November 10, 2004
by Andrew Silow-Carroll |
Martin Peretz, gracious in victory, denigrates Kerry supporters in today's Wall Street Journal (subscription only):
"But the problem is that many Democrats have a downright hostile attitude to the flag, to patriotism itself, which is thought by some in the party to be a retrograde sentiment. And they have, at best, a queasy disposition towards religion. To tell the truth, it gives many of them the creeps. You can't really do much with that, can you?"
Except quote James Baldwin, of course: "I love America more than any other country in this world, and, exactly for this reason, I insist on the right to criticize her perpetually." (Notes of a Native Son)
Or Thomas Jefferson: "Question with boldness even the existence of a god; because if there be one he must approve of the homage of reason more than that of blindfolded fear." (Letter to Peter Carr, August 10, 1787)
TrackBackThis is the fallacy of the excluded middle: The far left hates America. The far left opposes the war in Iraq. The far left hates Bush.
Therefore, anyone who opposes the war in Iraq or hates Bush is a far-left anti-American.
I once thought that Peretz knew better, even if certain fast-typing Tennessee law professors didn't.
Posted by: Reb Yudel at November 10, 2004 1:27 PM