As a Canadian mouse living beside the American elephant, my take on the dullness of discourse that happens in the American main stream psyche is that they are like a gigantic booster club, generating a spirit of exceptionalism, that somehow character, ideas, and spirit are just inherently better in the USA than anywhere else in the world.
But, in order to maintain this foggy myth, the American mainstream mind finds it necessary to block out anything foreign, and anything that might call into question this mindless mantra. The members of the Rotary Club ignore what is happening in the Lions Club. So, the media, in order to maintain their prime product, advertising, continue not to inform, but to stroke the masses to maintain the myth. There is something more sinister going on though, a cultural myopia to reality, and the lack of courage to challenge the status quo. Think of the USA as a large service club, started under the auspices of a profound and great charter, the Declaration of Independence, that has allowed itself to nudge, cajole , and often twist its Charter into something that the founding fathers would cry out against in alarm. Mythology can be dangerous. An example is the constant clamour I hear from Americans about our so called "socialist" health care system here in Canada. I always counter with " Socialized health care? But what about the socialized sidewalks I see all over the USA....? The government takes tax dollars from you, builds the sidewalks, and lets poor people and rich walk side by side on them." The most difficult chore for all of us cultivate a desperate need for the truth. And to learn to accept what we find. Gary Elliott . ----- Original Message ----- From: "Essie Hull" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Sunday, September 08, 2002 3:15 PM Subject: Re: OT:FW: [globalnews] 100 jets join attack on Iraq > I'm asking if he's written anything since he wrote 9-11. To my knowledge, > that was published in the US. I've been looking for something from him any > day now since Bush et al went so unabashedly off the deep end and our > freedoms vanish by the moment. > Essie > > At 02:49 PM 09/08/02 -0400, you wrote: > >>At 09:40 AM 09/08/02 -0700, you wrote: > >> > >>>Also, as far as North America is concerned, Chomsky's book, published in > >>>Britain, does not exist. No publisher in the US was willing to publish it. > >>>It is highly critical of US gov't policies. > >>>Michael > >>>----- Original Message ----- > >> > >>All of Chomsky's many books are highly critical of US gov't policies. Is > >>this a new book (written after his book: 9-11) and, if so, what's the title? > >>Essie > > > >If it is the book 9-11, I picked that one up at Borders -Allan > > >
