Alterman's latest

[Luke Weiger]

I had read that article as soon as it was made available.  I believe that I already drew the relevant distinction in a previous post: he thinks that some leftists are unable to see the existence of the positive aspects of American political culture because of their ideological blinders; not that leftists disdain the social justice etc.

-- Luke

  ----- Original Message ----- 

  From: SergioL652 at aol.com 

  To: lbo-talk at lists.panix.com 

  Sent: Monday, October 29, 2001 6:57 AM

  Subject: Re: Alterman's latest

  In a message dated 10/28/01 8:33:26 PM Eastern Standard Time, lweiger at umich.edu writes:

    I don't think Alterman ever implied that leftists share the Taliban's

    disdain for things like civil liberties, social justice struggles, etc. etc.

    That some leftists may hate America as surely as some right wingers do

    hardly seems controversial.

  >From Eric Alterman's "Patriot Games" Nation Article October 29 2001

  Of course, not everyone on the left concurs. While many nonpatriots share an idealistic

     belief in a kind of cosmopolitan, humanist internationalism, some--like Jerry Falwell and

     Pat Robertson on the right--really do hate this country. These leftists find nothing to admire

     in its magnificent Constitution; its fitful history of struggle toward greater freedom for

     women, minorities and other historically oppressed groups; and its values, however

     imperfectly or hypocritically manifested in everyday life. This became obvious in a few of

     the immediate reactions we heard in the wake of September 11. How could anyone say

     with certainty why we were attacked when we couldn't be sure who attacked us? All they

     could know, really, is why they thought we deserved it. 
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <../attachments/20011029/0c75a88c/attachment.htm>