From one of Andrew Sullivan's readers:
What this horrible McCain/Palin campaign is doing is reminiscent of the worst of the 1930s. Whipping uneducated, mindless acolytes into a violent — perhaps literally — frenzy, stirring fear and playing our citizens against themselves and each other. . . .And Sullivan's response:
I've never been an alarmist nor someone to lean towards the melodramatic, but am I wrong in feeling as though our governmental system and very freedom could be at stake in the coming weeks? This terrifies me, and has prompted me to act.
I have faith in the American people. They'll see through this to what we need, and make the best choice available. They made the right choice in the 1930s, unlike many other nations. They will make the right choice again. If I didn't have that faith, I wouldn't have the hope I feel.When cries of "Terrorist!" and "Kill him!" can be heard at political rallies, I know that our country is in great danger. But I think I know who'll be elected next month.
The only response to this fear-mongering is hope-mongering, a pride in America's resilience, a confidence in her inventiveness, and a determination to get to the ballot box. This is not an election you can sit out. This is an election where we all have to take a stand, including the press. Too much is in peril for a false neutrality.
comments: 2
I appreciate your being unmanly enough to admit to your fear. Oh wait, that's Andrew doing that. Or wait, no, one of his readers. Anyway, I'm unmanly enough to do that too. In such dark hours, I like to turn to Jim Kunstler, with the fairly firm belief that although he's brilliant (and fun to read, in a sick kind of way) things never seem to get quite as bad as he says they will.
Ah, The Geography of Nowhere — thanks, Macon. I haven't thought of that book in a while.
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