“Civic virtue” and its cousin, civility, are not present in these demonstrations. It’s more of the “confusionism” that afflicts segments of Korean society.

“did you just get off the phone with your dizzy girlfriend?”

Comments like this don’t generally dignify a response.

Next.

Yes IHBB, I ditched every class of high school civics…

However, since I live in the People’s Republic of California, my vote doesn’t really matter in presidential elections.

You are beginning to realize this war is a drop in the bucket

“the manner in which it was initiated”

Iraq attacked Kuwait

“and America’s confused energy policies”

America is a world leader in alternative energy research.

“which force us to place such a level of importance to the Middle East”

America created the oil industry

“has some merit.”

gee, wow

“And I would say that it’s as if the American public has been lobotomized”

are you Dr. Frankenstein?

“,which connotates aimless apathy rather than misdirected activity.”

did you just get off the phone with your dizzy girlfriend?

Protests are “civic virtue” when they are conducted by informed citizens who understand the issues and are making a legitimate complaint. They are made up of people I might disagree with, but whose position I can nevertheless respect and understand. That isn’t the case here.

Perhaps Mitchell Bard is right about Americans lack of civic virtue. I have mixed feelings about that. But he chose a very poor example to illustrate it.

Putting things into a more rational framework might help them regain their balance and composure. Pure political hyperbole, while favored by the governments of totalitarian countries where the press is operated by the government, is seldom useful in any event.

Koreans protest because it’s what they do. And they’ve spent generations protesting against the USA, because it’s what they always do. I sincerely hope they learn some manners before they reap what they have been sowing.

It won’t smell as nice as they may wish…

This is no secret. Not even a draft dodging pawi (or other Korean-Chameleon)can argue that this is a fantasy of expats.

Simply Google it if you don’t believe me.

http://newsbusters.org/blogs/w.....-didnt-lie

The editor of The New Republic wouldn’t exactly be confused with a neo-con….

And I would say that it’s as if the American public has been lobotomized, which connotates aimless apathy rather than misdirected activity.

Apparently you’re unaware of a little tradition we have here in the states wangkon…it’s called voting.

The Republican party got bitch-slapped in the 06′ midterms on all levels — local, state, national — and they’re about to take another one in the shitter here in a few months. They will have gone from controlling both houses and the presidency, to probably controlling none of them and facing significant gaps in seat margin, in a matter of two years, and the public discontent over Iraq is largely the cause.

Just keep that last paragraph under your hat…or it may influence the “happiness” of conservatives.