Anti-Americanism in Britain
An English writer, Geoffrey Wheatcroft, muses about anti-Americanism in the New York Times, spurred by some comments in John Le Carre's latest book. This sparks some acid and dismissive intellectualism from Brad De Long, which, in its turn brings forth an avalanche of very knowledgeable commments. Very interesting reading, late on a Saturday evening.
Personally, I'm on the side of the Brits in this argument, particularly the original article, to which I cannot take exception. Certainly he is describing a situation which really exists; just think of the few huge anti-war demos in London over the last few months. And I really must track down the item I read a few days ago on the comments made by author Frederick Forsyth in the Guardian when President Bush visited London a few weeks ago.
LATER: Yep, here they are, buried in a very good item from the WSJ OpinionJournal Best-of-the-Web on November 19, the day George W arrived in London to be met by a howling mob of protestors. There are a number of good links here about the "anti-war" movement, including a typically acid one by Mark Steyn, and a very instructive one by Amir Taheri. But here are Frederick Forsyth's remarks in full:
You will find yourself assailed on every hand by some pretty pretentious characters collectively known as the British left. They traditionally believe they have a monopoly on morality and that your recent actions preclude you from the club. You opposed and destroyed the world's most blood-encrusted dictator. This is quite unforgivable.
I beg you to take no notice. The British left intermittently erupts like a pustule upon the buttock of a rather good country. Seventy years ago it opposed mobilisation against Adolf Hitler and worshipped the other genocide, Josef Stalin.
It has marched for Mao, Ho Chi Minh, Khrushchev, Brezhnev and Andropov. It has slobbered over Ceausescu and Mugabe. It has demonstrated against everything and everyone American for a century. Broadly speaking, it hates your country first, mine second.
Eleven years ago something dreadful happened. Maggie was ousted, Ronald retired, the Berlin wall fell and Gorby abolished communism. All the left's idols fell and its demons retired. For a decade there was nothing really to hate. But thank the Lord for his limitless mercy. Now they can applaud Saddam, Bin Laden, Kim Jong-Il . . . and hate a God-fearing Texan. So hallelujah and have a good time.
12:22:04 AM 
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