politics
So I Was Wrong
Regarding "So I was wrong:"
Yeah, so I had the same feeling. What if that asshole was right? What if it all worked out and his whole grand plan ended Islamic terrorism as we know?
Yeah, I opposed the war from the beginning, and I felt I was right. I questioned myself after the fall of Bahgdad. I questioned myself after Saddam was captured.
But after the Elections, I had that sinking feeling again. What if these lying pieces of shit were right all along? I decided to wait. I am still waiting for the real truth to the outcome of the Elections.
But this time is different. I still hate this war, and I disagree with everything that led up to it, but I still feel like in order for me to feel good, America has to lose. For the first time, I feel like I understand that classic right wing criticism that the "left" (or me) is rooting against America. Before, I didn't feel that. But those dark thoughts entered my head before the elections where I thought, "this is going to be a fucking disaster." I feel bad about that. I feel like a squishy, dumb, mealy-mouthed liberal about that. I feel like I've been placed where I have to literally root against America in order to feel good. And that confirms every single right wing criticism since 9/11. Hell, that confirms Ann Coulter. I don't hate America. I hate this war, and I hate my President. But, politically, that doesn't seem to matter.
I have this feeling that we'll learn within the next few weeks that the elections weren't so "peachy keen." We'll learn that things actually aren't that great and that Iraq is still a hellhole.
But, I can't feel better about that. But, I know it's not about me, but still, I feel defeated.
Jeff
Heidi Julavits
from: Flannery Dean
Neal,
Thank you for feeling as contemptuous of the opinions expressed by Heidi Julavits in today's Salon circle jerk (is this going to become a regular feature of the site? A daily poll of patronizing reactionaries?) as I did. She and her "Italian friend" are silly people and I hope they realize it before they go a-knockin' on the doors of the immoral, brain dead mob they confidently consider themselves above. Heidi Julavits likes to play teacher in her essays but like all bad teachers she offers little in the way of instruction or contradiction. She's a scold and a drip and it is infuriating to read her thoughts on any subject. Lower your petticoat, Heidi; now's not the time for your tears.
I felt sick when George W. was re-elected (and I am Canadian!), not only because I feel he is unfit to lead but because it seemed to me that it revealed how truly terrified Americans are of the world they find themselves in. Too scared to vote for Kerry, too scared not to vote for George Bush seems like a more apt analysis of the situation than "medieval". I don't think it would hurt Salon writers to mingle with the other half of the voting population--you know the people who don't work at Salon?--not as earnest advocates for moral change but as equally flawed human beings
looking for a way through the shitstorm.
