Sunday, July 1, 2007

Grudges

One thing that never ceases to disgust me is how some incredibly comfortable North Americans feel that they can tell the victims of Western violence to renounce vengeance, and instead focus on rebuilding their countries, or slavishly support some Western-backed "moderate" puppet who does what we tell him to do, and essentially to just smile and take whatever we dish out.

However, whenever we get inconvenienced, like say, whenever First Nations protesters and activists block a road, occupy some land they have a claim to, ... comfortable North Americans (in this case Canadians) become enraged. They holler for the police to forcibly dismantle the occupation or blockade and arrest the perpetrators and generally bust heads.

Or, when the USA was attacked on 9-11, was there a nation-wide sentiment to remain peaceful, to embrace Christ's teachings perhaps and espouse forgiveness against trespassers? Did we (as a society) sagely intone how violence never solves anything ("An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind.") and etc., the way we always counsel people like this to?

Of course we didn't. Instead, the United States lashed out madly in all directions, judging anyone who didn't support their military vengeance as being their enemy, and therefore deserving of similar treatment themselves. Wouldn't it be neat if every country in the world went around targeting any other country that didn't take a side in their disputes?

It's just childish hypocrisy, but when it's a super-power that's engaging in it, it becomes dangerous. And when the blood spilled as a result of this stupid petulance approaches oceanic proportions, to hear these sentiments expressed by cossetted North American consumers becomes utterly sickening.

4 comments:

Unknown said...

You have probably read this on CC, but I thought you would like to see this. It goes well with the aboriginal part of your post.

I love it when people start to think.

http://www.dustmybroom.com/?p=7003

thwap said...

I saw that. I'd never liked "dust my broom" (when I'd had such high hopes for it given its title).

I'll say this: I sincerely believe that you're more likely to find genuine anti-racists on the left.

It has something to do with compassion for the oppressed that is part of the Left end of the spectrum.

The right-wing has picked up superficially on only two forms of anti-racism: Reflexive cries of "reverse racism," (when white men get ripped-off) and a convenient sensitivity towards "anti-Semetism" (which runs the gamut from definite hatred of Jews to legitimate criticism of Israeli policies).

Polly Jones said...

hi thawp,

interesting entry.

i'm tagging you with a meme...please participate if you like...

http://marginalnotes.typepad.com/pj/

thwap said...

I'll try to think of 8 people. A lot of BnR'rs have done this already.