(no subject)

[fpb]

Anyone who thinks that I was too harsh about Jonah Goldberg's repulsive and politically motivated rewriting of my own country's history ought to read today's Thomas Sowell column, where it is taken entirely at its own valuation and highly recommended as summer reading for the children of conservatives. This unhistorical, culturally imperialistic propaganda, that distorts my country's and my continent's history in the service of provincial American concerns, is going to enter the bloodstream of a whole American party, If it has not already done so. This will increase further the mutual incomprehension between USA and Europe, because you cannot stand on your two hind legs and inform anyone who knows anything of continental history - France, Italy, Germany, etc. - that Nazism and Fascism were "left wing". This sort of rubbish, especially if spoken with the arrogance of Goldberg and Sowell, will increase European contempt for American viewpoints and culture. Do we really need this sort of trash further complicating our already difficult relationship, and all for the sake of a few Republican votes in the next election?

Comments

[dustthouart.livejournal.com]

You can't really think that Goldberg et alia are calling Fascism and Communism left-wing for that reason, can you? No, they are calling them left-wing because they wish to call all bad and unpopular political philosophies left-wing.

I think this is a horrible idea for many reasons, not least of which that the concept that going into opposite extremes can have identical results is a profound truth that every person needs to carry in his or her heart. To lie and say "Well they are all left-wing and we right-wingers have no such tendencies" is dangerous.

[fpb.livejournal.com]

And I heard it said - by a convert from the left. Immediately after, I found an atrocious instance of mob behaviour in a right-wing site. This was my comment: http://fpb.livejournal.com/278501.html.