'America haters'

It's hardly a newsflash that it's a tough time to be an American who dissent from patriotically correct dogma.

I've written before on my confusion as to how exactly progressives like myself are supposed to reach out to "red staters" like those who say liberals despise Christ, those who support maintaining segregationist constitutional language and those who want to ban books with gay characters.

I really would like to reach out. I really don't like progressive candidates losing most of the time, or rarely getting nominated in the first place. I really don't like it that those who think President Bush is too liberal and not overtly religious enough seem to be in the ascendancy. I really would like to expand progressive values. I just don't know how sucking up to people like those I mentioned above will help this cause. And besides, isn't dialogue supposed to be a two-way street?

The blog Ornicus ran a cartoon entitled 'America Haters.' The cartoon showed a guy in a peace-logo t-shirt holding a sign 'Stop Fascist War on Terrorism' and embracing an Islamist fanatic while standing atop a pile of corpses. Incidentally, Ornicus was attacking, not endorsing, the disgusting cartoon.

The sickening cartoon is emblematic of a possibly small but very vocal minority that would applaud Ann Coulter's advice on how to talk to liberals (with a baseball bat, I'm told, is her suggestion). How am I supposed to reach out to those who subscribe to the libelous sentiments expressed in that cartoon?

Then Al Neuharth, founder of The USA Today newspaper, wrote a column in which he said American troops should come home 'sooner rather than later.'

The harshest words Neuharth, one of those military veterans we're supposed to canonize, used in the entire column were 'unwise commanders in chief' and 'ill-advised adventures like Vietnam and Iraq.' Obviously, not everyone is going to agree with those assessments but his sentiments are hardly revolutionary.

Or to me at least. Others viewed his relatively benign comments somewhat differently.

A piece in Editor and Publisher ran some of the comments provoked by Neuharth's tame column.

George Wyman: “Mr. Neuharth is simply UnAmerican.”

Jeffrey A. Norris: “Cowards and traitors like Al Neuharth want all the comforts they know and enjoy, without a sacrifice to buy it.”

Frank Butash, West Hartford, CT.: “Apparently it's easier to run with jackals than to stand up for your country when it needs support.”

Kenneth Genest: “They had two of these in World War 2. One was called Tokyo Rose and the other Axis Sally. Their job was to discourage the American soldiers. I see they have one now at USA Today.”

Dan Clawson, Fresno,m CA.: "A disgrace to the men and women who serve. USA Today supporting the terrorist cause."

Jerry Martin, San Francisco, CA.: “Yet another self-defeating fool with a large bank account shoots himself in the foot. Their dissent equals treason. The terrorists got him just like all the other rich liberals who side against our victory. They forget that wars end, and then the country takes stock of who was where. I encourage the fool to keep mouthing against our victory over the Muslim jihad, he'll pay the social price in the end.”

T. Conway: “Mr. Neuharth has made a serious business mistake. Watch the circulation drop over the next year. The Los Angeles Times experienced the same drop after they attacked Gov. Schwarzenegger...some never learn. P.S. What side did Mr. Neuharth fight for in WW II?”

Peter Kessler: “And as for the good war, WW II, the lefties were four-square for that one. Yes sir, they were saving the USSR, Stalin and Communism. It's sad we didn't join Hitler until he wiped out the USSR. Alger Hiss and the Uptown Daily Worker (The New York Times) be damned. I see you've joined the club. Well, you're probably a founding member.”

Joe McBride, Fort Dodge, Iowa: “Mr. Neuharth, thanks to you and your ignorance the terrorists are probably booking their flights to the U.S. now! If we pull out of Iraq with the job unfinished the terrorists will be bombing McDonalds, and blowing up malls and schools here, killing our innocent men, women and children.”

Craig Wood, Waianae, Hawaii: “Today's press undermines our troops and supports our enemies. They convince parents that supporting your President is dangerous. They concentrate their ire on any fight that involves the United States and ignore all others. Like the sex scandal in the Congo with United Nations forces…. But, let some Army private put panties on an Iraqi's head and all hell brakes loose.”

Duggan Flanakin, Austin, Texas: “Neuharth should be tried for treason along with a lot of other blowhards who should be spending their energies condemning the barbarism of our enemies, the same people who destroyed the Twin Towers.“

Boots Harvey, Brentwood, CA: “One must recall that Churchill had to put up with the likes of Lord Haw-Haw, William Joyce, and his propaganda during WWII. In the end William Joyce was executed for giving aid and comfort to the enemy during war time. Would that the same fate befall Al Neuharth!”

Mel Gibbs: “The Patriot Act will put both of you (Neuharth and Mitchell) on trial for treason and convict and execute both of you as traitors for running these stories in a time of war and it should be done on TV for other communist traitors like you two to know we mean business. This is war and you should be put in prison NOW for talking like this. Who the hell do you people think you are? You give aid and comfort to our enemies and aid them in murdering our proud soldiers. You people are a disgrace to America. Your families should be put in prison with you, then be made to leave and move to the Middle East ...This is a great Christian nation and god wants us to lead the world out of darkness with great leaders like President George W. Bush and Dick Cheney. Communists like Al and Greg will soon be in prison and on death row for your ugly papers. We won the election and now you are mad. We own America and all the rights, you people are trash, go back to Russia and Africa and take your friends with before we put you on death row after a fair trial.”

I repeat: how are progressives, or decent Americans regardless of political stripe, supposed to reach out to people like this?

Who are the America haters? Who despises American values?