Archives for November 2001

I singled out Little Green Footballs for attention due to overall good-to-read-it-ness. Today, I call attention to it more specifically. Charles’ coverage of the anti-semitism in ‘friendly’ arab countries deserves – no, demands – our full attention. Just cause they’re our “friends” doesn’t excuse anything. It’s an outrage, and they use it (with their oil of course) to manipulate the US and force the US to paper over grave problems in several regimes.

What this whole conflict makes clear is that although in the past deep contradictions in the West were acceptible, and probably unavoidable, in the post-Cold-War world, we’ve moved along to the point where a new theoretical and (dare I say it?) moral center has to be defined – and doggedly pursued. No exceptions.

The contradictions make it too easy to challenge the West on theoretical and moral grounds, and technology has made it relatively easy to do so in practice.

So no more “oh land mines are evil, but we’ll still use them thanks very much”. No more “this repressive Islamic theocracy/dictatorship is evil, but this one over here is dandy.” No more “we support and pursue minimal human rights for workers (ha!) at home, but for you sweatshop workers, sorry.”

It’s simply untenable following 9/11. We have to be good to be right. And so will our friends.