Why They Hate Us (UPDATE: Not Emasculated, Just Immature)
I would be embarassed, as a grown man, to write something like this.
I will not pay my income tax if we go to war with Iran. I realize this is a desperate and perhaps futile gesture. But an attack on Iran—which appears increasingly likely before the coming presidential election—will unleash a regional conflict of catastrophic proportions. This war, and especially Iranian retaliatory strikes on American targets, will be used to silence domestic dissent and abolish what is left of our civil liberties. It will solidify the slow-motion coup d’etat that has been under way since the 9/11 attacks. It could mean the death of the Republic.
…
I will put the taxes I owe in an escrow account. I will go to court to challenge the legality of the war. Maybe a courageous judge will rule that the Constitution has been usurped and the government is guilty of what the postwar Nuremberg tribunal defined as a criminal war of aggression. Maybe not. I do not know. But I do know this: I have friends in Tehran, Gaza, Beirut, Baghdad, Jerusalem and Cairo. They will endure far greater suffering and deprivation. I want to be able, once the slaughter is over, to at least earn the right to ask for their forgiveness.
There is no way a man with a normal amount of testosterone in his system and even the tiniest amount of self-worth would write something that whiny and puling. I feel the need to watch four hours of naked women driving monster trucks over stacks of exploding cars just to get back the masculinity that reading those whimpering paragraphs leeched from me.
And the best part? That guy was the New York Times Middle East Bureau Chief in the 1990s. He came in contact with all sorts of movers and shakers in the region. I suppose now we can they all think we’re a bunch of simpering milquetoasts who can be cowed into submission by a few beheadings and car bombs. What else were they to think of us when what they regularly saw every day of Americans were “journalists” like that guy and State Department officials who make Emo Phillips look like Chuck Norris.
You want to know why people in the Middle East hate us? Look no farther than those two godawful paragraphs and the self-contempt they contain.
UPDATE: Maha says I’ve confused “adolescent posturing with manhood” and you know something? She’s absolutely correct. I had thought that the original paragraphs were written by a horribly emasculated man but they obviously weren’t. They were written by someone who has never matured past his own adolescent self-centeredness and need for attention. As I re-read them, I can see the same poochy lip and jutting chin a 13 year-old boy gets when you tell him that he can’t have what he wants in the store or that he can’t go play with his friends because he has homework to do. Hedges’ words aren’t those of a man bereft of manliness; they are of a petulant teenager angry at the grown-ups.
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Category: Moonbat Nonsense, Oh, THAT liberal media., The Long War Here At Home
That paragraph following the quote is classic. I laughed so hard I woke up my wife. I had read the same nutroot quote a couple of days ago but didn't realize the depth of this poor schleps immasculinazation. So, on that note, and since I woke my wife up, time to perform my husbandly duties.
Let's see now. One man defies the IRS as an act of conscience. Another man sees this and feels the need for porn. Yet it is the second one who thinks the first one is unmanly.
It depends on what you think a man is, and what you think character is. In particular, is random aggression a sign of strength or of weakness?
[...] Another rightie who confuses adolescent posturing with manhood. Spotlight [...]
Yes, paradoctor. You are correct. Again, you guys on the left are making all sorts of graet observations today!
As for your question, I prefer not to waste time on it, since it's not particularly german to my post.
Jimmie, paradoctor's question of what you think a man is, is completely germaine to your post. I'll explain what you're trying to avoid:
Your idea of a man is someone who thinks with his little head (and you know exactly what I mean by that). Someone who wants to kill and destroy (and fuck) without any thought to the consequences. It is completely brainless. You and I both knew a lot of guys like this in high school.
The man who thinks for himself – using that thing on top of his neck instead of the testosterone oozing between his legs – is displaying tons more courage in standing up for what he thinks is right – whether you agree with it or not.
Any dickhead can let his little head do the thinking and the acting for him, and you know this as well as I. And you know as well as I the disasters this usually leads to.
