Fear and Loathing... In America

One of the behind the scenes themes of the Obama campaign is that I truly believe he does not like Amercia- our ideals or our systems. I tend to think that while it's ok for an American president to believe things in this country need to be changed, it's quite another thing to hate the country all together. An American president should at least like the country.

Here are Michelle Obama's thoughts: http://www.commentarymagazine.com/blogs/index.php/jpodhoretz/2541

The differences between Obama's view and mine on this issue stem from our backgrounds and how we perceive the world around us through the lenses shaped by our histories. Long story short, I see racism, oppression, etc..., as isolated actions of ignorant, repugnant individuals. Obama sees these actions as tiny fragments of an overarching mosaic of institutions, systems and hierarchies built to oppress certain segments of society. I see it as issues of personal responsibility both on the part of the "oppressor" and the "oppressed." He sees it as The Man keeping us down.

The result of his worldview is that our free markets, our mertiocracy, our personal liberties, the power of our individualistic, risk taking spirit is not something to admire, but rather, something to be broken. Thus, America is not something to be proud of, it's a blemish on human history.

Obama believe that if you succeed in achieving the American Dream, whatever that is to you, it has nothing to do with your character or your ingenuity. It's because you are taking advantage of a system meant to give you an unfair advantage.

Mull that over for a bit...