Repeatedly tonight in the second Presidential debate, John McCain said we need a "steady hand at the tiller." So, I guess that means Obama is the better candidate based upon McCain's own statement, since, as far as I can tell, McCain has been much more unstable in recent weeks.
I got the distinct impression that this was a debate for the Presidency of fantasy land...since it didn't really match realities on the ground, but I did feel that Obama approached reality more often than McCain did. To be fair, though, all groups and especially national identities are somewhat imaginary...so the America they were talking about (the one that is the greatest nation in the world, and so on and so forth) exists in imagination.
Imagination is important! The "idea" of what America is is a two-edged sword, however. The image of America is something that has suffered in the world, it makes it dangerous for US travelers to other places, and it makes it difficult in diplomatic relations. Nonetheless, while fantasy America is important, we really need to handle everyday realities!
3 comments:
I am astounded that you would not agree that America's way of life is "better". How? Because we don't dwell in a "war zone", where tribal identities are destroying one another. We don't live where our borders are questioned...we may have issues of 'border control' and immigration questions, but we and eveyone else knows our boundaries. We are a FREE people. We can worship, live, work, seek education, etc. wherever or whenever we want, within reason...so why are you questioning that our way of life isn't better and that American values are "ideal"? I'm astounded!
To say that America is the greatest nation that has ever existed on the face of the earth througout all time is ridiculous hyperbole.
It isn't the worst, though! Far from it! To say that it is good is one thing. To say that it is the best at everything is fantasy.
I did not say that it is "ideal" but that it's ideals are mostly perfect...Our government protects the individual...that is important, for tyranny is psychological as well as sociological..Good government is the most important concern anyone should have,..for without good government one is at the whim of another's power and desires...or vision...
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