The Radical is a blog dedicated almost exclusively to putting down the French Republic, its government, and its policies. It is an excellent source of information and a great educational effort, but the pleasure of learning is bittered by the authors’ anti-Le Monde attitude bordering on Gallophobia. All is well, though; for each and every argument, each and every critique they hurl at France can be justly re-addressed and re-applied to any important country in existence, including the US and Russia. Consider this comment, for one (regarding an article in Le Monde on the right to asylum):
One of the things that struck me about this article is the nationalism that seeps out of every phrase. One of the most often repeated arguments is that France should maintain its right of asylum because it would be in keeping with a glorious French tradition (albeit one betrayed by Vichy and the far right at one moment in history). While the authors are busy condemning the Far Right, the Government and republicans, they fail to realize that their “Glory to France” rhetoric is no less dangerous. They simply worship a left-wing French Republic rather than a right-wing one.
I’m not sure if The Radicals noticed the irony behind their lovely comment. Take a random article from the National Review or — to move further right — the Front Page Magazine, change The Radical’s invective a bit and…
One of the things that struck me about this article is the nationalism that seeps out of every phrase. One of the most often repeated arguments is that the US should (do something conservatives want to do) because it would be in keeping with a glorious American tradition (albeit one betrayed by (name one or more Democrat presidents) and the Far Left at (one or more) moment(s) in history). While the authors are busy condemning the Far Left, the Clinton government and Democrats, they fail to realize that their “Glory to America” rhetoric is no less dangerous. They simply worship a right-wing Union rather than a left-wing one.
You know what, folks? It’s just the way people are: they like to think good about their home countries. […]