Blum's in bloom

Submitted by John W. McGinley (United States), Jan 24, 2006 at 12:08

I saw Blum's response to bin Laden's citing of him in the paper a couple of days ago. Those who make a habit of putting pen to paper -- like myself -- usually have an over-supply of narcissism. So it was understandable that he would FEEL that way, but disappointing that he said so publically.

The average tendency of America since World War II is to have been a force for human freedom and decency. More than that it has, as its average tendency, resisted and often enough defanged the forces of tyranny both on the left and on the right. That is why, as an average tendency, intelligent and decent people have, as an average tendency supportd America even while admitting that our country has been involved in a lot of cruel and violent secret activity, some of which was not justified.

Ah youth! The sixties, among other things, was a time of political awakening for young(ish) people. There was a fairly naive moral idealism in political matters, especialy relative to matters of foreign policy. That was alright. But by 1969 narcissism had trumped this moral idealism. Further, frustration of not having immediate gratification relative to their Vietnam agendum, this narcissism marinated into hatred of the great father-figure, Uncle Sam. Unfortunately, many people of that period, including Blum, got frozen into that hatred and all future foreign policy matters were filtered through this crazy prism of hatred. These wounded narcissists keep on fighting yesteryear's battle and do not comprehend the present threat posed by Islamist terrorism. Sad for them and even sadder for for our country.

I doubt that bin Laden has any respect -- or even intellectual agreement -- with these sorry people on the left. One year of living (unless they were killed right off) under the tyranny of an Islamist regime would wake these wounded narcissists to reality. But by then it would be too late. John W. McGinley

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