It looks Obvious - Latest Comments in Bringing sanity back to the discussion

Re: Bringing sanity back to the discussion

Ingrid — Sat, 30 Sep 2006 17:55:22 -0000

Rogel, I posted on the Euston Manifest and so far I've had a few responses. It's the weekend, my 'regular's have lives and not all of them have checked the site (it's quiet on their own blogs as well) so tomorrow I will give you my two cents. As for the comments, I think they are very much in keeping with what I think and pls, check out Heathlander's link. I like and agree with his analysis very much..there is a theme I'm detecting so I will include that in my answer to you.

Re: Bringing sanity back to the discussion

Rogel — Tue, 26 Sep 2006 08:19:50 -0000

Ingrid,
I wouldn't claim that the US is perfect. However people like Howard Zinn can work, write and published in the US - I don't think they could in Iran.
I also don't buy the free media argument. The government doesn't control the media and its efficient is a meter of culture. By the way I think Nixon and even Clinton would have liked much calmer media than it is actually. The problem with the media is that it follows the sound bit instead of understanding the meaning of what the reporting about, but again this is not due to government control.

Re: Bringing sanity back to the discussion

Ingrid — Mon, 25 Sep 2006 22:49:10 -0000

Hey, that's pretty interesting Rogel. Although the more I read history and not just the whitewashed version, I am afraid that number 6 doesn't sit well with me. It's not about being anti-American as it is being against imperial practices. Also, when you read books such as Howard Zinn's 'a people's history of the United States 1492-present' you can see that this country was never the great country the people tout it to be. Yes, you can critize the gov't but make no mistake, there is a limit. It's relative. How much independent media outlets are there? Rogel, I get the impression (from reading of course) that even in Israel the press is a whole lot more critical and a 'fifth estate' kind than the one here. Anti-americanism is a term I believe that is used to diminish and demonize people who are critical of US policies, especially foreign policies. I do agree with you (or I guess, the euston manifesto) that you cannot just defend other nat'l leaders as a reaction against your own. I also agree that some of the left are reactionary just like some of the right, that will always be the case. Still, it's food for thought that I will have to digest when I'm not so tired (I figured I'd drop by before going to bed but now you got me thinking!)..anyhow..I'll have to get my husband to connect the printer to the computer I'm using now (his) as I'd rather print things out and read than just read something online. Thanks for putting this out there though,
all the best
Ingrid