Back From the Land of the (sorta) Free, and the Home of the Brave (but terrified)
Well, that was an eye-opener. I spent three weeks at "home" in the midwest after living abroad for a year, and I have to say, it's nice to be back in London. I felt so isolated from the world, and the NEWS! My gosh, the NEWS was NOT news at all! Entertainment, perhaps, Propaganda, definitely, but most certainly not much actual NEWS. Everywhere I looked, there seemed to be indications that the "Terrsts" were coming, they were coming NOW, and if we didn't all submit to invasions of ours and others civil liberties, they were GONNA GIT US! Liberal media bias? Puh-lease. If it existed before, it certainly doesn't now.
Fellow expats (if there are actually are any here and it's not just pro-Bushites ranting), we should be glad to have this opportunity to look at our birthplace with open eyes. The average American living in the U.S. has to search hard and wade through so much to get an inkling of what is happening in the world! Even NPR is much tamer than I remembered.
Due to my marriage to a British man, I am one of those who will probably never move "home". But I'm still concerned for my homeland. I've already sent in my application for an absentee ballot, and I hope all you expats will do the same.
Side note: My brother is here on leave from Iraq, and we went and saw the screening of "Unprecedented", the documentary on the 2000 election. Very critical of both sides. Amazing how so many who've never seen it felt compelled to trash it! But that seems to be the way of the Pro-Bush side, bury everything, hope people forget.
(Luke, when are we all getting together? I feel the need for one of those self-exaulting, liberal back-patting festivals that we're always supposedly having!)
Thanks for this post. It's good to know that I'm not the only one who felt this way last time I was back in the US. I couldn't stomach the TV news, with its pathetic "How Scared Should You Be Today" terrorist alert scale prominently displayed at every second. I was horrified at how frightened people are; how appalling invasions of privacy and denial of civil liberties are now taken for granted and even seen by some as a GOOD thing; and worst of all, how family and friends constantly told me not to criticize Bush or US policy in any public place because--and I am not making this up--they were afraid of "getting on government lists."
Land of the free, indeed.
IMO the terror campaign has been more effective than its perpetrators could have ever imagined. Americans are certainly terrified...not only of "the terrorists," but of each other, and even of their own freedoms (like the freedom to publicly disagree with the government). And because a climate of fear is politically useful, Bush and his cabal have seen to it that America stays terrified.
There's a nice liberal rant to welcome you home. ;^)
Posted by: ebg | January 23, 2004 at 01:10 PM
Regarding people being afraid of "getting on government lists", I find this appalling. Not only the situation which creates such widespread fear, but also the fear itself. It's a self-propagating circle - the more people fear to speak out against the government, the more the government is able to walk all over the public with impunity, and thus become more fearsome.
I was surprised at just how many people warned me of the consequences of even setting up this site, much less getting all the media attention surrounding the protests in November. But I remain to this day unmolested by the FBI or IRS.
Posted by: Luke | January 23, 2004 at 01:31 PM
I completely agree with you Luke I also find the idea of getting on some government list appalling.
Quite honestly I don't see any of that fear maybe I'm just looking in the wrong place.
Posted by: Chrish | January 23, 2004 at 01:51 PM
Good to have you back Sarah and look forward to seeing you. But you know it sounds like you and the other posters who've been home are returning from a pre-end of Cold War Eastern Europe! The idea of people being afraid of what might be overheard and miscontrued and of ending up in a file is entirely reminescent of East Germany and other Iron Curtain countries. If you read any of the literature of that period from those states, you realise how people come to regulate themselves, doing the state's job for them. But that is what we supposedly spent many long years fortifying ourselves against. I wonder if anyone else thinks there are disturbing parallels emerging? From accounts of post 1956 Hungary or post 68 Czechoslovakia, never mind the Soviet Union itself, once people begin to distrust their neighbours and even themselves, then freedom is truly in peril and something else has won. Before someone jumps on me, I'm not saying it's all going to totalitarianism, but using fear as a unifying creed for a nation cannot be right.
