December 31, 2006
America the Overfull
In a NYTime’s essay on America and the world, Paul Theroux reflects not only on the past, but the future of our country and the planet. Moving forward into 2007, we need a clear understanding of where we are now and where we have been. Theroux says,
We are passing through a confused period of aggression and fear, characterized by our confrontational government, the decline of diplomacy, a pugnacious foreign policy and a settled belief that the surest way to get people to tell the truth is to torture them. (And by the way, “water boarding” was a torture technique at the worst of the Khmer Rouge prisons.) It is no wonder we have begun to squint at strangers. This is a corrosive situation in a country where more and more people, most of them strangers, are a feature of daily life. Americans as a people I believe to be easygoing, compassionate, not looking for a fight. But surely I am not the only one who has noticed that we are ruder, more offhand, readier to take offense, a nation of shouters and blamers.
comments
It’s a marvelous op-ed. Read it.
I was struck by its clarity as well. Happy New Year!
Oh, my, yes. That is a fine piece. Thank you, Lynn, for drawing it to our attention.
Glad you found it so, Sheila–in our imperialism we need reminders of our roots and our way forward.