Sunday, December 12, 2004

Before his time

Or maybe "A man for all seasons" would be a better title.

Just wanted to bring your attention to the "Daily Twain" random quote that shows up today in the sidebar...
Patriot: the person who can holler the loudest without knowing what he is hollering about. --Mark Twain


In Twain's time, the United States invaded the Philippines on much the same grounds as we have invaded Iraq (and other countries) - an imperial mandate, or manifest destiny, or whatever hubristic delusion that covers the phrase "might makes right". His objections earned him the ire of the "patriots" of his time, but I've seen no evidence that it bridled his opinion any.

Of course, there wasn't a Department of Fatherland Security back then, and the Congress he claimed was full of idiots hadn't passed a PATRIOT act. I can only imagine what wit and scorn that would have inspired.

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