Blame Armond
Armond White’s review of Costa-Gravas’ Z, “The Era of Radical Chic” (March 11-17) sparked a bit of patriotic furor. One retaliator, known only as Jsommersby, commented: “‘Always blame the USA, even if you’re wrong,’ says a lefty—proof anti- Americanism didn’t originate with the Iraq War.’ (groan) Armond, what does it take to get through to you? Criticizing America’s foreign policy is not anti-American.You, of course, know this perfectly well but continue such myopic-minded poppycock because, like Rush Limbaugh, you don’t have to worry about people calling you on it in a political debate that you’re too scared to engage in. Grow up, man.” But that only riled up kungfufelon, who retorted with: “As the use of the quote clearly implies, the article doesn’t suggest that a critique of American foreign policy is anti-American, only that the form of critique en vogue then and now is anti-American. [It] is clearly used by both White and Costas-Gavras to suggest a critique that is clearly less about policy and more about political bias. In turn, both suggest that the quote reveals less about American foreign policy and more the realities of those who see themselves subject to this policy.”
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