Comments on: American For A Day http://www.robmacdougall.org/blog/2008/11/american-for-a-day/ Rob MacDougall Dot Org Tue, 24 Jan 2012 16:00:38 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Nate http://www.robmacdougall.org/blog/2008/11/american-for-a-day/#comment-1018 Nate Tue, 11 May 2010 19:34:30 +0000 http://www.robmacdougall.org/index.php/2008/11/american-for-a-day/#comment-1018 Rob: Quite simply one of the most insightful things I've read re: the history of my country. Masterful distillation. The truth, it seems, IS always found in paradox. Rob:

Quite simply one of the most insightful things I’ve read re: the history of my country. Masterful distillation. The truth, it seems, IS always found in paradox.

]]> By: mental_floss Blog » Morning Cup of Links: Cake in a Cup http://www.robmacdougall.org/blog/2008/11/american-for-a-day/#comment-1017 mental_floss Blog » Morning Cup of Links: Cake in a Cup Mon, 22 Jun 2009 14:51:58 +0000 http://www.robmacdougall.org/index.php/2008/11/american-for-a-day/#comment-1017 [...] look at the historic US election through the eyes of an American history teacher in Canada. The great thing about tilting at windmills is that you occasionally win. * For a [...] [...] look at the historic US election through the eyes of an American history teacher in Canada. The great thing about tilting at windmills is that you occasionally win. * For a [...]

]]> By: I Have Until January 20! http://www.robmacdougall.org/blog/2008/11/american-for-a-day/#comment-1016 I Have Until January 20! Mon, 19 Jan 2009 15:18:19 +0000 http://www.robmacdougall.org/index.php/2008/11/american-for-a-day/#comment-1016 [...] My post about the election received a lot of traffic and I want to thank everyone who linked it hither and yon. It got mentioned at Daily Kos, and “inspired” an 80-comment thread at Crooked Timber. (Oh, and now Metafilter too.) Note scare quotes–some ad hominem attacks aside, the bulk of the discussion there had maybe not so much to do with what I wrote. Which is fine; grateful as I am to Kieran Healy for the post at CT, I think one effect of abridging my post by taking out all the jokes was to make it even more treacly and earnest than I’d intended. The most brutally effective abridging of my piece (and you will hear no argument from me that it didn’t need abridging) was Moacir at Daily Kos, who saw that you could cut out everything except the opening Simpsons quote and still make exactly the same point. [...] [...] My post about the election received a lot of traffic and I want to thank everyone who linked it hither and yon. It got mentioned at Daily Kos, and “inspired” an 80-comment thread at Crooked Timber. (Oh, and now Metafilter too.) Note scare quotes–some ad hominem attacks aside, the bulk of the discussion there had maybe not so much to do with what I wrote. Which is fine; grateful as I am to Kieran Healy for the post at CT, I think one effect of abridging my post by taking out all the jokes was to make it even more treacly and earnest than I’d intended. The most brutally effective abridging of my piece (and you will hear no argument from me that it didn’t need abridging) was Moacir at Daily Kos, who saw that you could cut out everything except the opening Simpsons quote and still make exactly the same point. [...]

]]> By: Stuartblog2 » stu_spivack on Snipd.com on 11/13/2008 http://www.robmacdougall.org/blog/2008/11/american-for-a-day/#comment-1015 Stuartblog2 » stu_spivack on Snipd.com on 11/13/2008 Sat, 15 Nov 2008 00:00:33 +0000 http://www.robmacdougall.org/index.php/2008/11/american-for-a-day/#comment-1015 [...] American For A Day [...] [...] American For A Day [...]

]]> By: mark http://www.robmacdougall.org/blog/2008/11/american-for-a-day/#comment-1014 mark Thu, 13 Nov 2008 16:35:13 +0000 http://www.robmacdougall.org/index.php/2008/11/american-for-a-day/#comment-1014 Pride, less shame, ch-ch-change? So here we are 10 days after the election and already we have Obama supporting 'limited' torture, domestic spying and the continuation of Gitmo detention policies. We can look forward to a President elect that took a $300K bribe from Tony Rezko and really should be on his way to jail. Tell me what is the difference between the crimes of Sen. Stevens of Alaska and Obama? Or for that matter the 'gifts' taken by Sen. Dodd from Countrywide Mortgage? The President from Rezko Develpment, the VP from MBNA, the Chief of Staff from Citicorp, and the Transistion Chair from the UAW and the Chief Economic Advisor from Goldman-Sacs....... Pride, less shame, ch-ch-change?

So here we are 10 days after the election and already we have Obama supporting ‘limited’ torture, domestic spying and the continuation of Gitmo detention policies.

We can look forward to a President elect that took a $300K bribe from Tony Rezko and really should be on his way to jail. Tell me what is the difference between the crimes of Sen. Stevens of Alaska and Obama? Or for that matter the ‘gifts’ taken by Sen. Dodd from Countrywide Mortgage?

The President from Rezko Develpment, the VP from MBNA, the Chief of Staff from Citicorp, and the Transistion Chair from the UAW and the Chief Economic Advisor from Goldman-Sacs…….

]]> By: seth edenbaum http://www.robmacdougall.org/blog/2008/11/american-for-a-day/#comment-1013 seth edenbaum Wed, 12 Nov 2008 16:19:44 +0000 http://www.robmacdougall.org/index.php/2008/11/american-for-a-day/#comment-1013 "black belt rhetorical jiu jitsu" "an old and hallowed American trick" Is it a "put-on" for a lawyer to defend a paying client? Of course it is, but it's also the moral and philosophical center of our culture. You're describing the difference between theater and grand theater, but you're also describing theater as bunk. Historian as Fordist. That's what offends me. “black belt rhetorical jiu jitsu”
“an old and hallowed American trick”

Is it a “put-on” for a lawyer to defend a paying client?
Of course it is, but it’s also the moral and philosophical center of our culture.
You’re describing the difference between theater and grand theater, but you’re also describing theater as bunk. Historian as Fordist. That’s what offends me.

