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Ummm... anyway.
We have to remember something about the young folks who post here, they like us are still learning, but they don't have nearly enough historical background to keep things in perspective. Marx is getting attractive again, because the east block has thankfully collasped and the ideology still gets equal time at teachers colleges having as it does have value for historical analysis if not for government. Each generation has its blindspots. The so-called greatest generation can't recognize the elements of fascism which were adopted to defeat fascism. The babyboomers only just recently recognized the values of their parents had some merit but still carry the youthful hubris of having all the answers and have conceived all thoughts originally since they are historically illiterate. My generation X is perfect in every way. The folks younger than me have the misfortune of learning their history from the boomers and x'ers who were educated by either super patriots that went to college on the GI Bill and love the state or by radical pinks and reds who also seem to love the state first humanity second. The kids in the streets with their team anarchy sportswear don't know that that ground has been tilled before and most don't even realize how antithetical anarchy has to be to socialism.
On a different note, last Sunday my priest gave a stirring homily on the dangers of radicalism. He spoke specifically about religious zealotry and the dangers inheient to that. Two days later a bunch of probable Islamic zealots murdered several thousand of our countrymen. During the week we heard from our own homegrown zealots who would have their own fundementalism over us if given the chance. I know my own politics are radical to some but I look for reform inside the existing structures and am deeply committed to the principle that one never initiates the use of force. This morning, the feast day of our Lady of Sorrows, my parish family prayed as a community for the victims of these terror attacks. Work for justice and peace in your own way.
PS I mentioned that I had relatives in the FDNY stationed in Manhattan. I didn't realize that they all retired in the last couple years, their kids all chose different professions and thankfully were not personally involved.
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