The Punning Pundit

Sir, you are right. After reading your response, I do not understand the outrage. At least, I hope I do not. I will not question your patriotism--I will take you at your word that you love our mutual country with the same burring passion that I do. What I do wonder is if we have the same conception of our mutual nation...

When I see your post, I see a love for the "purple mountains' majesty, above the fruited plains". I see love for a nation which grew from being a small, awkward backwater into the mightiest superpower the world has ever known. In short, I see that you love America because it happens to be your home...

I do not love that America. I have little uses for most fruited plains, nor am I really comfortable with the notion that America is a superpower. Indeed, the only ok with it because a look a the rest of the world reveals one that isn't nearly as committed to human decency, rule of law and limitations on arbitrary uses of power as we are...

An America committed to these principals, especially the bit about limitations on arbitrary uses of power, that is the America I love. Our track record has been admirable-- with some notable exceptions. Is it in keeping with our nation's best vision of itself to Ride a 70+ year old woman around like a pony? I don't care how many secrets she was selling to Al-Quaida, How can we still be America and think that this is ok?

If Treason is giving Aid and Comfort to the Enemies of the US, and Riding a 70+ year old woman around like a pony gives aid and comfort to the Enemies of United States (as it emphatically does!), why should I feel sympathy for traitors to my nation?

The problem is not that "it has nothing to do with me". The actions of Robert Mugabe have nothing to do with me (still, I feel horror at them). The problem is that the actions of US soldiers have everything to do with me...

See, these actions occurred in my name. Innocents were treated in a way that not even the guilty should be treated, in my name. Gleeful soldiers took pictures of sexually humiliated Iraqis, in my name. How is this not a personal betrayal of not only me, but of America itself?

To learn that invading Iranians had reopened Saddam's torture chambers would be cause to sigh and hope that we could perhaps do something. To learn that we have done so? No. Damn it sir! We are supposed to be better than that. Are my thoughts and prayers with our soldiers? Yes. Of course they are. Every time I have a good meal, my thoughts linger for just a moment on the fact that in my name good men and women aren't getting good meals. I have sold books to more than one young man who wanted reading material for the trip Over there, Iraq, Bosnia, Afghanistan, wherever. I thank every one of them...

The fact of the matter is that anyone who would to Ride a 70+ year old woman around like a pony is probably unfit for life. They are certainly unfit for the respect that comes from the uniform of a United States soldier. If Senator Kennedy puts distance between himself and scum, I have no problem with that. I am shocked you do...