Ashamed To Be American
I have often suggested that we are more civilized than the people we are supposed to be liberating. Since no photos have yet surfaced of Iraqi detainees being decapitated, we may still claim that distinction—but by a margin that is shrinking rapidly.
Moslems claim that the U.S. is an empire ruled by Satan, and that our influence in the world only leads to perversion, immorality and cultural degeneracy.
I still disagree with the first proposition; if Satan champions any cause, it is that of people who cut off people’s heads while wearing masks. However, I am beginning to come around to their way of thinking on the second proposition.
Far too many Americans have been desensitized to the concept of human dignity, which is why young soldiers act like drunken dullards on Spring Break. It wasn’t so much that they were humiliating and terrorizing their prisoners—orders or no orders; it was that they were enjoying it.
As Americans we are still free to sink to the lowest common denominator of taste and sensitivity, and this is as it should be. But something has gone terribly wrong, and blame must be placed.
Therefore, I blame the influence of mass media phenomena such as MTV and Temptation Island. I blame parents for sharing the same warped values, or for failing to recognize their influence. I blame the schools, and the churches—which apparently are doing no better.
Most of all, I blame everyone who has had a hand in perpetuating the myth of American moral superiority. Slavery, disenfranchisement, assassination, genocide and persecution are part of our history. Self-righteousness, greed, rudeness and impetuosity mark our behavior. Together, history and behavior have painted for the rest of the world a portrait of our national character.
We are a nation of hypocrites and I am ashamed. And I will continue to be ashamed, at least until we have new leaders.
Moslems claim that the U.S. is an empire ruled by Satan, and that our influence in the world only leads to perversion, immorality and cultural degeneracy.
I still disagree with the first proposition; if Satan champions any cause, it is that of people who cut off people’s heads while wearing masks. However, I am beginning to come around to their way of thinking on the second proposition.
Far too many Americans have been desensitized to the concept of human dignity, which is why young soldiers act like drunken dullards on Spring Break. It wasn’t so much that they were humiliating and terrorizing their prisoners—orders or no orders; it was that they were enjoying it.
As Americans we are still free to sink to the lowest common denominator of taste and sensitivity, and this is as it should be. But something has gone terribly wrong, and blame must be placed.
Therefore, I blame the influence of mass media phenomena such as MTV and Temptation Island. I blame parents for sharing the same warped values, or for failing to recognize their influence. I blame the schools, and the churches—which apparently are doing no better.
Most of all, I blame everyone who has had a hand in perpetuating the myth of American moral superiority. Slavery, disenfranchisement, assassination, genocide and persecution are part of our history. Self-righteousness, greed, rudeness and impetuosity mark our behavior. Together, history and behavior have painted for the rest of the world a portrait of our national character.
We are a nation of hypocrites and I am ashamed. And I will continue to be ashamed, at least until we have new leaders.
posted by John Marsh at 8:11 AM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home