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04:21:2001 Entry: "Politics as Unusual"
Politics as Unusual
Noam Chomsky was on the Tom Clark show this morning. Tom asked him what he thought about the bin Laden video and Chomsky believes it's authentic too. I'm glad to know I'm not the only liberal that believes that. Sometimes listening to Wisconsin Public Radio I feel that *everyone* thinks that *everything* is a conspiracy if it seems to originate in the (Republican-led) government and I begin to wonder "shouldn't I be MORE paranoid than I am?" I think that so many people want to believe whatever their own agenda would embrace, regardless of what really is the truth. Of course we don't know what exactly the truth is, but so many people are blind to the clues. I don't want to believe that my government is behind staging the video anymore than I want to believe my government is incapable of any nefarious actions. I just want to believe the truth (gaaah...that sounds way too Fox Mulderish...sorry).
On a different but similar topic, I was watching Larry King last night and there was this absolutely psycho prosecutor (who gives us blondes a bad name) who was talking about John Walker. She was out for blood. Maybe I'm soft, but I truly feel sorry for Walker, I really do. I think he was very naive getting into what he was getting into. He was trying to find his way as a young man, boy, practically. Don't we all do stupid things at that age, get involved with or closely escape getting involved with things that are not the right path, whether it be drugs, fundamentalist religions, or, when we're even older, graduate school? (heh). See, I have no sympathy for the spy Robert Hanson. He was mature when he was dealing in counter espoionage. He knew exactly what he was doing. To me, Robert Hanson is a true traitor and slime, living as a typical American while he betrayed his country. I think Walker got swept up in the religion, and once he was involved in fighting for a cause he believed in overseas (pre 9/11...before we were "at war" with anyone), it was too late. He wouldn't be able to leave without getting shot in the back himself. It is a very strange situation, in fact when I first saw this story uncover about three weeks ago, it was most bewildering. I didn't know what to think. I still don't. But I don't think we should judge him the same way as someone like Hanson. Somehow I don't recall anyone being interviewed on a cable news network being out for Hanson's blood though...but maybe that's just because he looked so respectable in a suit and tie...hardly a wild haired, unshaven, dirty terrorist.