]]> By: Aunt Sam http://www.robmacdougall.org/blog/2008/11/american-for-a-day/#comment-1012 Aunt Sam Wed, 12 Nov 2008 16:17:29 +0000 http://www.robmacdougall.org/index.php/2008/11/american-for-a-day/#comment-1012 Very nice essay, Rob. Thanks for sharing your thoughts. Your "Sancho Panza" analogy is brilliant. I'm an American and I've always been proud of my country. That doesn't mean that I don't see its faults, or that I'm always thrilled with every decision made by every president. But I agree with Jeremy that "who is President" does not define, and has never defined, the USA. The USA is NOT a different country today than it was before the election; it's the same country with the exact same citizens. If you're proud of it today, and you weren't proud of it prior to the election - could it be that you were wrong about the USA, that you've had an eye-opening, rather than that the whole of the USA has changed overnight? Doesn't matter, I guess. Whatever the reason, whatever helps you hear the music, stay tuned in. Very nice essay, Rob. Thanks for sharing your thoughts. Your “Sancho Panza” analogy is brilliant.

I’m an American and I’ve always been proud of my country. That doesn’t mean that I don’t see its faults, or that I’m always thrilled with every decision made by every president.

But I agree with Jeremy that “who is President” does not define, and has never defined, the USA.

The USA is NOT a different country today than it was before the election; it’s the same country with the exact same citizens. If you’re proud of it today, and you weren’t proud of it prior to the election – could it be that you were wrong about the USA, that you’ve had an eye-opening, rather than that the whole of the USA has changed overnight?

Doesn’t matter, I guess. Whatever the reason, whatever helps you hear the music, stay tuned in.

]]> By: Jeremy http://www.robmacdougall.org/blog/2008/11/american-for-a-day/#comment-1011 Jeremy Wed, 12 Nov 2008 14:21:34 +0000 http://www.robmacdougall.org/index.php/2008/11/american-for-a-day/#comment-1011 The difference between you and me is that I have always been proud of America. I voted for John McCain, but I am proud that voters chose to elect Barack Obama, because that is what our democratic government is designed to do. For those in the comment fields who have said things like I "loathed" President Bush, I am sorry. As much as I disagreed with President Clinton, he was my president. As much as I'll certainly disagree with President Obama, he will still be my President. If you can let one man/woman who is in the office of the President define America for you, then you need more HOPE than Barack Obama will ever bring. The difference between you and me is that I have always been proud of America. I voted for John McCain, but I am proud that voters chose to elect Barack Obama, because that is what our democratic government is designed to do.
For those in the comment fields who have said things like I “loathed” President Bush, I am sorry. As much as I disagreed with President Clinton, he was my president. As much as I’ll certainly disagree with President Obama, he will still be my President.
If you can let one man/woman who is in the office of the President define America for you, then you need more HOPE than Barack Obama will ever bring.

]]> By: Rebekah http://www.robmacdougall.org/blog/2008/11/american-for-a-day/#comment-1010 Rebekah Tue, 11 Nov 2008 23:42:24 +0000 http://www.robmacdougall.org/index.php/2008/11/american-for-a-day/#comment-1010 Wonderful, wonderful article. I just want Rob to know that I am an American, and I hear that music. I've seen those hopes jaded on a daily basis since moving back to this country, but this election has reignited that fire in me. I have high hopes for the States again. And I want to add that had the election gone the other way, I was planning a move up North. Wonderful, wonderful article. I just want Rob to know that I am an American, and I hear that music. I’ve seen those hopes jaded on a daily basis since moving back to this country, but this election has reignited that fire in me. I have high hopes for the States again.

And I want to add that had the election gone the other way, I was planning a move up North.

]]> By: Alicia http://www.robmacdougall.org/blog/2008/11/american-for-a-day/#comment-1009 Alicia Tue, 11 Nov 2008 22:16:12 +0000 http://www.robmacdougall.org/index.php/2008/11/american-for-a-day/#comment-1009 I have always wondered how our neighbors thought of us. I live in Upstate New York and am 24 years old. Dubya came into office when i was a shophmore in highschool and that election I tried and failed to register to vote. As much as I loathe him as a president, I have to admit he was the one who really made me firmly believe that my vote counted..a bit i ronic I know. But, seeing him do what he did in his first run for election outraged me so much it solidified my want and need to vote. I voted for john kerry. {an act of futility i know{ But when i cast that ballot i was empowered. That is what our constitution means to me. the power of people trying to lead their own voices to a future of happiness and hope. your essay was beautiful. I know we are flawed. I know we can be weak-minded and sometimes fueled by fear. but the best part of us is in our ability to disagree, to argue, to think of each other morons, but still do the one thing that need be done. VOTE. I have always wondered how our neighbors thought of us. I live in Upstate New York and am 24 years old. Dubya came into office when i was a shophmore in highschool and that election I tried and failed to register to vote. As much as I loathe him as a president, I have to admit he was the one who really made me firmly believe that my vote counted..a bit i ronic I know. But, seeing him do what he did in his first run for election outraged me so much it solidified my want and need to vote. I voted for john kerry. {an act of futility i know{ But when i cast that ballot i was empowered. That is what our constitution means to me. the power of people trying to lead their own voices to a future of happiness and hope. your essay was beautiful. I know we are flawed. I know we can be weak-minded and sometimes fueled by fear. but the best part of us is in our ability to disagree, to argue, to think of each other morons, but still do the one thing that need be done. VOTE.

]]>