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A New Hope 2003-03-20

I don't know. Maybe democracy isn't as dead as I thought. As anti-war demonstrators protest across the country, I have to marvel at the amazing foresight of the Founding Fathers, despite (or maybe because of) their incredible cynicism. The Constitution and the Bill of Rights were targeted precisely against petty tyrants like Richard M Nixon and George W Bush, and I have a feeling that even in these dark times, the Spirit of Freedom will be pretty hard to extinguish.

But, yes, the struggle is only beginning.

So far, though, it seems to me that the average thinking American (despite my cynicism, this is not necessarily an oxymoron) understands that this war has at least two sides to it, and that it is possible to be patriotic while questioning the motives of our (in theory) popularly elected leaders. If we are really fighting for freedom, then, by all means, we must celebrate our freedom, which includes freedom of expression. To do otherwise is to be hypocritical. And, frankly, if you don't believe in Freedom, then, in point of fact, you are a traitor to the nation, as far as I'm concerned.

But the parallels with the late 19th century/early 20th century are eerie. (I am not even going to talk about how this looks like 1939, except that we might actually be on the wrong side this time.) In the same way that "Remember the Maine" became the catch phrase in support of the Spanish-American War, despite the fact that no one ever proved that it was Spain that had blown up the U.S. battleship, it is disturbing how "Remember September 11" has somehow become attached to Operation Decapitation, despite the fact that no link between Saddam Hussein and Al Qaeda has ever been demonstrated.

We will leave it at that.

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