For all you peacenik hippies (pot-smoking or otherwise)

[lwcon]

Arthur Silber...

http://powerofnarrative.blogspot.com/2009/10/desperately-seeking-peacenik-pot.html

... on what's so unfunny about the prevalent mentality that the worst kind of American is "some peacenik, pot-smoking hippie who wants everyone to be in love," which resigned Foreign Service officer Matthew Hoh cited to assert his credibility in criticizing the U.S. war effort in Afghanistan.

Many of those deeply opposed to the U.S. presence in Afghanistan seem to regard this statement as strengthening the case for the truth of Hoh's objections to U.S. strategy, as if to say: "See? Hoh isn't some drugged-out nutcase, who's opposed to war like some disgusting appeaser! He's not against all wars, just against this war! That's why we should listen to him!"

They appear to think this is a good argument. People should be careful about the premises they (perhaps) inadvertently accept in their eagerness to advance their case. I have a very different view of Hoh's statement. My immediate reaction when I read that statement has remained unchanged, and it is very simply this:

Why not? What the hell is wrong with that?

Hoh implicitly relies on the fact that what's "wrong with that" is so self-evidently obvious that it need not even be stated. Everyone -- or at least all respectable, serious people -- has nothing but contempt for those peacenik, pot-smoking hippies, so we don't even need to explain why. But, Mr. Hoh, and others who may be of like mind, yes, you do.

There's much, much more. Please K&R if you want more DUers to read Silber's cogent essay.

[Le Taz Hot]

1. Raising hand.

:hi:

On edit: And might I add, WE WERE RIGHT ALL ALONG!

[lwcon]

2. Being right is (or would be in a sane world)...

... about the morality of such wars, rather than the efficacy of them. Only the latter is considered a Serious position in this country.

[madokie]

6. And we're still right

[Happyhippychick]

3. I had the exact same reaction: what is so wrong about loving peace and each other?

[lwcon]

4. It's always downright upright to mock liberals

http://www.correntewire.com/ive_got_goosebumps_obama_mentioned_me

[T Wolf]

5. AS Elvis (C, not P) said, "What's so funny about peace, love & understanding?" Nothing, but it

does not feed the capitalist corporate coffers enough.

[lwcon]

8. A recent performance by composer Nick Lowe

I couldn't find the Brinsley Schwarz original, so here goes:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Zzg8hf9vKc

[patrice]

7. K&R - thank you very much.

[Blue_Tires]

9. kick for later...

[lunatica]

10. Someone should ask him what's wrong with peace and pot smoking?

Really. When something implied is assumed to be universally accepted as truth then they should explain why.

[lwcon]

14. In this supposedly Christian Nation...

... how is it so easy to gain cred by relishing "whacking" people and dissing those who want everyone to love each other?

Do you imagine that a single media person would ask him those questions? Me neither.

[gratuitous]

11. Peace-loving people are self-evidently wrong

Here in the land of the High Church of Redemptive Violence, we accept it as an article of faith that every problem yields to the application of violence. Failure to summon violence marks you as definitely unserious, insensitive to the plight and the needs of the disadvantaged and the victimized. The High Church commanded that after the September 11 attacks, the United States must apply violence to repair and drive out the violence of the attacks.

Any other course of action would betray the victims, mark the advocate as deeply unserious, and reveal heretical thinking.

[lwcon]

15. Sad how accurate that is. n/t

[Stardust]

12. That comment by Hoh offended me, too. I admired his stance up to that point.

Sadly, he's not alone in his opinion of peace-loving hippies. History has not been kind to us.

[lwcon]

13. The closer you look at it, the less there is to admire

See Arthur Silber's previous post for more:

http://powerofnarrative.blogspot.com/2009/10/denial-continues-and-horror-remains.html

Sure, it's a positive development if fewer people want to participate in such wars, but much of what Hoh says should shock the conscience.

[Stardust]

16. So true...I had forgotten about Hoh's statement that he was "never more

happy" than when he "whacked a bunch of guys." He's a war criminal.

Do you think this country will ever awaken to the realization that we are "fighting" in Central Asia for hegemony? And we're never going to leave.

[lwcon]

17. Simple answer:

Probably not.