Here’s the post by Bob Morris at Polizeros, a far-left (relative to US politics anyways, socialist) site that comments on technology (especially blogging), grassroots politics, US/international politics, and environmentalism. He takes some time to cover some very under-reported topics such as Hawaiian independence as well. Props to Bob for actually trying to abide by Fair Use rules and not copying other blogs posts/electronic media verbatim at great length in his own blog. Unbelievably rare to see.
He makes an interesting point regarding the propensity for some to respond not to the nature of a conflict, but to George W. Bush’s side on a conflict, assuming that he is alwasy in the wrong (a fairly successful heuristic, but still an intellectual farce). I felt the need to come to the defence of these poor GWB-Hatas though and commented to his post.
To quote myself (am I breaking Bob Morris’ rights to the comments I made on his site? Am I violating Fair Use? I guess I should have posted on my blog first, before commenting on his, just to be safe):
“I agree wholeheartedly with your post and the quote, yet I feel you’re missing an important possible factor:
Put your own house in order.I believe a lot of the (apparently) ‘reactionary left’ aren’t simply believers in US super-hegemony, or that the US is the epitome and source of all international strife, but that as US citizens, or citizens of the western world, they are responsible for the actions of their democratic governments and therefore incumbent to react against even the minor missteps their country makes.
I don’t ascribe this feeling to all who you describe in your post, but I really do believe that’s a component to the thinking of many, and the prime motivator for some. And doesn’t it make sense to use your leverage as a voting US citizen to try to right the heading of your nation, rather than make almost-entirely-futile gestures against a foreign nation that may be more at fault?
btw, I have been reading your blog for a long time and it is partially the reason why I decided to start my own lately. I can’t say I consider myself totally simpatico with your thinking, but I certainly wouldn’t have known about WordPress without your endorsement and example.”
… and the cow goes moo
Should I feel guilty I’m kinda hoping I get more attention for my own blog (which I didn’t even start with the intention of it being read) because I posted in his?
Polizeros is a great sort of “engadget” or “gizmodo” site for important environmental technology though. And I’m comforted by the idea that not all socialists are driving Lexuses right now, or screaming at cats.
… the metacow
Thanks for the nice words about Polizeros. I guess my point is, since no one is worth defending there, to call for a stand down by all.
BTW, your blog is new, it takes a while to build readership. It’s on WordPress.com, so Google will index it, but Google also does not fully index new sites for a few months until they are sure it’s not a spam blog.
The best way to build readers is by quality posts and by making intelligent comments elsewhere, both of which you’re already doing.
Thanks for the advice, Bob.
I can certainly agree to an extent anyway that Russia and USA aren’t really worth defending in this conflict, but my point really wasn’t about which nation was right or wrong, but just about the motivations of those who appear to have “knee jerk reactions” to Bush’s policies by being critical of him and the USA.
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