Sunday, December 28, 2008

The French Revolution

Anyone wishing to understand the abject contempt many liberals on the web have for America and its institutions need to study the French Revolution.

Today, I watched The French Revolution on the History Channel and realized that the Pandagonistas are the philosophical direct decendants of the blood-thirsty leaders who overthrew the monarchy. This is in no way a defense of the behavior of Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette, but when you look at the anarchy which arose, you have to wonder if it is not the sort of thing many advocate.

Oddly, to read Daily KOS or Pandagon, one would think we actually had Louis XVI reincarnated as George W. Bush. And I can't help but wonder who, exactly starved or had their Constitutional protects shredded by the 43d president? Other than the inconvenience of removing one's shoes at the airport, I can't find many "liberties" banned. We still have a free--and ultra-critical--press at work (at least when a Republican is president). One can still travel without enormous difficulty both within the country and without. And despite what you hear, food and health care are both readily available.

But having read the hysterical writings regarding trivial matters (Rick Warren's invocation invitation comes to mind), I have to wonder if these radicals wouldn't fit better in 18th Century France.