If you don't think there are some Americans who are convinced that we are engaged in a Holy War of West vs. East, or Christendom vs. Islam, then take a look at the picture below. This is the Flag Guy. I see him all the time around downtown Seattle. If you look, you'll see an American flag, a British flag and a Christian flag. I think I can make the case for the U.S. having been the 'standard bearer' of Western Culture for the past 50 years. The British flag is representative of our immediate cultural parentage, as it were, (Britain first, then Europe by extension). And the Christian flag represents the tie that binds us in the West, and also is what we're fighting to defend, according to the Flag Guy.
I have a friend who, I’m very nearly certain, voted for Bush. He told me as recently as a week prior to the election that he was considering voting for Bush because of the terrorism issue. I’m thinking very seriously about cutting him off as a friend. You see, the problem isn’t necessarily that he voted for Bush, it’s that I no longer respect him for coming to that decision. Having succumbed to America’s jingoistic view of Muslims I now think that perhaps my friend doesn’t have the intellectual agility I originally credited to him.
Is there any one else out there who feels betrayed by a friend who voted for Bush? I’m interested in reader’s opinions on the matter so please post a comment.
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