A Scary New Century
via Betsy's Page, http://betsyspage.blogspot.com/2004/10/one-german-historian-and-journalist.html
I think those of us who think about such things, have thought this for a long time:
If my Michael Moore-obsessed fellow German countrymen were honest, they would admit that what really frightens them is this dangerous new century we have just entered and the scary glimpses we have had of it so far. Throughout the Cold War, many Germans were used to having it easy and both ways: staging demonstrations against "U.S. imperialism" while at the same time enjoying the protection of the Pax Americana. Wealth and security were guaranteed, and the United States footed most of the security bill. What a wonderful world. Now the future does not look so wonderful any longer: global terrorism, nuclear weapons, Islamist extremism and failing states just across the Mediterranean Sea.
Deep in their hearts most Germans feel that they are out of their depth and that their country cannot cope. Small wonder they would rather close their eyes and simply make the 21st century go away. Hardly surprising that many of them are angry about a man who refuses to trade in illusions and forces them to face the real world like President Bush. That is what the presidential election of 2004 is about: facing the real world. I still remember the elation I felt when reading for the first time those lines in one of Mr. Bush's stirring speeches in the weeks and months after September 11: "We' re enforcing the doctrine that says this: If you harbor the terrorists, you're guilty of terror. And like the terrorists you will be held responsible." The Bush doctrine had been overdue for almost 30 years.
[...] Read the whole thing
I think those of us who think about such things, have thought this for a long time:
If my Michael Moore-obsessed fellow German countrymen were honest, they would admit that what really frightens them is this dangerous new century we have just entered and the scary glimpses we have had of it so far. Throughout the Cold War, many Germans were used to having it easy and both ways: staging demonstrations against "U.S. imperialism" while at the same time enjoying the protection of the Pax Americana. Wealth and security were guaranteed, and the United States footed most of the security bill. What a wonderful world. Now the future does not look so wonderful any longer: global terrorism, nuclear weapons, Islamist extremism and failing states just across the Mediterranean Sea.
Deep in their hearts most Germans feel that they are out of their depth and that their country cannot cope. Small wonder they would rather close their eyes and simply make the 21st century go away. Hardly surprising that many of them are angry about a man who refuses to trade in illusions and forces them to face the real world like President Bush. That is what the presidential election of 2004 is about: facing the real world. I still remember the elation I felt when reading for the first time those lines in one of Mr. Bush's stirring speeches in the weeks and months after September 11: "We' re enforcing the doctrine that says this: If you harbor the terrorists, you're guilty of terror. And like the terrorists you will be held responsible." The Bush doctrine had been overdue for almost 30 years.
[...] Read the whole thing
posted by Am I Conservative or Lil' Libertarian? | 3:56 AM
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