The Heart Of The Matter: FEAR

I really wish I was better at this, because then I would be making the kind of points that Glenn Greenwald makes over at Hullabaloo. One day at a time, Sweet Jesus...

The argument which needs to be made is the one that we have seen starting to arise in the blogosphere and elsewhere: that living in irrational fear of terrorists and sacrificing our liberties and all of our other national goals in their name is the approach of hysterics and cowards, not of a strong, courageous and resolute nation.

Like beaten Rottweilers that piss on the floor at the mere sight of their angry masters, conservatives around the country (and on this site) claim to be so tough in the face of terrorism, yet it is they who cling to the notion that fear trumps everything in America when security becomes an issue.

Liberty, The Constitution, The Rule of Law, you name it, they'll happily give it up if you'll just pretty please make sure that the bad people won't blow them up.

No American institution is sacred when the shit hits the fan.

The best example that I can think of is the Bush Administration insisting that the Iraqi people bow to no terrorist as their nation is rebuilt, while simultaneously urging Americans to douse their drawers and cower in the name of national security whenever their civil rights become a hindrance in their desire to expand their powers.

I think this country can defeat terrorism AND maintain it's stature as a proud, respected, and virtuous model for the rest of the world.

But hey, that's just me...
- posted by Brian @ 12:41 PM