Dear Sir,
I have just finished perusing your web site and I must compliment you on a job well done. I am writing from Ireland and I must say that it is very difficult to get an American Republican viewpoint on American affairs. Unfortunately most of what we get fed is from lazy journalists who only take the predominantly Democratic press at face value and rarely go beyond that. What we get therefore is a polarised demonisation of any Republican in the White House and nothing short of sanctified image of any Democratic incumbent. Although I do not agree with you on many points of politics, I commend you for so articulately expressing them.
Indeed, it does my heart good to know that there actually is intelligent debate coming from the American right. Well done!
May I briefly, take you to task on a point raised in April 2004 article regarding the Madrid attacks? Someone seemed to doubt that the validity of the standpoint that Al-Queda and Iraq aren't connected. I am sure that there have been some dealings but at very most on a superficial level. It is well asserted that 1. Iraq never harboured any Al Queda terrorists. 2. That no weapons of mass destruction were ever found.
Just so you know. The general European consensus is that the failure of the intelligence services and flimsy evidence of WMD in aftermath of the Iraq war is purely a PR exercise. Everyone from the start already knew that there were no WMD. There are two basic proofs of this: 1. Dr. Hans Blix (the chief UN weapons inspector already verified this) 2. If Sadam actually had any WMD, dont you think he might have used them against the US led invasion?
Please dont get too annoyed at my argument. This is not my intention. After all, we are all adults engaging in healthy debate, no?
I would also like to add that Ashcroft is stretching things a bit far in trying to find justification in the supposed Islamic "hatred" of Spaniards because they are not Muslims and historical relevance of ownership of "al Andalusia". I have both lived in Spain and travelled extensively throughout Northern Africa. Sir, I can assure you that most people there do not care or want any part of Andalusia. It is firmly Spanish and has been so since 1492. His comparison is tantamount to arguing that Britains hate Americans b/c they no longer control their 13 colonies. Get real! Time passes and people get over things. If this "El Andalus" suggestion of yours held any weight, would you also contend, therefore, that the Algarve (or 'Al Gahraf' in original Arabic form [means towards the west]) is also in the minds of these 'Islamofascists' as they are so conveniently branded?
There is a point I would like to add regarding American viewpoint and media portrayal of post Sept 11th politics. More than ever, your media seems polarised. The country which so extols the virtue of liberty seems hell bent on taking this away from it citizens. E.g. The Patriot Act "Ah yes", I hear the right wing clamour, "But this is a necessary evil". Think logically for a minute... NOTHING HAS GOT BETTER SINCE THIS CRACKDOWN ON TERRORISM. What made America great and Europe great too is that we are free to express our views. I think Voltaire said "I dont agree with what you say, but I would die for your right to say it" Freedom of Speech is the fundamental tenant of any functional democracy. It cant be piecemeal. It's all or nothing.
From having read your website I understand you to be respectful and intelligent people. I'm sure you also find it incredible therefore, that in all practicality, American media is more controlled and manipulated, and ultimately less free nowadays than it was 30 years ago. By anyone's standards this is not Democracy at work. This is not freedom.
Terrorist attacks do not just happen out of madness. I AM NOT JUSTIFYING THEM. But it would be worthwhile not to take the extreme "they are all fascist, terrorist madmen". These people are destitute and fundamentally misguided. Their hatred stems from something. Again I repeat that it is misguided. Nonetheless, put yourself in their position: If you lived in a world where education was sparse, you lived under a corrupt regime, which in some way have a strong link back to an American foreign policy, you would hate America too. There seems to be an inability to see these basic concepts on the part of the US print and TV media. It certainly doesnt further the cause of intelligent debate when you have idiots like Hanratty throwing around one-size-fits-all terms and insults to people such as the closest thing in America to a domestic terrorist. I know that he is trying to be polemic, but that is all he achieves. Certainly media in his vein and supporting his ilk carries no weight over this side of the pond; in fact it is laughed at.
On a final note, could you please answer me the following question that no one here can answer me: Why is the term liberal used in a pejorative sense nowadays in the US? It seems to me that your own country was built on the idea of liberty. What is wrong with someone exercising that right? I heard the other day someone insulting another person (on TV of course) using the term left wing liberal. This is funny in two senses: 1. There is nothing even close to left wing politics in America insofar as the European definition of it goes. (It appears you have two right wing parties: the Democrats who are wavily right of centre, but cant make up there mind about where to stand, or sit, on anything. And the Republicans who are very right wing.) 2. He was insulting him as if there wasnt an inherent right to hold a viewpoint. I am understandably confused and would very much appreciate your musings on the subject.
Lest anyone think that my title was ironic, I genuinely meant it. I was in the USA for the first time in my life last summer. I travelled about a bit and had one of the best holidays ever. You really do have a great country.
Again, well done on the web site. Keep up the good work.
