Web Letters: Happy Oil Dependence Day

Truthdig

By Robert Scheer

July 2, 2008

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  • "I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the Oil Companies for which it stands, one nation under Gas, with Liberty and Surveillance for all."

    M.L. Squier

    http://madplatonews.blogspot.com/
    El Paso, Texas

    07/06/2008 @ 1:04pm


  • Every year around the Fourth of July, mainstream news pundits, politician and popular conservative bloggers make the effort to redefine patriotism as being the same as nationalism. This is a tribute to the general lack of awareness amongst average Americans, who get caught up with words they try to define with their feelings rather than fact. In a way, it is almost an insult to someone if you ask them what the word "patriotism" actually means. While this holiday represents one of the most important symbols in our history, ironically, it means that a lot of important news simply goes under the radar (purposefully or otherwise). Mr. Scheer couldn't be more patriotic in expressing outrage at all the open violations of the Constitution, the flagrant disregard for the principles of the Founding Fathers, the blatant war-profiteering in Iraq and our 100+ year preoccupation with the retooling of foreign governments for our short-term economic benefit. While I love this country, I feel we need to remove the commercialism from the holiday and fight against all the things that diminish these principles, but if McCain or Obama were to make this claim to the public it would be political suicide. That's how far we've strayed.

    Darius Dixon

    Brooklyn, NY

    07/04/2008 @ 2:11pm


  • I think the multinationals may have inadvertently started pushing the public away from fossil fuels. One good thing that may come from a Democratic Administration is a serious look at alternative fuel sources. I am going for some solar panels on my roof and two hybrid cars. I wonder when the plug-in hybrids will be available?

    Pervis J. Casey

    Riverside, CA

    07/03/2008 @ 5:01pm


  • Unpatriotic people tend to rationalize their lack of patriotism and redefine the word "patriotism" itself. That is what Mr. Scheer has done in this ridiculous article. While true patriots use the Fourth of July as an opportunity to celebrate all that is good with America, Robert Scheer, in his cynical and highly partisan article, whines about all that is wrong with it. That alone is very telling.

    Douglas L. Bucshon

    O'Fallon, IL

    07/03/2008 @ 3:30pm


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