General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: Paul Krugman- The New Political Correctness (Newspeak) [View all]starroute
(12,977 posts)I don't know what the textbook was that we used in 11th grade, but it had quite a bit on the many U.S. invasions of Latin American countries and other discreditable episodes in our nation's past. But the problem was that it was all presented as *past* -- as something from the bad old days of gunboat diplomacy -- and was slotted into a general story-line where things were getting better all the time and we would never do that sort of thing again.
Only we did, of course -- but not till around 1965 or so. That was when the real disillusionment set in. And as a result of Vietnam, the dominant narrative had to be reworked to say that it was okay for the U.S. to intervene because we were *us* and they were commies, or failed states, or sponsoring terrorism, or whatever.