Can’t say it too often
Michael White in the Guardian today on Blair’s obeisance before Murdoch this weekend:
In an audience of admirers of his unfashionable pro-Americanism he is certain to be well received.
It’s a construct used ever more frequently against those who question Republican and New Labour policy – it’s quickly slipped into popular usage. Just where is pro-Americanism unfashionable in this country right now apart from with scrofulous lunatic fringes who can be safely ignored? Pro-Bushism is pretty unfashionable right now, much like neatly clipped sergeant major moustaches. Do you think that’s what he really meant?
I don’t think this can be rebutted often enough. It’s the same offensive smear that leads to people critical of the actions of the Israeli government being labelled anti-Semitic.
It’s a lazy, cowardly and an intellectually empty dodge used by those who wish to circumvent uncomfortable arguments. It’s about shutting down debate (‘well, you would say that, wouldn’t you, you’re anti-American‘). It’s a particular favourite of Tony Blair, the ‘Decent’ Left and other intellectual diodes (‘Essentially, it allows an electric current to flow in one direction, but blocks it in the opposite direction’), and should be fought wherever it appears.
(I didn’t get any further down the article so don’t know what else he had to say. Maybe secret knowledge for the not-so-easily offended.)
Posted on July 29th, 2006 at 1:48pm under Miscellaneous misanthropy
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• 9 Comments |
The trouble with anti-Bushism, as I opined a while back, is that it is — in most cases — as blinkered and stupid and based on precisely as much evidence as one of Polly Toynbee’s articles.
It is a ridiculous knee-jerk reaction used by the ignorant to justify their pusillanimous views: it is as precisely as pathetic as declaring that any criticism of Israel is anti-Semitic, if not more so.
DK
Come on then, you big girl, where’s your proof? Make with the linky to your opining. Disoblige me of my blinkerage, stupidage and ridiculous knee-jerkage.
“intellectual diodes” – is that a CY original?
It’s bloody good.
I think it’s original. I was quite pleased with it. Expect to see it splashed about here with abandon from now on.
Actually, a quick google shows somebody beat me to it. Oh dear.
I see – you nicked it off a white-supremacist.
Any other pro-white language you’ve picked up which you now intend to splash around here with abandon?
Er. We could talk about getting the trains to run on time.
You’ve been listening to Prussian Blue again, haven’t you Justin?
Which is the greater evil: Prussian Blue or Simply Red?