Look forward to hearing from you
Gordon (guy from Ireland)
I have just finished perusing your web site and I must compliment you on a job well done. I am writing from Ireland and I must say that it is very difficult to get an American Republican viewpoint on American affairs. Unfortunately most of what we get fed is from lazy journalists who only take the predominantly Democratic press at face value and rarely go beyond that. What we get therefore is a polarised demonisation of any Republican in the White House and nothing short of sanctified image of any Democratic incumbent. Although I do not agree with you on many points of politics, I commend you for so articulately expressing them.
Indeed, it does my heart good to know that there actually is intelligent debate coming from the American right. Well done!
May I briefly, take you to task on a point raised in April 2004 article regarding the Madrid attacks? Someone seemed to doubt that the validity of the standpoint that Al-Queda and Iraq aren't connected. I am sure that there have been some dealings but at very most on a superficial level. It is well asserted that 1. Iraq never harboured any Al Queda terrorists. 2. That no weapons of mass destruction were ever found.
Just so you know. The general European consensus is that the failure of the intelligence services and flimsy evidence of WMD in aftermath of the Iraq war is purely a PR exercise. Everyone from the start already knew that there were no WMD. There are two basic proofs of this: 1. Dr. Hans Blix (the chief UN weapons inspector already verified this) 2. If Sadam actually had any WMD, dont you think he might have used them against the US led invasion?
Please dont get too annoyed at my argument. This is not my intention. After all, we are all adults engaging in healthy debate, no?
I would also like to add that Ashcroft is stretching things a bit far in trying to find justification in the supposed Islamic "hatred" of Spaniards because they are not Muslims and historical relevance of ownership of "al Andalusia". I have both lived in Spain and travelled extensively throughout Northern Africa. Sir, I can assure you that most people there do not care or want any part of Andalusia. It is firmly Spanish and has been so since 1492. His comparison is tantamount to arguing that Britains hate Americans b/c they no longer control their 13 colonies. Get real! Time passes and people get over things. If this "El Andalus" suggestion of yours held any weight, would you also contend, therefore, that the Algarve (or 'Al Gahraf' in original Arabic form [means towards the west]) is also in the minds of these 'Islamofascists' as they are so conveniently branded?
There is a point I would like to add regarding American viewpoint and media portrayal of post Sept 11th politics. More than ever, your media seems polarised. The country which so extols the virtue of liberty seems hell bent on taking this away from it citizens. E.g. The Patriot Act "Ah yes", I hear the right wing clamour, "But this is a necessary evil". Think logically for a minute... NOTHING HAS GOT BETTER SINCE THIS CRACKDOWN ON TERRORISM. What made America great and Europe great too is that we are free to express our views. I think Voltaire said "I dont agree with what you say, but I would die for your right to say it" Freedom of Speech is the fundamental tenant of any functional democracy. It cant be piecemeal. It's all or nothing.
From having read your website I understand you to be respectful and intelligent people. I'm sure you also find it incredible therefore, that in all practicality, American media is more controlled and manipulated, and ultimately less free nowadays than it was 30 years ago. By anyone's standards this is not Democracy at work. This is not freedom.
Terrorist attacks do not just happen out of madness. I AM NOT JUSTIFYING THEM. But it would be worthwhile not to take the extreme "they are all fascist, terrorist madmen". These people are destitute and fundamentally misguided. Their hatred stems from something. Again I repeat that it is misguided. Nonetheless, put yourself in their position: If you lived in a world where education was sparse, you lived under a corrupt regime, which in some way have a strong link back to an American foreign policy, you would hate America too. There seems to be an inability to see these basic concepts on the part of the US print and TV media. It certainly doesnt further the cause of intelligent debate when you have idiots like Hanratty throwing around one-size-fits-all terms and insults to people such as the closest thing in America to a domestic terrorist. I know that he is trying to be polemic, but that is all he achieves. Certainly media in his vein and supporting his ilk carries no weight over this side of the pond; in fact it is laughed at.
On a final note, could you please answer me the following question that no one here can answer me: Why is the term liberal used in a pejorative sense nowadays in the US? It seems to me that your own country was built on the idea of liberty. What is wrong with someone exercising that right? I heard the other day someone insulting another person (on TV of course) using the term left wing liberal. This is funny in two senses: 1. There is nothing even close to left wing politics in America insofar as the European definition of it goes. (It appears you have two right wing parties: the Democrats who are wavily right of centre, but cant make up there mind about where to stand, or sit, on anything. And the Republicans who are very right wing.) 2. He was insulting him as if there wasnt an inherent right to hold a viewpoint. I am understandably confused and would very much appreciate your musings on the subject.
Lest anyone think that my title was ironic, I genuinely meant it. I was in the USA for the first time in my life last summer. I travelled about a bit and had one of the best holidays ever. You really do have a great country.
Again, well done on the web site. Keep up the good work.
Look forward to hearing from you
Gordon (guy from Ireland)
