Saturday, July 05, 2003

THE GREATEST NATION

Thanks to Evil Bus Driver for pulling me up on calling the USA the "Greatest Nation on Earth". Perhaps I got a bit too carried away with the 4th of July and all that. Maybe I was missing a hot and humid day in DC with a beer in one hand and a flag in the other. I do have a great respect for Americans and the American way. On the whole, I still believe that America is great. I did point out that there is a lot wrong with things - US foreign policy, the often vindictive penal system etc.

Bill also has a couple of links worth reading. First this Jimmy Breslin piece. The police state reaction by law enforcement agencies in the US post- 11 September is a worrying sign for democracy. In the UK we went part the way down this road with Diplock courts (ie no right to trial by jury) and internment as a reaction to the "Troubles". Our current Home Secretary shows signs of wanting to impose other very reactionary measures in the name of combatting terrorism.

Following on from that, this kids don't know nothing article is another distrubing piece. I know these kind of surveys pop out from time-to-time and a lot of it is designed for articles in newspapers. But, you gotta wonder if there is a relationship between kids knowing nothing about democracy and the rise of Ashcroft, Blunkett and the creeping police state.

Thanks, Bill.

PS - For those of you who don't know, Breslin is widely regarded as one of the greatest American newspaper writers of all time. Glad to see him still in action.

:: Posted by pete @ 16:53