Dadaisms

This post was taken from my Facebook Notebook. Read it and its comments here.

It recently came to my attention that some conservative Americans were offended by my last note on my views on the Great US of A. Shame.

The fact that certain Americans are not willing to engage in debate and discussions about the current world situation illustrates the exact point that I was making in my previous note. I find it ironic that a country that allegedly prides itself on individuality and freedom of speech produces such narrow-minded, sheltered, patriotic and arrogant people.

I have always been against patriotism, perhaps for the reason that I consider myself to have an average intellect - I do not simply accept things people say is true and good and proper as the “truth”.

Yes, I’m in full agreement of being supportive of a cause or performing a “duty” that you feel is your responsibility, obviously within ethical boundaries.

However, I fail to see the democratic, intelligent and logical reasoning behind blindly supporting someone or something: I fail to see how any intelligent being can whole-heartedly justify their undying support for someone, regardless of the circumstances surrounding that someone or the consequences their actions may lead to.

For those proud Americans who were offended, I advise you to stop criticising and open your eyes. Look around you. See where the world is headed. After doing so, if you can honestly say to yourself that “yes, I support everything my country does and stands for”, with no hint of moral or ethical questioning, then I shall pay more heed to your comments.

Until then, try to grasp the concepts of democracy and debate. It is, after all, what your country is apparently all about.

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This post was taken from my Facebook page. Click here to read it.

The American way of life and the American ideology is infuriating. The nation as a whole seeps arrogance and boasts a superiority complex that casts shame on the notions of democracy, freedom and equality.

We’re all sick of the Iraq situation: we’re pounded with images, we’re pounded with anti-war sentiments. However, I cannot help but feel a constant dread when thinking about the future, considering how trigger-happy the superpower seems to be. The war on Iraq on the whole cannot be justified: the invasion had little, if not nothing, to do with 9/11. Similarly, America is not the watchdog of the world: they have no right to infringe on another country’s sovereignty.

Some Americans I have met have had the audacity to say to me that I have no right to comment on the situation, as I am not an American citizen. For some bizarre reason unknown to any intelligent human (George W thus excluded), such people feel that America’s actions do not affect my - our - every day life.

To such narrow-minded and pathetically simplistic ideas I reply: when America is no longer part of the global community; when America’s actions do not affect OUR economy; when America’s actions do not affect my senses of morality; and when America’s actions do not cross international borders, THAT is when I will refrain from having an opinion.

Until such time, I retain the right to be as outspoken and anti-American as I so wish. Obviously, the Patriot Act (so constitutional it makes Mugabe look like a Saint) will disagree with me there. I do not agree with acts of violence. I do not support “terrorism”, no matter which side it is coming from. After all, to many people in the world America is a country of terrorism. Nonetheless, I do not condone any militant action: human life is finite and fragile, and no utilitarian ideology should assume that it has the right to take away such life.

Whilst waffling about Iraq, I pose this question to Americans: why has the government forbidden images of dead American troops being shown on National television? I assume that they want to avoid another Vietnam situation - the government realises the immorality of its actions, and in hopes of preventing total social revolution, it hides the truth.

Odd. The hiding of truth seems to be a recurring feature in American tactics and history.

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