Wow. That was one of the sickest things I’ve ever read. It’s more disgusting than the “million Mogadishus” remark. This guy is really, honestly, hoping that Americans get slaughtered, that the Terrorists win, the Iraqis lose every bit of freedom that so many deaths have already brought them. It seriously make me want to puke when I see this kind of blind and unthinking hatred for America. But gee, Terrorcrats don’t really hate America. They’re just misunderstood “patriots”.

I saw it, too. Couldn’t read it all. If I blogged on it, I’d say things I’d regret saying. This is treason, pure and simple. There is no doubt in my mind that the liberal media is now responsible for the deaths of many fine young American and Coalition soldiers.

The enemy pays close attention to our media and polls. They take their cue from a belief that the longer they hold on and inflict deaths on us, we will collapse and retreat because we can’t take any losses.

By trying to indoctrinate the public in the belief that we are losing because we hear nothing of all the arrests, death dealing we are doing, and capturing of terrorists, the media encourages our enemies.

I foresee a civil war coming. People like Ted Rall break the Round Table of our social compact. He has crossed the line and deserves to meet his maker (which is what he’s really aiming at. These people are filled with such sickness, such perversion of human spirit that they are, in fact, suicidal. But like cowards who seek death by policeman rather than by facing themselves head on.).

Imagine what kind of parents this guy had that could produce such a monster? Talk about self-loathing.

Mark,

When I read Ted Rall’s piece, I had the same reaction as you. When I tried to blog it, I was so agitated my rant came out nearly as hateful as his — I say “nearly” because the lack of horns and a forked tongue prevents me from ever reaching Ted’s level of animosity.

His words are treasonous. He’s pure scum. He doesn’t deserve the freedom American soldiers have won for him.

Wow. Normally, my first response to this would be to go completely berserk with rage. Instead, I’m kind of just…numb. So I have to ask myself why I’m not having a self-induced, apoplectic fit over this traitorous worm (the wonders of Prozac notwithstanding).

I think the answer is, this column is so out there, so unbelievable, that I can’t imagine what: a) would possess a “person” who grew up, presumably, in the same country I did, to write this and b) what could said “person” possibly hope to accomplish by writing this? The thought process behind this column is so alien to me that rather than get angry, I need to dissect this specimen a little further. So I would like to open up a discussion. Bryan?…Anybody? What makes a “person” write such a thing? Help me verbally poke this freak with a stick for a while, because I’d really like to understand what goes on in what passes for this microbe’s “head.”

Then, maybe I can get on with the business of a proper tirade against this sub-human…no, I just can’t get worked up. Can someone please explain this to me?!?

James, I wish I had good answers for you. I have a very hard time understanding what would push anyone to write such a vile thing, and I think that’s a good thing. It would worry me if I could understand Rall or his motivations. Part of it is just a refusal to accept reality—in Rall’s world people who volunteer to serve in US military are “oppressed,” while people who kill innocent civilians should be seen as liberators. I cannot understand that kind of thinking.

The word “depraved” does come to mind, if you want to look at it from a moral point of view. I think we are all born capable of great good and great evil, but most of us sort of settle into a middle ground where we commit neither. We’ll do some good here and some bad there, but just don’t go to one extreme or the other except perhaps in some rare and extreme circumstances. We’re normal, and whether the preponderance of our actions fall into the good or bad category depends mostly on what we believe about the world and our place in it.

Rall, it seems to me, settled at one end of the spectrum at some point in his life. He is capable of great evil, as the “Why We Fight” column demonstrates, and thus probably incapable of much good. He is depraved.

Bryan,

While I appreciate your thoughtful response, its a bit too philosophical. What I really want to know is, what do you think someone who writes this kind of garbage is actually thinking? What are they trying to accomplish in writing such depravity? You don’t just put words like this out into the ether without having a strong agenda. Does he want to see his own country fail? Be embarrassed and humiliated? Prove to the world that we are the “Paper Tiger” that the Middle Eastern scum and American-hating EuroTrash think we are?

OK, I think I’m starting to get properly worked up now…whew, I was starting to think I was mellowing or something.

Ok, how’s this? Yes, he wants to see the US, which he only considers “his own country” the way we often consider an empty street “our street” since we happen to be driving down it, defeated and humiliated. He has no sense of loyalty or affection for the US or its people, whom he despises. Yes, he wants us driven from the desert with our tails between our legs, and he wouldn’t mind a thousand 9-11’s or a million Mogadishus. Yes, he wants the Islamists to win, not just Iraq but the whole war. He is one of their fellow travellers, a self-described Marxist who hates America and everything it stands for. He is one of those “intellectuals” who finds common cause with medieval thugs simply because they oppose America and freedom and capitalism, and so does he.

And his syndicators think he’s a “moderate.”

They should hear from us. I wrote them last night.

Ha! You’re response (OK, how’s this?…) reminds me of that classic scene from “Back to School” with the late, great Sam Kinison as the history professor. “Say it! Say it! Oh!!!! Aaaoooooooowwwh!!!!!”

But seriously. Where should we write? Why don’t you post the addresses of those responsible, so we can all write them.

Kathie Kerr (800/255-6734, ext. 6945) kkerr@amuniversal.com. Kerr is the POC listed on Rall’s award page. I imagine a few hundred irate phone calls would put a dent in her day.