By contrast, it takes a real man to use his brain to see what's going on and to stand up for what is right. Especially when this conflicts with what his little head wants him to do. Especially when all around you is madness, raging madmen urging you to disaster. Here's a big hint: who profits from their urgings, their encouragings of your anger, your outrage? Simply follow the money. Think about it (with your big head).
You presume much about what I think, alyosha, but know little. If you want to ask a german question, instead of a leading one, and ask nicely, I might well answer you. But, nice conspiracy flourish at the end, though. You get style points for that.
Here's a bonus thought for you as well. I own my outrage and it is not "encouraged" by anyone. Can you say the same?
"german" refers to your full siblings or an intricate dance for couples. Why do you want german questions when we're talking about someone taking a possibly dangerous stand against the warmongering fool that currently rules the country, and Bush, his sock-puppet.
Now a germane question:
Why is someone expressing his willingness to stand up to authority such a threat to your own manhood that you felt the need for such a pitiful, public disclosure of your immaturity?
LiberalPercy – You need to work on your witty retorts. Was that your "reality based" version of "I know you are, but what am I?".
Yes, I own my own outrage, and I'm glad to read that you do too, or at least you say you do.
However, is it coincidence that this outrage of yours is exactly what the powers that be are encouraging? They don't want you to think or question. Just be angry and believe whatever they tell you. You say your outrage is your own, but I doubt it.
You are allowed that doubt, of course. I an equally allowed to doubt that you have any proof that I am not thinking or questioning. In fact, if you've read more than one post on this blog, I'm pretty sure you'd find your doubt misplaced.
Chris Hedge's defiance of the taxman is heavy business, especially if he publishes the fact online. He's taking a real risk; you have to take it seriously. You may question his judgement but it's foolish to doubt his courage.
Jimmie's jesting is just folly. He's taking no risks, so he need not be taken seriously.
It's a matter of maturity.
"You presume much about what I think, alyosha, but know little. If you want to ask a german question, instead of a leading one, and ask nicely, I might well answer you. But, nice conspiracy flourish at the end, though. You get style points for that.
Here’s a bonus thought for you as well. I own my outrage and it is not “encouraged” by anyone. Can you say the same?"
Jimmie
You do not well answer anything, you child, you avoid and rephrase. You try the red herring as well, who givs a fuck about owning outrage, every owns their emotions, dipstick.
Prove that anyone knows little about your spoutings. Answer them directly to prove them wrong. You are so weak, and it is seen by all.
Why don't you engage me, you wimp?
mikmik – I do not engage you because I do not find you worth engaging.
You are right, jimmy, you probably would be embarassed to write something like that. But judging from the rest of what you wrote, it is not because of some sort of a superior claim to manliness. It would appear that you really do mistake an immature young boy's false perceptions of "manliness" for true maturity. Go watch your naked women and monster truck rallies, and leave this business to real men.
This is a reasonable and responsible way to voice an opinion. There was nothing whiney, emasculated, or immature about it. It actually reflects a high level of awareness, intelligence, risk, and overall, maturity. Instead of whining, he is doing the responsible thing and acting on his beliefs.
The title and closing statemtent really are disgusting on multiple levels. First, to say that the entire middle east hates us for any one reason, especialy one like the one you presented, is a horribly reductionist position. Secondly, your reality is entirely turned around if you think that anybody in the middle east would choose to hate another whole group of people (us) based on the rational and logical action of responsibly standing up for ones convictions in protest of our policy in the middle east. Im sure the entire middle east really hates us because of those damn people showing a little backbone through protest of our continued invasion of their countries. Use your brain before you post things. And lastly, I think it is much more likely that your statements would fuel anti-american sentiment across the world than the ones you complain about. You condemn responsible protest in favor of macho bullshit straight from the brain of a not overly-bright teenage boy who just hit puberty and can't control his hormones. Instead of saying something about his position, you take exception with the fact that it is responsible instead of your twisted hyper-masculine view of manliness. As if to say it would be better if he were blowing things up and banging a lot of chicks in protest, because thats what matters.
Respond or do not respond to this as you see fit. You have already shown from previous posts that you have no interest in defending yourself. Not that I can blame you, considering you have such an indefensible position.