Screaming accusations. Whining self-defense. Finger-pointing instead of problem-solving.
I’m not talking about three two-year-olds sharing one cookie–I’m talking about public policy “debate” in many blogs, news
media, and even bookstores.
For echo-chamber number one, Why I Hate the Democrats. Meanwhile, in the opposite echo-chamber, 449 Stupid Things Republicans Have Said.
As if filling our minds with anger, contempt, and conceit were a
good preparation for solving serious problems…
I went to the bookstore today, but not for any of those books. I got a copy of The Pentagon’s New Map by Thomas P. M. Barnett, the first hard-cover book I’d bought in a while.
The author has a weblog that my Berkman friend Critt Jarvis had pinged me to make Feedster Feed of the Day. Here’s just one of the blog quotes I really liked:
[Reflecting on a right-wing-radio interview] There
are no Republican-only answers for the questions posed in this Global
War on Terrorism. A real grand strategy appeals to both sides of the
political spectrum, or it’s no grand strategy at all.
…you have to remember who you are at the end of the day. He’s David
Gold and I’m Tom Barnett. He’s got a conservative talk radio show and I
have a vision of a future worth creating not just for America, but for
the world.
There will always be that temptation to view the enemy as
fundamentally inhuman, or something so alien we simply cannot recognize
its motivations and desires. But I didn’t want to write that book, or
sell that fear, or divide this nation or this world into those who are
“us” and those who must forever remain “them”….
The battle for hearts and minds isn’t merely going on in Iraq, but all
over this world.
It’s late and I’m sleepy, so I’ll stop now, but here’s what I said when I made him Feed of the Day:
Date: May 20, 2004
Feed: “Thomas P. M.
Barnett : : Weblog” (
http://www.thomaspmbarnett.com/weblog/index.rdf for
http://www.thomaspmbarnett.com/weblog/ )
Citation: Book-in-the-news The
Pentagon’s New Map featured in multi-dimensional smartperson blog by
its author war-college prof Thomas P. M. Barnett. Hard to say what
gives more pleasure–his non-toxic, optimistic global vision or his
first-person blogging of media frenzy to die for.
2 responses so far ↓
1 Thomas Barnett // May 22, 2004 at 6:11 pm
My webmaster Critt pushed me to start the blog and has led me around by the nose with great care ever since. Bumping into good minds is a great byproduct of working with Critt, so I’m happy we’ve linked up.
Tom Barnett
2 Diannemurray@c... // May 22, 2004 at 9:25 pm
Hi, Betsy! I dropped off orkut and just wanted to let a few people know that I enjoyed talking to them and/or reading their blogs. You are certainly one of them. Thanks!