Posted by: Alexandra | January 23, 2004 at 06:32 PM
I find it funny when people say, Bush is creating fear and it's good for him politically. Bush didn't hijack 4 planes and crash them killing 3000 people in one day. I know some on this board want to forget that it ever happened and pretend that there is no evil out there.
I live in a highly Arab American community and I don't see or hear about this harrassment that people talk about. You'd think from reading this board that the FBI is breaking into people's home's hourly in every community. I'm not advocating McCarthyism or the black mark in our history when we put Japanese Americans in internment camps. Thankfully we haven't done anything like that. I hope you're not saying liberties are being taken away when you are searched getting on airplanes - or God forbid asked for photo id.
Luke and others have voiced their opinions against the administration and I don't think they are in jail. Are you on a list? Maybe. Have you been arrested or subjected to undue search and seizure? I doubt it.
Posted by: Jim | January 23, 2004 at 08:45 PM
I don't get it - fear? Did anyone notice New Year's at Times Square?
Living in NY and constantly downtown especially around 'ground zero' - I must be missing something?
News? Personally I don't have cable - news is primarily via Internet, newspaper and radio. I did catch NPR recently when they had Triumph the Insult Dog - that was certainly different.
I know Luke mentioned prior to heading to the states that he was concerned of being hassled… I believe Luke got through without a cavity search. In fact – I think his color code came up yellow and got through easily.
I don’t get the crazy propaganda that infiltrates this site.
No wonder the Democrats are going to be crushed this upcoming election. Keep up the present rhetoric and Dems will continue losing power in all levels of the government.
The only Democratic candidate that makes any sense that has some principals and one I may even consider is Joe Lieberman. But we all know why he won’t get nominated.
Maybe all liberals should move to Europe.
God help the Democratic Party!
Posted by: Del | January 24, 2004 at 02:43 AM
"I wonder if anyone else thinks there are disturbing parallels emerging?"
Yes, I do. I'm not sure how far it is going to go--I don't think as far as it did in the Eastern bloc nations--but I find the situation very disturbing. When I was over there, I was somewhat taken aback at how many times I heard the platitude, "Well, if you've nothing to hide, then you've nothing to fear [from the Patriot Act and other intrusive anti-terror measures]."
Such attitudes are the thin end of the wedge which eventually, and with the complicity of the people, permits totalitarianism to take hold.
I wouldn't say that Bush et al. are deliberately trying to install fear as a unifying creed. Even if they are, I don't think the American national character, which is inherently optimistic, will stand for that. Not long-term, anyway. Perhaps I'm too optimistic myself, but I really think that our saving graces as Americans are our generally positive outlook, our future orientation and our willingness to change direction, and that is what will get us our country back when Bush is gone--whether he is gone in 2004 or whether we have to wait until 2008 to get rid of him.
(Remember, Bush will eventually go away. It is merely a matter of the timing.)
What I think Bush &Co are doing is cynically manipulating the public's well-founded fear of further terrorist bombings, so that they can push through a dangerously hawkish foreign agenda and a hard-right domestic agenda. The former was apparent with the Iraq war, which they wanted to prosecute from the day they got into office. By linking it in the public mind with the horrific 9/11 bombings, they were able to go ahead when they might otherwise have met with considerable domestic resistance.
As for the domestic agenda, this Administration (esp. this Attorney General) has attempted to justify many of its actions and policies as being utterly necessary for "national security," and has tried to give the impression that it is both possible and desirable to exchange some of our civil liberties for greater safety.
Again, this is emphatically NOT to say that the US is necessarily becoming a totalitarian state...but it is worth noting that the exchange of democratic freedoms for the promise of protection from a nebulous enemy is one of the first steps down that path. Today in America, it's "the terrorists" or the shadowy "Al-Qaeda." At other times in other places, the nebulous enemy has been called by different names. But it is the same principle, and it's been applied whenever and wherever a leader wishes to gather power to himself (or his party) and to suppress dissent.
