afflicting the afflicted, his willingness to
lie to us at every turn, etc.
Are you so unaware of our history that you consider criticizing Bush as
anti-American rather than patriotic? Dissent, from what you seem to be
saying, is unacceptable. Is that what you're saying?
And Leftists are unopposed to the Islamic crazies out there?
For such a bright guy, you leave me bewildered.
Stan Spiegel
Portland, ME
----- Original Message -----
From: Lawrence <mailto:lawrencehelm@xxxxxxxxxxxx> Helm
To: lit-ideas@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Saturday, June 24, 2006 11:35 AM
Subject: [lit-ideas] Re: Aren't you glad you no longer have a Hitler
problem?
Perhaps I was hasty in assuming the worst. I have history books as well as
Charles Taylor on my desk in front of me and have noticed how difficult it
is to break loose from the Climate of Opinion that is prevalent in one's
country at the time one lives. The current Leftist climate of opinion
comprises, in effect, a pro-Islamist or pro-Islamic-Fascist stance. Instead
of opposing the Islamic-Fascists, they oppose the U.S. Notice all the
responses I've received since broaching these subjects. Leftists seek out
new opportunities to attack the U.S. while the Islamic Fascists remain
unopposed by them. And they see nothing strange in that. I find that
remarkable.
I thought it interesting to hypothesize the taking of Leftist Americans,
functioning under their current pro-Fascist anti-American climate of opinion
and transporting them back to America of the 1930s. With such a climate of
opinion, could they do anything but oppose our going to war against Hitler?
The prevalent climate of opinion of the 30s wasn't quite theirs. It was one
of leaving the Europeans to stew in their own juice. While the majority was
opposed to going to war, it wasn't anti-American.
Lawrence
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