Hi to everyone landing here looking for the article on the situation in Iraq entitled "Fables of the Reconstruction", by Jason Vest. The actual link to the story is here.
This blog and that story, of course, derive the name from an REM album. For my part, I chose the title because I see the coming years as a matter of working to rebuild not only Iraq but the United States as well. This country has suffered severe damage as a result of conservative policies that have put our health, our education, and our prosperity as a people at risk. We've also been subjected to a corrosive kind of politics that echoes the lies of German fascism - that national pride and military might are identical, that criticism of authoritarian government is treason, and that certain subgroups - Jews, blacks, gays, liberals, pick one or all - are undermining the health of society. These are the "fables" that must be countered with new stories - or rather, forgotten old stories of the value of good government, mutual interdependence, respect for and appreciation of difference, and a love of questioning authority and the use of force.
What it means to be a liberal today is to stand for preserving and resurrecting that which is good about America. That's the real reconstruction project.
Thanks for the link to the story.
Nice web log too.
I'll be back.
Posted by: Michael Miller | April 20, 2004 at 04:58 PM
Y'know, you make me wonder whether I could go back and name my blog "Green[e] Grow the Rushes." =,
Posted by: Greg Greene | April 24, 2004 at 07:19 PM