Andrew Greeley's column in today's Chicago Sun-Times is "American warmongers excel at talking a good game." Greeley's writings are often unintentionally amusing, filled with the sort of kneejerk liberalism we'd expect from aBarack Obama contributor. This morning's article is typically hilarious:
If we chant "USA!" Often enough, sing God "Bless
American!" fervently enough, wear flag pins, fly the flag in front of
our house and croak the national anthem loudly enough, we will win
victory and honor our dead heroes.
Who are those who reject compromise of a useless and criminally
deadly war like Iraq? They are the blusterers, members of "veteran's
organizations," mountain folk, crackers, West Texans, blue collar
workers, evangelical clergy, neo-cons, Republicans, white ethnics, Sox
fans, folks who want Cardinal George to "get rid" of Father Pfleger,
those who tell you with a straight face that the country isn't ready
yet for a black president and that the United States must rid itself of
"illegal aliens." (I hasten to add that all these groups number some
men and women who are innocent of bellicose patriotism.)
There's something about the American flag that drives liberals
loonier than usual. It certainly must irritate them that candidate
Obama has been forced to sport a flag pin just to fool the crackers,
the blue collar workers, etc.
I'm not certain why he placed quotation marks around
"veteran's organizations." Is that not what they are called? The
apostrophe, of course, is misplaced, but maybe we shouldn't expect too
much from a PhD.
Using the marks with "illegal aliens" is more obvious. The correct
term is undocumented workers. Everyone knows that except for white
ethnics, mountain folk, evangelical clergy, etc.
A nice touch is Greeley's hastening to add that "some men and women"
in the groups he's identified are innocent of the charges he levels.
Even Sox fans. How warm. How understanding. How compassionate.
Greeley writes commentary and is entitled, obviously, to his
opinion. At the same time, I think it's fair to ask how many other
Obama supporters view matters in the same light - and terms - as he
does.