Posted by: ebg | January 24, 2004 at 12:13 PM
I do have to say that the terror-threat ticker thing is pretty good at consistently keeping people fearful. You just don't see that thing, not even here in the UK.
It seems very clear to me that Bush exploited our common fears and anxiety regarding September 11 and used it to push along his own agenda. Don´t believe me? Just look at all the alarm signals coming out of the White House pre-Iraq and compare it to reality post-Hussein. What can I say other than, 'I told you so.' Too bad our soldiers keep dying for it.
Posted by: | January 24, 2004 at 05:55 PM
in response to Del's last post: it is obvious that Bush used that fear to drive his Iraq war and the country's backing for it. If you can't see that, then you need to get your head from under the sand.
What if Bush said this:
"Saddam has no WMD's, is not a threat to us, and is well contained by UN sanctions. But he is a bad man and we want to get rid of him so we can secure 'American interests.' It may come at the expense of hundreds of billions of dollars and hundreds of American lives. But in the end, we will be more prosperous and Iraqis free."
Be honest, would you really have supported a war on such honest grounds? Would 85% of America?
as for all liberals going to Europe, how come you didn't leave the US under Clinton? I mean, I can't imagine you being in love with the man. I really disliked the man for some of his things, but I didn't leave the country, nor did I ever say 'love it or leave it.'
Posted by: | January 24, 2004 at 06:13 PM
It's because of the things that President Bush did that we feel safe in the US.
Completely safe – of course not… Ever try crossing the street in mid-town Manhattan – now that’s taking your life into your own hands!
It’s business as usual here in the tri-state area of course with a bit of extra ‘heads-up’.
The point is the majority of Americans are happy that the measures that have been taken were taken as opposed to the last time previous to 9/11 when our towers were hit. Americans are fairly savvy and see a big difference between what Clinton did and what Bush has done.
Actions do speak louder than words…
Posted by: Del | January 24, 2004 at 07:31 PM
As far as liberals going to Europe to live...
It had everything to do with the tone of those (on this site) that have visited here back in the US recently and found things they didn't like - my words were 'maybe' all liberals should move to Europe. It was aimed at those that respond on this site.
If you're happy with miserable economies - medical programs that are a complete failure and a socialist state of mind - more power to you! I won’t hold that against you nor do I envy you!
As far as my leaving when Clinton was in power - not my style. I'm one of the ones that while he was in power made sure we Republicans were garnering the power in all other areas of our government while working towards making sure the likes of Clinton were eradicated from our system – eventually. A slow but very well thought out systematic endeavor, which will pay huge dividends for the next 20 years as anyone can plainly see.
As far as the continuing argument on why we went into Iraq, as anyone can see even the Democratic candidates that have any chance are starting to soften up on this issue because they believe that the majority of Americans believe it was the right thing to do.
More and more as the field thins out you’ll see more of a move towards the center because they know they need votes to win an election. As much as I’ve heard on this site – boo you Del, the fact is that in order to win the Democrats are going to have to get more folks to move to their side.
I know it’s a bitch being on the losing side… the main problem the Democrats have is no vision, no resonance with the majority and plain lunacy as being witnessed by all as we gleefully watch the Democrats fight it out!
God how I love my country!
Posted by: Del | January 24, 2004 at 08:24 PM
the hypocracy of the Republicans is boundless, I'm sorry to say.
Posted by: | January 25, 2004 at 08:09 AM
the hypocracy of the Republicans is boundless, I'm sorry to say.
Posted by: | January 25, 2004 at 08:10 AM
LOL!!! Actually the hypocricy of both sides is boundless.
However, at this particuler juncture of time space the majority of the People stand behind our President. like it or not. That doesn't mean it will be forever just, at this particular moment in time the majority are behind him.
Tomorrow, next week, next year, 4 years from now that could change. The point is, whether you like it or not, the majority of the people are in support of Our President.
That, ladies & gentlemen, is Democracy at work. Like it or not.
Posted by: Chrish | January 25, 2004 at 11:19 PM
Let's hear it for Democracy and Free speech. Something some people on this board had hoped the Iraqi's would never have.
