POL America--encomia
The Sanity Inspector
relationship with the US. Whenever a serious crisis erupts somewhere,
our dependence on the US becomes obvious, and many hate the US because
of it. That the hatred is irrational is beside the point.
We can denounce the Yanks for being Muslim-hating flouters of
international law while demanding the US rescue Bosnian Muslims from
Serbia without UN authority. We can be disgusted by crass American
materialism and ridiculous stockpiling of worldly goods yet also be
the first to demand material help from the US when disaster strikes.
The really unfortunate part about this adolescent love-hate
relationship with the US is that, unlike most teenagers, many never
seem to grow out of it. Within each new generation is a vicious strain
of irrational anti-Americanism. But unlike a parent, the US could just
get sick of it all and walk away. [...]
None of this is to say the US does not deserve loud and frequent
criticism. No country has as many or as strident critics - internally
and externally - as the US. The US actually promotes such debate. But
just occasionally we should moderate that criticism when circumstances
demand a dose of fairness.
Indeed, why not break into a standing ovation every now and again? As
more US C-130s and helicopters stand waiting on Burma's doorstep,
desperate to help a shattered populace and stymied only by an
appalling anti-US regime, this is one of those times.
Let's hear it for America.
-- Janet Albrechtsen, "Credit Where It's Due", The Australian, May 14,
2008
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,23693121-7583,00.html
--
bruce
The dignified don't even enter in the game.
-- The Jam