Posted by: Jim | January 26, 2004 at 04:20 AM
For those who continue to profess the "majority" supports this President, I recommend you start to pay more attention to the mood on the street and also check this week's Newsweek.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/4049942/
A "majority" of those asked want him gone, at least for the moment. I think there is some ongoing confusion between a general support for the country which all naturally patriotic Americans espouse to in times like these, and a specific support for this particular president or his policies. I think a true majority is not happy with much of what he is doing.
Do not misconstrue this posting, anything can happen in the next several months, or minutes, but I think it is not a strongly supported position to continue insisting, ad infinitum, that a "majority" are so happy with bush that we may as well not even bother having an election. (I believe this is called 'hyperbole').
Posted by: Daniel | January 26, 2004 at 03:28 PM
My bad Daniel, when I said the "majority of the people" stand with Our President that was in reference to the war on terrorism and in Iraq. My apologies for not being more specific.
Your article does say exactly what you say it does but, there are no specific's as to which policies are or are not supported. It only states that a majority of people who were sampled are in disagreement with Bush's policies but, doesn't give any specifics on which policies they are in disagreement with. It also doesn't provide the questions that were asked but, it would be nice to see what the breakout was or which policies they are in disagreement.
I, for one, if asked would say I disagree with the President's policy on the Environment, the opening of the Alaska wilderness for exploitation, his proposed policy on Amnesty, excuse me, I believe it's referred to as Immigration Reform, and his policy or lack of one on Energy.
The opposite holds true as regards the war on terrorism and the war in Iraq as well as his policy on education.
Posted by: Chrish | January 26, 2004 at 09:10 PM
Sorry for any misunderstanding Chrish, I was not actually directing that comment to you. You're generally fair in your comments.
Posted by: Daniel | January 26, 2004 at 10:45 PM
Daniel,
If you ask your friends what they think they will tend to agree with you in most instances. You know, like minded people tend to stick together. Also, never underestimate the silent majority. I expect it will be a close race as most have been since Reagan II. The left wing tends to be more vocal, but that doesn't mean there are more of them.
Posted by: Jim | January 26, 2004 at 11:02 PM
Daniel, it's cool. It's difficult trying to put down all of one's thoughts so that they're coherent, consistent, meaningful, and understandable let alone make any sense..
I know many time's I've posted here and on going back, after posting, wonder to myself what the H__l was I trying to say? Looks like a lot of rambling..... Most embarrassing.... :o)
Posted by: Chrish | January 27, 2004 at 12:45 AM
Our government is acting responsibly in regards to the Patriot Act as much as you liberals yell about the sky falling. Of course none of you appreciate that the government is protecting even you!
Funny how this article about the Patriot Act didn't make headlines...
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A54142-2004Jan27.html?nav=hptoc_n
Posted by: Del | January 29, 2004 at 01:17 AM
Del,
The link you posted isn't working can you confirm the URL and repost it?
Posted by: Chrish | January 29, 2004 at 04:10 AM
Well!
This thread is refreshing for the most part. I am not an expatriot nor do I live abroad, but I still feel Bush is enabling a "New McCarthyism" via the media and furthering his own political agenda, not that of the voting public. It's scary that American citizens can be held indefinately with no rights or legal recourse as long as they are percieved as having consorted with "terrorists". Pretty soon any anti-administration activity will be percieved as "pro-terrorist" and will forfeit their constitutional rights. Scary huh? My father fought for all the rights Bush is giving away. So did his own father. Wassup with that? Pretty soon all the outspoken folks like me will be sent to the Gulag ...umm I mean Guantanamo.....for "pro-terrorist ideation". Gawd I never thought I'd live to see the day. No wonder the world hates us. God help us all.
Posted by: Drew L | July 07, 2004 at 10:02 AM
Drew,
this thread is back from January. Try this one next time to get to the uptodate one:
http://expatsagainstbush.typepad.com/home/
Posted by: | July 07, 2004 at 03:05 PM